byFood Operator Tablecross Announces ¥1.34 Billion Series B to Expand Food Tourism Across Japan

International travelers enjoying a sushi-making experience

A culinary experience bookable through byFood

Funding will accelerate partnerships with local governments and businesses, product development, global marketing, and hiring

SHIBUYA-KU, TOKYO, JAPAN, September 2, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Tablecross Inc., operator of byFood, a platform connecting international travelers with restaurant reservations and food experiences across Japan, today announced the completion of its approximately ¥1.34 billion Series B round.*

The round includes the conversion of corporate bonds into equity, secondary transactions to optimize the company’s shareholder structure, a new third-party allotment of shares, and debt financing. The transaction strengthens Tablecross’s financial foundation and capital structure to support its next phase of long-term growth.

Japan’s inbound travel market continues to reach new highs. The country welcomed approximately 3.44 million international visitors in July 2026, the highest number ever recorded for the month of July. In addition,spending by international visitors reached a record high of approximately ¥4.8 trillion in the first half of 2026.**

Against this backdrop, Tablecross will use the Series B round to accelerate business development and partnerships with local governments and companies, product development, global marketing, and talent acquisition.

Through byFood, the company aims to connect more international travelers with the food cultures and distinctive culinary experiences found throughout Japan, while helping drive tourism spending into local communities.

* The Series B total includes the conversion of corporate bonds into equity, secondary share transactions, a third-party allotment of new shares, and debt financing, together with financing previously completed as part of the Series B round.

** Sources: Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), “Visitor Arrivals, July 2026”; Japan Tourism Agency, “Inbound Consumption Trends Survey, April–June 2026 (First Preliminary Report).”

Background and Purpose
Japan’s inbound travel market remains strong even as its mix of international visitors continues to evolve.

According to JNTO, Japan welcomed approximately 3.44 million international visitors in July 2026, setting a new record for the month. The Japan Tourism Agency also reported that international visitor spending reached approximately ¥2.5 trillion in the April–June quarter, the highest level ever recorded for a second quarter. Spending per visitor also reached a record ¥244,000, bringing total visitor spending for the first half of 2026 to approximately ¥4.8 trillion.

Across Japan, local food cultures are deeply connected to regional history, landscapes, producers, and communities. Yet many restaurants, experience providers, and destinations still face challenges in reaching international travelers, from global visibility and multilingual communication to reservation and sales infrastructure.

Through byFood, Tablecross provides restaurant reservations and culinary experiences for international travelers while working with local governments and businesses to develop and sell food tourism experiences and promote regional destinations to global audiences.

With the Series B round, Tablecross will strengthen its financial and operational foundation and expand the infrastructure connecting international travelers with food cultures across Japan.

Use of Funds and Growth Priorities
Tablecross will focus its investment on three key areas:

1. Expanding Partnerships to Develop and Distribute Regional Food Experiences

Tablecross will expand its network of restaurants and experience providers while deepening partnerships with local governments, destination management organizations (DMOs), travel companies, transportation providers, retailers, and other businesses.

These partnerships will support the development and enhancement of regional food experiences, as well as their promotion, reservation, and distribution to international travelers—helping direct more tourism spending into local communities.

Partnership Spotlight: Tokamachi City, Niigata

Tablecross has entered into a partnership agreement with Tokamachi City in Niigata Prefecture under Japan’s Regional Revitalization Entrepreneur Program.

The partnership focuses on developing and distributing experiences rooted in the region’s food culture and tourism assets, promoting them to international audiences, and attracting more international travelers and tourism spending to the area.

2. Product Development and Global Marketing

Tablecross will continue improving byFood to make it easier for international travelers to discover and book food experiences throughout Japan.

Investments will include enhanced multilingual capabilities, AI-powered personalization, and improvements to the reservation experience.

The company will also strengthen global marketing to bring Japan’s regional food cultures and culinary experiences to a wider international audience.

These efforts are designed not only to improve the traveler experience, but also to make it easier for restaurants and experience providers across Japan to welcome international guests.

3. Building the Team for the Next Stage of Growth

Tablecross will expand hiring across business development, global marketing, product development, and other key functions.

The company aims to build an organization capable of bringing together partnership development, product innovation, and global marketing to accelerate its next phase of growth.

Looking Ahead
Tablecross plans to expand beyond connecting travelers with individual restaurants and experiences by building deeper partnerships with local governments and businesses throughout Japan.

The company will support the full journey from developing experiences rooted in local food culture and tourism assets to global promotion, reservations, and distribution.

By creating more opportunities for international travelers to experience Japan’s diverse regional food cultures—and directing more visitor spending toward local restaurants and experience providers—Tablecross aims to contribute to stronger local economies.

Through food, the company also seeks to encourage travelers to explore more of Japan, support the preservation of regional food cultures, and contribute to more sustainable tourism destinations.

Careers
As the company enters its next stage of growth, Tablecross is hiring across business development, global marketing, and other functions.

Careers on LinkedIn：https://www.linkedin.com/company/byfood/

For Restaurants, Experience Providers, Local Governments and Businesses
Tablecross partners with local governments, DMOs, restaurants, experience providers, and companies on initiatives designed to attract international travelers to destinations throughout Japan.

For partnership opportunities involving culinary experience development, international marketing, and customer acquisition, please contact:

Business Development: pr@byfood.com

About Tablecross Inc.
Company: Tablecross Inc.
Leadership: Kaoru Joho, Representative Director & CEO / Toso Serkan, Director & COO
Headquarters: Link Square Shinjuku WeWork 16F, 5-27-5 Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Founded: November 2014
Business: Operator of byFood, a food experience and restaurant reservation platform for international travelers to Japan; food tourism development

byFood：https://byfood.com

Kaoru Joho
Tablecross Inc.
+81 70-1213-2024
hiraki@byfood.com