byFood Raises 640 Million Yen in Series B Funding

A new chapter in connecting travelers, communities, and children through the joy of food.

There are moments in a company’s journey that feel like turning a page. For byFood and its parent company, Tablecross, this past year delivered two defining milestones: surpassing one million school meals donated through the Food for Happiness program, and completing a 640-million-yen Series B funding round that marks the beginning of a transformative new era.

Yet numbers alone don’t tell the heart of this story. From the beginning, byFood has been guided by a simple belief: that food can bring people together, tell the story of a place, and create meaningful change. 

When byFood launched, it wasn’t just to help travelers reserve a sushi-making class or join a ramen tour. The deeper mission was to build a platform where joyful travel experiences could also support children in need.

Through byFood, every reservation donates ten nutritious school meals via partner organizations — meals that improve children’s health, support their education, and open doors to opportunity.

This autumn, the cumulative impact reached an almost unbelievable milestone: more than one million meals shared. A reminder that the smallest actions — one booking, one meal, one moment of curiosity — can ripple outward into something extraordinary.

Global fascination with Japan grows every year, yet many of the country’s most meaningful stories remain hidden: family-run farms tending crops with generations of knowledge, artisans preserving traditions with quiet devotion, and chefs expressing their regional identity through a single signature dish.

These are stories the world rarely sees. This is where byFood has stepped in, and where the new funding will accelerate its mission.

Led by HERITAGE GLOBAL INVESTMENT HOLDINGS PTE. LTD. and joined by strategic partners including Sugashita Partners Inc. and Konnichiwa Hello Inc., the Series B investment reflects a shared belief: that Japan’s food culture is not just cuisine; it is living history, best experienced through encounters, connections, and community.

While many companies use new funding to scale rapidly, byFood is choosing a different path. In an era where AI optimizes systems, the company is investing in something irreplaceable: the right people — mission-driven individuals who believe in meaningful, responsible travel.

People who want to:

• Share Japan’s charms with global travelers

• Build experiences that honor local culture and community

• Support a startup committed to social impact

The goal is not growth for growth’s sake, but purposeful expansion that strengthens the foundation for long-term, sustainable impact.

With fresh resources and renewed momentum, byFood is ready to bring even deeper, more imaginative stories of Japan to the world. The future extends far beyond traditional food tours:

Food × Sports

Food × Entertainment or Character IP

Food × Traditional Crafts

Food × Spiritual Heritage

Food × Nature and Primary Industries

Each combination opens a new doorway into Japan’s identity, offering experiences that are authentic, multilayered, and profoundly human.

As Japan prepares to welcome 60 million inbound travelers by 2030, byFood aims to help shape a tourism landscape that is not only prosperous, but purposeful — benefiting travelers, communities, and children worldwide.

“Our achievements — one million meals and now this funding — are not ours alone. They were made possible by every person who shared our journey. Japan has so many food cultures still waiting to be discovered. With our mission of spreading happiness through food, we want to share those values with the world, one experience at a time.”

“There are countless food traditions in Japan that have not yet reached global travelers. With this funding, we can create more multilayered, meaningful experiences that highlight regional charms. Through food, we will continue connecting Japan with the world.”

From travelers discovering Japan’s flavors, to children receiving warm meals that help fuel their future, to local communities finding new opportunities through tourism — byFood stands at the intersection of culture, connection, and care.

With 640 million yen of new investment, the company begins its next chapter: one where every experience contributes to something larger, where Japan’s hidden stories are brought into the light, and where food keeps building bridges across the world.

Because at byFood, every meal is a connection — and every connection brings us closer.