Reiwa Travel and PKSHA Aim to Redefine Online Travel in Japan

Reiwa Travel, a bold new player in Japan’s online travel market, is partnering with AI venture builder PKSHA Technology to reimagine how travel is booked and experienced. At WiT Japan & North Asia 2025, Reiwa founder Takaya Shinozuka—known for his punk rock roots and previous success with Relux—joined PKSHA partner Takashi Maeda to discuss how their collaboration represents a new wave of AI-powered travel innovation in Japan.

Following PKSHA’s investment in Reiwa Travel’s $33 million fundraising round in September, the partnership extends beyond funding. It focuses on embedding artificial intelligence deeply into Reiwa’s travel platform to improve operations, customer experience, and decision-making.

PKSHA, known for its AI tools in sectors like parking, fraud detection, and chatbots, is making its first move into travel. As Maeda explained, Japan’s shift toward AI adoption, fueled by generative AI’s ability to unlock archived data, is helping address the country’s shrinking workforce and changing consumer expectations.

Reiwa Travel is applying AI in three key ways: promoting AI literacy as a basic skill, automating internal processes, and testing new user experiences to define the next generation of digital travel. Live examples already include AI-driven customer service, itinerary suggestions based on booking behavior, and personalized travel recommendations.

For Shinozuka, success lies in leveraging unique partnerships, user data, and brand trust—not just copying global models. As Maeda summed up, it’s not about which AI engine powers the experience; it’s about how well the technology supports travelers through smart, culturally aware, and seamless digital journeys.

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Reiwa Travel and PKSHA Aim to Redefine Online Travel in Japan

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