Exciting Partnership Between Tokamachi City and Tablecross To Boost Regional Revitalization

Partnership for Regional Revitalization

On July 1, 2026, an agreement was signed between Tokamachi City, Niigata Prefecture (Mayor: Yoshifumi Sekiguchi), and Tablecross Inc., a company based in Toranomon, Tokyo that operates the food and tourism platform 'byFood.' The partnership leverages the Regional Revitalization Entrepreneur Program with a focus on promoting visitation from foreign tourists and revitalizing the local area.

Under this agreement, employees from Tablecross will be dispatched to Tokamachi City to collaborate with the city and local businesses. Together, they will create tourism content utilizing local resources, disseminate information to overseas markets, and improve the inbound reception environment for international visitors.

Background of the Dispatch Agreement

The Japanese government has set an ambitious target of attracting 60 million foreign tourists by 2030, with a tourism spending goal of 15 trillion yen (approximately $140 billion). To meet these objectives, encouraging visitors to regional areas of Japan is a key initiative. Tokamachi City, known for its rich snow culture, stunning natural scenery, terraced rice fields, and exceptional culinary offerings, also hosts the renowned 'Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale,' one of the largest art festivals in the world. However, to translate the influx of foreign visitors into economic growth for the region, it is essential to promote the unique attractions of Tokamachi on an international scale while assisting local businesses in enhancing their hospitality and tourism offerings.

With byFood aiming to introduce Japan's diverse food culture and travel experiences to an international audience, the partnership's objective is to support inbound tourism in collaboration with local governments and businesses. This alignment of goals has made the dispatch agreement a promising initiative for both Tokamachi City and Tablecross as they strive to attract foreign tourists and foster sustainable community development.

Key Initiatives Under the Agreement

1. Development and Refinement of Tourism Content
By utilizing local food culture, natural landscapes, and traditional arts, the partnership will create new experiential content aimed at foreign tourists, while enhancing existing offerings to ensure a memorable experience.

2. Enhancing Information Dissemination
The agreement will include the creation of multilingual sales pages and articles, primarily in English, as well as video content, to showcase the attractions of Tokamachi City to a wider audience abroad.

3. Support for Local Businesses
The partnership will work closely with local enterprises to improve the reception environment for foreign tourists, develop new products, and boost marketing efforts to attract international visitors.

4. Expanding Community Engagement
By continuously sharing information and creating engaging experiences, the collaboration aims to encourage more visitors to Tokamachi and establish lasting relationships with the community.

Utilizing the Regional Revitalization Entrepreneur Program

The Regional Revitalization Entrepreneur Program is a government initiative that sends employees from private companies to local governments for a limited period. This program capitalizes on their specialized knowledge and expertise to solve regional challenges and stimulate local growth. Through this partnership, Tablecross employees will work closely with the city and local businesses to conceptualize and implement inbound strategies, fine-tune tourism offerings, and enhance foreign outreach efforts.

Future Developments

Going forward, the collaboration aims to strengthen ties with local businesses and relevant organizations to systematically roll out the development of tourism content, enhance marketing strategies, and amplify overseas outreach. Through this partnership, Tokamachi City and Tablecross are committed to showcasing the region's unique offerings to both domestic and international audiences, promoting visitor engagement, revitalizing the local economy, and contributing to sustainable community growth.

About byFood

byFood is a food information site dedicated to promoting Japan's culinary culture and tourism experiences for inbound visitors. Through meal experiences, restaurant reservations, and multilingual articles and videos, byFood supports attracting tourists to various regions across Japan. Additionally, for every reservation made, byFood donates ten school lunches.

For more information, visit byFood's website.