ikura Partners with Tokyu Land to Pilot a Multilingual AI Agent at the shibuya-san Tourist Information Center in Shibuya

“Chat with shibuya-san” brings the tourist information center’s services to WhatsApp, supporting travelers 24/7 in 50 languages

TOKYO: ikura Corp. (“ikura”), provider of a multilingual inbound tourism platform built on AI and WhatsApp, today announced a partnership with Tokyu Land Corporation (“Tokyu Land”) to pilot “Chat with shibuya-san,” a multilingual AI tourist information service on WhatsApp. The pilot will begin in mid-November 2026 at shibuya-san, a tourist information center on the first floor of Shibuya Fukuras in Tokyo.

Tokyu Land leads the pilot, which was selected for the FY2026 Member Project Support Fund of the Shibuya Innovation Institute (SII). Using ikura’s multilingual AI agent, AI Inbound Manager, the service answers international visitors’ questions about sightseeing, transportation, facilities, and local rules and etiquette, 24/7 in 50 languages.

The pilot aims to make Shibuya more convenient for international travelers and improve their experience there. Analysis of user conversations will also help refine tourist information and encourage visitors to explore more of the area.

Background

Shibuya draws visitors from around the world, and what they need to know goes well beyond sightseeing and transit: restrooms, smoking areas, luggage storage, trash bins, Wi-Fi, and local rules and etiquette.

Yet conventional tourist information centers can only serve visitors during certain hours and in certain languages, and it is hard to keep supporting travelers once they leave. Tourist information is also scattered across multiple websites and QR codes, so travelers have to search for what they need each time.

To address these gaps, ikura’s multilingual AI agent, AI Inbound Manager, is being introduced at shibuya-san, Tokyu Land’s tourist information center. Because the agent runs on WhatsApp, a messaging app widely used around the world, travelers can ask questions in a tool they already know, extending shibuya-san’s services online.

Key Features of Chat with shibuya-san

1. 24/7 Assistance in 50 Languages
‍Travelers use WhatsApp on their own phones to ask about attractions, transportation, facilities, and local rules and etiquette in their own language. The service stays available outside shibuya-san’s opening hours, during busy periods, and after they leave, so they can find what they need without a language barrier.

2. Guidance Built on Official Shibuya Tourism Information
‍The AI agent answers questions primarily from official information published by the Shibuya City Tourism Association, including “Tips for Tourists!”, its recommended sightseeing map, and its certified tours.
Ask where the nearest restroom, smoking area, or luggage storage is, and the agent replies with the relevant details and links to official websites. It also handles questions shibuya-san staff hear often, such as station access, currency exchange, Wi-Fi, and nearby facilities. When travelers need guidance on local etiquette, such as how to dispose of trash or the rules on smoking, the agent provides it at that moment, so they can enjoy Shibuya with confidence.

3. Easy Access via QR Code or NFC
‍QR codes and NFC tags that open WhatsApp will be placed around shibuya-san, including at the entrance, the tourist information counter, and the luggage storage counter.
Travelers scan a code or tap their phone on a tag to connect. Once connected, they can keep asking questions after they leave shibuya-san.
The official shibuya-san website will also carry a WhatsApp link, so travelers can use the service before they arrive.

4. Better Tourist Information Through Conversation Data
A dedicated dashboard shows what users ask, when they use the service, and how the AI responds. By analyzing what travelers look for and where they run into trouble, the partners aim to improve tourist information, encourage visitors to explore the area, and provide information that matches their needs.
When the AI alone cannot answer a question, staff step in as needed, and those exchanges help improve future answers. Feedback from shibuya-san staff is also used to keep adding frequently asked questions and newly needed local information, making answers more accurate over time.

Service Overview

Service: Chat with shibuya-san
Launch: Mid-November 2026 (planned)
Pilot Period: Mid-November 2026 to February 2027 (planned)
Languages: 50
Availability: 24/7 automated AI assistance
Platform: WhatsApp
Location: shibuya-san, 1F Shibuya Fukuras, Tokyo
Information: Attractions, transportation, facilities, restrooms, smoking areas, luggage storage, trash bins, Wi-Fi, currency exchange, nearby facilities, local rules and etiquette

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Project Partners and Future Plans

The FY2026 Member Project Support Fund is a Shibuya Innovation Institute (SII) program that backs member companies’ projects addressing local challenges in Shibuya City. In addition to funding, SII supports the project by connecting partner companies and facilities, coordinating with relevant Shibuya City departments, and monitoring progress.

Tokyu Land manages the overall project, prepares the pilot environment, and coordinates with facilities. The Shibuya City Tourism Association provides official tourism and local information. ecbo Inc., which operates shibuya-san, promotes use of Chat with shibuya-san and relays the questions and requests it receives from visitors.

ikura builds the official WhatsApp account and multilingual AI agent, improves response accuracy, handles inquiries, analyzes usage data, and measures results.

During the pilot, the partners will track WhatsApp connections, inquiry topics, the AI resolution rate, and access to tourist information, with the aim of building a tourist information service that international visitors find easy to use.

They will also regularly review usage and inquiries at shibuya-san and keep updating FAQs and response rules. Through this work, they aim to build an AI tourist guide specific to Shibuya, combining general tourist information with the knowledge of local staff.

Based on the results, the partners will explore extending the service to other facilities operated by Tokyu Land and to tourist hubs across Shibuya City, with the aim of establishing a sustainable model for multilingual tourist information.

About AI Inbound Manager

Developed by ikura, AI Inbound Manager (“AIインバウンド担当”) is a multilingual guest communication and booking platform that combines AI with WhatsApp, the world’s largest messaging app, with more than 3 billion monthly users (Meta, Q1 2025).
Key capabilities:

• Automation of daily operations by AI agents with expertise in serving international travelers
• Integration with WhatsApp and Instagram DMs, channels with high response rates among international travelers
• Multilingual support in real time, 24/7
• One automated flow covering inquiries, bookings, payments, cancellations, complaint handling, and review collection

ikura is a registered Type II Travel Agency in Japan and a Meta Tech Provider.

About ikura Corp.

ikura is a travel technology company and the developer of AI Inbound Manager, a multilingual inbound tourism platform built on AI and WhatsApp. Its Vertical AI for the tourism industry helps businesses automate service for international visitors and improve the customer experience.

ikura’s mission is to use technology to connect businesses across Japan with the world, return value to local communities, and shape Japan’s future. The company is building the system that connects Japanese tourism operators directly with international travelers.

ikura operates as a registered Type II Travel Agency in Japan and a Meta Tech Provider.

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Company Information

Company: ikura Corp.
Representative: Eiko Nakazawa, CEO
Established: November 2021
Headquarters: Hamamatsucho Diamond Building 2F, 2-2-15 Hamamatsucho, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo Office: Central Building 12F, 1-2 Sakuragaokacho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Website: https://ikura.io

Media Contact
‍ikura Corp. Public Relations
Email: marketing@ikura.io