Nippon Travel

What Nippon Travel does

Nippon Travel Agency America, Inc., doing business as NTA America, is a US-incorporated travel management company and subsidiary of Nippon Travel Agency Co. Ltd. (Japan, founded 1905). Established in the United States in 1966, the company operates from its Gardena, California headquarters and three additional branch offices in Los Angeles, Secaucus (New Jersey), and San Mateo (San Francisco Bay), with 11-50 employees. Its commercial focus is bidirectional US-Japan travel, with particular emphasis on the inbound Japan leisure segment.

The company's core product portfolio is anchored by My JR Pass, an e-commerce platform on which NTA America, as a JR-designated sales agency authorized by Japan Railways Group, issues and sells the Japan Rail Pass and regional passes (e.g., 7-day Ordinary Pass at 50,000 JPY, 1-day Kansai Area Pass at 2,800 JPY). Around this rail anchor, NTA America bundles day tours (Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Mt. Fuji, Nara, Hokkaido), land packages, private tours, and ancillary services including airline tickets, hotel and car rental arrangements, travel insurance, Wi-Fi rentals, bilingual tour guides, visa assistance via CIBTvisas, baggage storage via CROSTA, and study abroad programs. The technology stack is a Shopify-based storefront with affiliate integrations to partners for non-core services; there is no in-house AI/ML layer, no mobile app, and no public API. The company holds IATA and ARC accreditations and is CCPA- and GDPR-compliant.

Revenue is generated primarily through transaction fees on JR Pass commissions, tour package sales, and corporate travel bookings, with professional services fees for MICE and group meetings work. The go-to-market is hybrid: direct-to-consumer e-commerce for individual leisure travelers, sales-led corporate engagement for business travel and MICE, and B2B partnerships with airlines, rail groups, and ancillary providers. Customer segments span individual leisure travelers to Japan, corporate and business travelers, groups and meeting planners, educational institutions, cultural exchange organizations, and Japanese passport holders (in-person only at the LA office). The company has stated intent to reposition as a 'Customer and Community Solutions Company,' signaling modest diversification beyond traditional travel agency services.

Name

Nippon Travel

Legal name

Nippon Travel Agency America, Inc.

Website

https://ntaamerica.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Nippon Travel Agency America (NTA America) is a US travel management company and JR-designated sales agency operating since 1966 as the US subsidiary of Nippon Travel Agency Co. Ltd. (Japan, founded 1905). It sells Japan Rail Passes, day tours, land packages, and corporate/MICE travel services to US travelers and corporate clients across four US branches.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Travel Agency Services

NAICS

Travel Agencies (561510), Tour Operators (561520)

SIC

Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Online/Hybrid Corporate Travel Agencies (Self-Booking + Support) (THAKACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Inbound/Local Retail Travel Agencies (Destination Booking Offices) (THAKABAH), Corporate/Business Retail Travel Agencies (THAKABAB)

Keywords

• Japan travel services
• Japan Rail Pass sales
• Guided day tours
• Corporate travel management
• Meetings and events

Headquarters

HQ city

Gardena

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tour Packages and Day Tours: Sales of day tours to popular Japanese destinations (Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima, Mt. Fuji) and land packages with guided experiences
2. Japan Rail Pass Sales: Commission-based sales of JR Passes as an authorized JR-designated sales agency. Manages My JR Pass platform for issuing and selling passes to international travelers visiting Japan
3. Corporate Travel Management: Business travel consultation, airline tickets, hotel arrangements, car rentals, and comprehensive travel management for corporate clients
4. Groups and Meetings Services: MICE operations, meeting planning, site selection, rate negotiation, on-site coordination, and group travel arrangements
5. Travel Insurance: Travel insurance products offered as part of complete travel service packages
6. Ancillary Travel Services: Wi-Fi service, bilingual tour guides, interpreters, visa application assistance, baggage storage coordination, and study abroad programs

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Nippon Travel Agency America (NTA America) is a US-based travel agency that sells Japan Rail Passes through its JR-designated My JR Pass platform, offers guided day tours and land packages to destinations in Japan, and provides corporate travel management, MICE, and groups/meetings services. Supporting offerings include airline tickets, hotel arrangements, car rentals, travel insurance, Wi-Fi/SIM rentals, bilingual tour guides, study abroad programs, and visa assistance through partner CIBTvisas. The company operates four US branch offices and a Shopify-based e-commerce storefront serving both individual leisure travelers and corporate/group clients.

Product overview

Nippon Travel Agency America (NTA America) operates as a comprehensive travel management company and JR-designated sales agency, offering a unified portfolio of travel services centered around Japan travel. The core offerings include Japan Rail Pass sales and management through My JR Pass, guided day tours to destinations like Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Mt. Fuji, Nara, and Hokkaido, plus land package tours. These are complemented by business travel services including Groups & Meetings planning, MICE operations, airline tickets, hotel arrangements, car rentals, travel insurance, Wi-Fi services, bilingual tour guides, and study abroad programs. The company leverages Shopify for its e-commerce platform and partners with third-party providers for specialized services like visa applications (CIBT Visas), meeting rooms (Da Vinci), and local tours.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• My JR Pass: A JR-designated sales agency authorized by Japan Railways Group to issue and sell the Japan Rail Pass. Managed and operated by NTA America.

Products and services

• Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass) and Regional Passes JR-designated sales agency authorized by Japan Railways Group to issue and sell the Japan Rail Pass and Regional Passes for foreign tourists visiting Japan, with online purchasing and exchange support via the My JR Pass platform.
• Day Tours Guided English-language day tours to popular destinations in Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Mt. Fuji, and Nara, designed for first-time visitors and leisure travelers to Japan.
• Land Packages Pre-packaged multi-day travel arrangements combining accommodations, transportation, and tours for convenient travel planning in Japan.
• Groups & Meetings (MICE) Comprehensive meeting and event planning services including site selection, rate negotiation for meeting rooms and accommodations, airfare discounts, personalized homepage creation for registrants, and on-site coordination for groups and MICE events.
• Business Travel Consultation and Management Corporate travel management services including consultation, booking optimization, airline tickets, hotel arrangements, car rentals, and travel policy compliance for business travelers.
• Hokkaido Tours Specialized tours and travel packages for Japan's northern Hokkaido region featuring nature, unique culture, fresh cuisine, and seasonal activities across spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• CROSTAsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025Baggage storage service partner providing luggage storage at JR Kansai Airport Station. Allows travelers to store luggage for up to 15 days, with pickup and delivery location flexibility for travel planning convenience.
• Japan Railways Group (JR)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNTA America operates as a JR-designated sales agency authorized by Japan Railways Group to issue and sell the Japan Rail Pass and Regional Passes. They manage the My JR Pass platform for processing pass sales to international travelers visiting Japan.
• ShopifycoreTechnology or IntegrationE-commerce platform powering the NTA America online store, including product listings, shopping cart functionality, checkout processing, and order management for tours and travel services.
• CIBTvisassupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVisa application service partner providing visa processing support for travelers requiring visas as part of their Japan travel arrangements.
• Da Vinci Meeting RoomssupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMeeting room rental service partner for customers needing physical meeting space for business purposes.
• Magical TripsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal guide tour services partner providing bilingual tour guides and interpreters for NTA America customers exploring Japan destinations.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• JTB USA (Japan Travel Bureau): The US arm of Japan's largest travel agency, offering Japan inbound tours, corporate travel, and MICE services with similar bilingual capabilities. Closest direct competitor to NTA America in the Japan-specialist travel agency segment.
• Kintetsu International: US-based subsidiary of Kintetsu (a major Japanese travel conglomerate) offering Japan tours, corporate travel, and group services with bilingual support — directly comparable business model and customer base to NTA America.
• H.I.S. Co., Ltd. (HIS USA): Major Japanese travel agency with US operations focused on Japan and Asia inbound tours. Comparable in offering discounted Japan packages, JR Pass sales, and online booking, competing for the same US-to-Japan traveler.
• Klook: Asia-focused online travel activities and tours platform with strong Japan inventory including day tours, rail passes, and attractions. Competes head-to-head with NTA on leisure sightseeing bookings, particularly among younger digital-first travelers.
• KKday: Asia-focused tours and activities OTA offering Japan day tours, SIM/Wi-Fi, and airport transfers. Directly competes with NTA's leisure and ancillary product lines for English-speaking inbound travelers.
• Veltra: Japan-headquartered inbound tour operator with strong English-language platform offering day tours, cultural experiences, and activity bookings — overlapping directly with NTA's day tour portfolio.
• Magical Trip: Tokyo-based tour operator offering English-language local tours across Japan; listed as an NTA partner but also a competitor in the English-guided day tour market, particularly for in-destination bookings.
• TourRadar: Online marketplace for multi-day guided tours including substantial Japan inventory. Overlaps with NTA's land package offerings and targets similar English-speaking leisure travelers planning longer Japan itineraries.

Broad incumbents

• Trip.com Group: Global OTA with strong Asia and Japan coverage offering flights, hotels, tours, and rail products. A broad incumbent competitor that captures spill from NTA's customer base, particularly for self-serve bookings.
• Rakuten Travel (Voyagin): Rakuten Group's travel platform, which absorbed Voyagin, offers Japan tours, activities, and accommodations with English-language support. Competes with NTA on both leisure bookings and Japan-destination digital UX.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nippon-travel-agency-america-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/ntaamerica
• Xx.com/ntaamerica
• Facebookfacebook.com/nippontravelagency

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nippon Travel