What GoodFellows does

GoodFellows (株式会社グッドフェローズ, legal entity 株式会社グッドウィン) is a privately held Japanese ICT vendor founded in 1991 by President Masami Isobe that specializes in integrated ticketing and admission systems for ticket facilities in Japan — ski resorts, theme parks, aquariums, museums, ropeways, observation decks, amusement parks, and historic sites. Its installed base spans roughly 350 facilities across Japan, with Kensakukun (券作くん) holding approximately 40% market share among Japanese ski resorts and deployment at about 60 ski-resort facilities as of 2025. Customers include Tokyo Skytree, Hakone Ropeway, Nagashima Spa Land, Naeba / Kagura ski resorts, Kaiyukan, Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise, Byodoin Temple, Oura Cathedral, and Toyama Glass Art Museum.

The technology stack is organized around a single master controller (Kensakukun POS) extended by Marukenkun (multi-payment vending kiosks on NEC Magnus hardware), Webket (online ticket store), and Ticket HUB (TicketHUB — a Web-API distribution platform connecting facilities with sellers such as JTB, Jorudan, and Pia via standardized QR-code ticketing). Supporting modules include PointClub (member management with digital annual passports), YOYAQueen replaced by the new Webket Danyo (group reservations), RE・SO・NET (integrated sales management), Pro-POS (retail/F&B), entry/exit gates (with SKIDATA IC-card integration at ski resorts), WEB de Monitor (real-time crowd monitoring), InfoMonitor (signage), スマ券Navi (BI dashboard with AI forecasting), and SkillupMaster (e-learning). The company holds ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certification and operates a developer JV, GoodFellows JTB (with JTB Corporation, formed 2020-03-24) that produced the PaaSket QR-checker app.

The business model combines one-time package system sales (hardware plus licensed software, ~70% of revenue as of 2023) with recurring service fees from Ticket HUB and Webket (~30% of revenue as of 2023, growing) and ongoing maintenance/support contracts. Sales are conducted via inside sales (phone and web inquiry), enterprise field sales for major accounts, and channel partners including Snow Systems (SKIDATA gates) and ESiSi (ropeways). Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The company participated in the Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai ticketing JV (25.58 million visitors, over 1.3 million group tickets issued) and is developing the system for the 2027 International Horticultural Expo. Additional contracts include an Okinawa Prefecture DX partnership (December 2025). Headcount grew from 93 (April 2022) to 120+ employees (February 2026), and the company relocated its headquarters in February 2026 to NEWNO Kichijoji (capacity ~200 employees), an investment tied to hiring expansion and IPO preparation. The company is entirely founder-controlled with no disclosed institutional investors and reported its 33rd fiscal-period balance sheet.

Name

GoodFellows

Legal name

株式会社 Goodwin

Website

https://goodf.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Japanese ICT vendor founded in 1991 that provides integrated ticketing, vending, online sales, and distribution systems to approximately 350 leisure facilities across Japan, including ski resorts, theme parks, aquariums, museums, and ropeways.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ticketing ICT Systems for Leisure Facilities

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Primary Ticketing Platforms & Box Office Systems (MPAGAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ticketing, Registration & Event Technology (Badging, Apps) (BPAFAGAL), Ticketing Platforms (Paid Events, Seat Maps, Access Control) (THAHAFAC)

Keywords

• Ticketing ICT systems
• Ticket distribution platform
• Leisure facility software
• POS ticketing systems
• Automated ticket vending

Headquarters

HQ city

Musashino

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Package System Sales (Hardware + Software License): Sale and installation of ticket POS systems (券作くん), multi-payment vending machines (マル券くん), gate systems, and related hardware. Software is licensed as part of the package. Primarily sold to ticket facilities (ski resorts, theme parks, aquariums, museums, ropeways) in Japan.
2. Ticket HUB & Webket Platform Service Fees: Subscription/service fee model for the ticket distribution platform (チケットHUB) and online ticket store (Webket). Service usage fees now represent approximately 30% of total company sales as of 2023, growing to become a major revenue segment alongside package system sales.
3. Maintenance and Support Services: Ongoing maintenance, updates, and technical support services for installed package systems. Provided as 保守サービス (maintenance services) post-installation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

GoodFellows develops and sells an integrated suite of ICT systems for ticket facilities in Japan, including the 券作くん (Kensakukun) POS ticketing system, マル券くん (Marukenkun) multi-payment self-service vending machines, entry/exit gates, and the Webket online ticket store, all unified through the チケットHUB (TicketHUB) distribution platform. The company serves ski resorts, theme parks, aquariums, museums, ropeways, and observation decks with approximately 350 facility installations and ~40% ski resort market share.

Product overview

GoodFellows provides a comprehensive suite of ICT systems for ticket facilities (tourist attractions, ski resorts, theme parks, aquariums, museums, ropeway/observation decks), organized as a modular ecosystem centered on three pillars: (1) on-site POS/ticketing (券作くん as the master controller for staffed counters, supplemented by マル券くん self-service kiosks for cashless multi-payment), (2) online/web distribution (Webket online ticket store connected to 券作くん/マル券くん and entry gates, powered by チケットHUB platform that unifies multiple sales channels via Web API), and (3) management analytics and support tools (スマ券Navi BI dashboard, PointClub membership, YOYAQueen group booking, RE・SO・NET unified revenue management, Pro-POS for F&B/retail, 入退場ゲート for crowd management, WEB de Monitor for real-time monitoring, インフォモニター for visitor information, and スキルアップマスター for e-learning). The portfolio covers the full lifecycle from pre-sale ticketing, on-site issuance and payment, entry management, to post-sale reporting and analytics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 券作くん holds ~40% market share among ski resorts nationwide
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

AI capability3 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.

• 下関市立大学 (Shimonoseki City University)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Comprehensive collaboration agreement signed in 2026 with Shimonoseki City University, coinciding with GoodFellows' establishment of the Shimonoseki AI Data Science Lab. Focuses on AI and data science research for tourism facility applications.
• 沖縄県 (Okinawa Prefecture)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025DX promotion partnership contract signed in December 2025 with Okinawa Prefecture for tourism facility digitalization. GoodFellows provides its ticketing and distribution platform to support DX initiatives across Okinawan tourism facilities.
• ぴあ株式会社 (Pia Corporation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Pia, along with JTB Communication Design and GoodFellows, formed a joint venture to operate the ticketing system for the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo. GoodFellows contributed its platform technology for ticket issuance, date management, pavilion/event reservation, and admission processing. The expo served 25.58 million visitors and issued over 1.3 million group tickets.
• 株式会社JTBコミュニケーションデザイン (JTB Communication Design)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Part of the joint venture for Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai ticketing. JTB Communication Design contributed event management and communications expertise alongside GoodFellows' ticketing platform and Pia's ticketing operations.
• 株式会社JTB (JTB Corporation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020GoodFellows and JTB established a joint venture company, 株式会社グッドフェローズJTB (GoodFellows JTB), in March 2020. JTB serves as a ticket seller (セラー) connected to チケットHUB, selling tickets through the JTB website and convenience store terminals nationwide. The JV enables co-development of ticketing solutions, including mini-app integrations within payment platforms (d払い, LINE). JTB's digital ticketing through チケットHUB has enabled facility operators to eliminate manual counter processing and reduce staffing.
• SKIDATA (オーストリア)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2016GoodFellows partners with Austria-based SKIDATA for IC card gate systems at ski resorts. The partnership enables direct-in entry using IC cards (season passes, date-specified tickets) with card issuance via 券作くん, マル券くん, and SKIOSK self-service kiosks. GoodFellows integrates its ticketing systems with SKIDATA servers via dedicated APIs, enabling real-time transaction data sync. By September 2025, 30 ski resort facilities were using SKIDATA IC card gate systems through this partnership.
• 株式会社パレットパートナーズ (PaaSket / GFJ社)coreTechnology or IntegrationPaaSket is a product of GoodFellows JTB (株式会社ウドフェローズJTB), the JV with JTB. PaaSket is a smartphone app that reads QR code tickets for direct admission (着券). Used by facilities like Rokko Mountain Adventure GREENIA and the KOBE Tourism Smart Passport for seamless ticket validation without window processing.
• ジョルダン株式会社 (Jorudan Co., Ltd.)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJorudan connects to チケットHUB as a ticket seller (コラー), leveraging its coupon service 'ジョルダンクーポン' and MaaS platform. Sells tickets through Alipay mini-app and other channels. Jorudan's connected facility sales grew 10x from launch, with 100% retention of connected facilities.
• NECマグナスコミュニケーションズ (NEC Magnus Communications)majorTechnology or IntegrationNEC Magnus provides the hardware platform (automatic ticket vending machine chassis) for マル券くん. GoodFellows ports its 券作くん software onto NEC Magnus vending machine hardware, creating the integrated multi-payment vending solution.
• スノージstemズ株式会社 (Snow Systems)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSnow Systems is the sales dealer for SKIDATA IC card gate systems integrated with GoodFellows' ticket management systems at ski resorts.
• エスイーシー株式会社 (SEC / ESiSi)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSEC (E.Si.) promotes GoodFellows' ticketing systems to ropeway and tourism facilities, and supported the adoption at Hakodate Ropeway.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Accesso Technology Group: UK/US-listed provider of ticketing, point-of-sale, and guest management solutions specifically for theme parks, water parks, and attractions. Highly comparable product suite (POS, e-commerce, access control) and target vertical (leisure attractions), making it the closest international comp to GoodFellows.
• Pia Corporation: Japan's largest dedicated ticketing company, operating primary ticketing platforms and box office services for concerts, sports, and attractions. Directly comparable as a primary ticketing platform targeting Japanese venues; Pia was a JV partner with GoodFellows on the Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai ticketing system.
• Gateway Ticketing Systems: US-based provider of integrated ticketing, POS, and guest management systems for museums, aquariums, attractions, and ski resorts. Closely comparable offering to GoodFellows' 券作くん / マル券くん / Webket stack and similar B2B go-to-market targeting leisure attractions.
• SKIDATA: Austria-based global provider of access control and ticketing solutions, especially for ski resorts and parking. Directly comparable as GoodFellows' gate/access technology partner and competitor in ski resort IC card gate systems, with API-level integration deployed across approximately 30 Japanese ski resorts.

Broad incumbents

• AXS: Global ticketing and live event platform owned by AEG, serving sports, concerts, and attractions. Broad incumbent comparable to Ticket HUB's primary ticketing and multi-channel distribution model for paid events and venues.
• Live Nation Entertainment (Ticketmaster): Global live entertainment and ticketing giant operating Ticketmaster. Broad incumbent in primary ticketing and box office systems globally; relevant comparison for GoodFellows' ambition to evolve Ticket HUB into a multi-seller distribution platform.
• CTS Eventim: Europe's largest ticketing company, with growing presence in attractions and venues beyond concerts. Broad incumbent offering live entertainment and venue ticketing at scale, with comparable platform ambitions to Ticket HUB's distribution and settlement unification.

Regional players

• Veltra: Japan-focused online activity and tour booking platform offering attraction tickets and experiences. Comparable to the Webket/Ticket HUB seller side for Japanese attractions, with overlapping customer base in inbound and domestic leisure.

Emerging players

• Klook: Asia-Pacific OTA and activity/attraction booking platform with strong presence in Japan and Asia. Comparable on the distribution and seller side to Ticket HUB, connecting attractions to global leisure travelers, though not a POS/gate provider.
• Tiqets: Amsterdam-based online ticketing platform for museums, attractions, and tours with strong mobile-first distribution. Comparable to GoodFellows' Webket/Ticket HUB on the online distribution and seller side for attractions, though focused on inbound tourism and global inventory rather than on-premise POS.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/GOODFELLOWS_CO

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 GoodFellows