About Us
Yatra (Travel Japan Together) was founded in August 2023 around one belief: that travel, done right, can alter the course of a life.
We are a Japan-based inbound tourism company — curating experiences that go beyond sightseeing, into something that stays with you long after you've returned home. Through our media and tour services, we connect curious travelers with a Japan that rarely makes the highlight reels: the quiet, the crafted, the genuinely alive.
The name Yatra comes from the Hindi word for "journey." It was the obvious choice. Founders Kensuke Ko and Soma Tashiro first met as university students at a guesthouse in Kolkata — two strangers who ended up traveling together for nearly a month. What started as chance became a friendship, and years later, a company.
That trip left a mark on both of them. Travel has a way of doing that. The encounters you didn't plan, the perspectives you couldn't have found at home, the moments that quietly reshape how you see everything after. When the pandemic made international travel impossible, they turned their gaze toward Japan — and found a country of extraordinary depth: layered history, remarkable natural landscapes, living traditions, and a culture that rewards those willing to slow down and look closer.
From our office in Taito Ward, Tokyo, we are building journeys worthy of that Japan — and inviting the world to discover it.
Meet our Team
Co-CEO & Founder: Kensuke Ko
Graduated from Meiji University’s Faculty of Law. Born in Shizuoka Prefecture.
During my university years, I gained experience with startups and interned at a VC firm. After graduation, I joined GA Technologies Group, where I was seconded to Itandi Inc. There, I launched and led a SaaS business, achieving Product-Market Fit and the No. 1 market share. In 2023, I co-founded Yatra Inc.
I visited over 50 countries and all 47 prefectures of Japan. Some of my memorable travel destinations include Madagascar (overseas) and Zamami Island (domestic).
Co-CEO & Founder: Soma Tashiro
Graduated from Ritsumeikan University’s College of Image Arts and Sciences. Born in Kobe.
As a freelance filmmaker during my university years, I worked on over 100 advertisements and films. I also gained recognition as a YouTuber using his proficiency in Indonesian. After graduation, I joined CACTAS Inc., where I set up an overseas base for video production in Malaysia. In 2023, I co-founded Yatra Inc.
My hobbies include traveling and exploring guesthouses.
I visited over 30 countries and all 47 prefectures of Japan. Some of my memorable travel destinations include Kolkata, India (overseas) and Momoiwa-so Youth Hostel on Rebun Island (domestic).
Executive Officer: Takaya Fujii
Graduated from Kwansei Gakuin University’s School of Business Administration. Born in Kobe.
During my university years, I studied consumer behavior. After graduation, I joined Rakuten Group, Inc., where I worked in the Business Strategy Department of Rakuten Travel. There, I managed corporate travel solutions for major enterprise clients, overseeing accounts worth billions of yen and driving both customer growth and business expansion. In 2025, I joined Yatra Inc.
My hobbies include traveling, where I visited all seven continents and more than 30 countries.
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▼CEO's note: About Inbound tourism and travels
Corporate Profile
Company
Yatra Inc.
Headquarters
6-17-14 Higashi-Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-0015
Sales branch
3F Shimbashi Tokyu Building, 4-21-3 Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004
Founded
August 2023
Capital
￥6,000,000
Representatives
Kensuke Ko, Soma Tashiro
Number of employees
102 (including part-time and contract staff)
Travel Agency License
Tokyo Governor Registered Travel Agency No. 3-8532
Contact
contact@yatra.co.jp