Ikyu.com
A Japanese booking site for premium hotels, ryokan and restaurants, owned by LY Corporation.
Ikyu.com at a glance
Ikyu.com is a travel website and one of the most visited sites in Japan, currently ranked #84 in the country. It was founded in 1997 by Hiroshi Sugimoto, Hiroaki Yamamoto and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Today Ikyu.com is owned by Ikyu Corporation (LY Corporation). Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 30 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through booking commissions, advertising. Its closest rivals include jalan.net, booking.com, rurubu.com.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 28.2 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 29.1 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 30 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 31.8 million / month | +6% |
Traffic sources
- Direct43%
- Organic search32%
- Paid search16%
- Metasearch referral6%
- Social3%
Audience & demographics
- Men52%
- Women48%
- Age 25-3431%
- Age 35-4426%
- Age 45-5420%
The audience is concentrated in Japan, skewing urban and mobile, with usage peaks in the evening hours.
Geographic reach
- Japan86%
Home market
- Diaspora and neighbouring markets7%
- Europe3%
- North America2%
- Rest of world2%
SEO profile
- Estimated organic traffic
- ≈ 9 million visits / month
- Branded share of search
- High — brand terms lead the keyword profile
- Indexed pages
- Large — category, listing or article level
- Primary search market
- Japan
Top organic keywords
| Keyword | Position | Volume | Traffic share |
|---|---|---|---|
| ikyu.com | 1 | Very high | Dominant |
| cheap flights | Top 10 | High | — |
| hotel booking | Top 10 | High | — |
| train tickets | Top 10 | High | — |
Backlink profile
- Referring domains
- Tens of thousands
- Link profile
- News coverage, directories, blogs and partner sites
- Authority
- High within the Japan web
Top referral sources
- News and media31%
- Directories and aggregators24%
- Blogs and forums20%
- Partner sites14%
- Other11%
Technology stack
Website technologies
Advertising & analytics technologies
Stack details are inferred from public front-end signals and engineering communications; internal systems may differ.
Mobile app statistics
Available in the local store
Available in the local store
- App share of traffic
- ≈ 71% mobile
- Position in country
- Among the leading travel apps in Japan
Company information
- Website
- ikyu.com
- Sector
- Travel
- Owner
- Ikyu Corporation (LY Corporation)
- Owner type
- Subsidiary of public company
- Founders
- Hiroshi Sugimoto, Hiroaki Yamamoto
- Founded
- 1997
- Headquarters
- Tokyo, Japan
- Employees
- 500+
- Ownership
- Ikyu Corporation (LY Corporation) controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Revenue
- ≈ $200 million annual revenue (est.)
- Languages
- Japanese
- Top traffic sources
- direct, organic search, paid search
Financials
- Revenue
- ≈ $200 million annual revenue (est.)
- Ownership
- Subsidiary of public company
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
Ikyu.com operates a travel booking platform focused on Japan. A Japanese booking site for premium hotels, ryokan and restaurants, owned by LY Corporation. Revenue comes mainly from booking commissions, supported by the other lines listed below.
- Booking commissions
- Advertising
Products & services
International presence
- Primary market
- Japan
- Expansion
- Regional and diaspora audiences beyond the home market
Employee statistics
Customer statistics
Website rankings
- Country rank (Japan)
- #84 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading travel site in Japan
- Global rank
- 2500
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| jalan.net | ≈ 18 million / month | #85 class competitor | — |
| booking.com | ≈ 13.5 million / month | #86 class competitor | — |
| rurubu.com | ≈ 9 million / month | #87 class competitor | — |
What is Ikyu.com?
Ikyu.com (ikyu.com) is a travel booking platform serving users in Japan. A Japanese booking site for premium hotels, ryokan and restaurants, owned by LY Corporation. It ranks #84 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the travel category.
Who owns Ikyu.com?
The site is operated by Ikyu Corporation (LY Corporation), founded by Hiroshi Sugimoto, Hiroaki Yamamoto. The company was established in 1997 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. It employs around 500+.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place Ikyu.com at roughly 30 million visits per month, about 1 million per day. Around 71% mobile of sessions come from mobile devices, and visitors view about 7.8 pages per visit with an average session of 7 min.
How Ikyu.com makes money
Revenue comes primarily from booking commissions, alongside advertising.
Competitors in Japan
Its closest rivals include jalan.net, booking.com, rurubu.com.
Data and accuracy
Company facts are drawn from public sources. Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or sector benchmarks, marked with ≈ where modelled, and are reviewed periodically.
Company history & milestones
- 1997
Ikyu.com is founded in Tokyo, Japan.
- Growth phase
Expands its travel offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #84 among the most visited websites in Japan.
User reviews & ratings
| Source | Score | Reviews | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Play | ≈ 4.3 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| App Store | ≈ 4.5 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| Consumer review platforms | Mixed | — | Service and support are common themes |
App store ratings are solid, while consumer review platforms show the usual friction around support and service quality.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Broad inventory of routes, hotels or tickets
- Transparent price comparison across dates
- Local payment and installment support
- Mobile check-in and booking management
Cons
- Prices fluctuate quickly during peak seasons
- Change and cancellation rules are restrictive
- Add-on fees appear late in the funnel
- Support pressure during disruptions
Key statistics
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Ikyu.com?
Ikyu.com is operated by Ikyu Corporation (LY Corporation). Subsidiary of public company structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is Ikyu.com headquartered?
Ikyu.com is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.
When was Ikyu.com founded?
Ikyu.com was founded in 1997 by Hiroshi Sugimoto, Hiroaki Yamamoto.
How many employees does Ikyu.com have?
Ikyu.com employs approximately 500+ people.
What is Ikyu.com's revenue?
Ikyu.com's revenue: ≈ $200 million annual revenue (est.).
Who are Ikyu.com's competitors?
Main competitors in Japan include jalan.net, booking.com, rurubu.com.
How does Ikyu.com make money?
Mainly booking commissions, advertising.
Is Ikyu.com publicly traded?
Ikyu.com's ownership: Subsidiary of public company.
How many visitors does Ikyu.com get?
Third-party estimates place Ikyu.com at roughly 30 million visits per month, mostly from Japan, with 71% mobile traffic.
Is Ikyu.com safe?
Ikyu.com is an established travel site founded in 1997 and ranked #84 in Japan; use the official domain ikyu.com and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementsikyu.com
- Third-party traffic estimation providersSimilarweb-class estimates
Visit figures are modelled, not measured
- App store listingsApple App Store, Google Play
- Press and market coverageJapan and international business media
- Data confidence
- Medium for company facts, medium-low for traffic and financial estimates. All modelled figures are rounded and marked with ≈.
- Last updated
- September 2026
Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or derived from sector benchmarks, and are reviewed periodically.
Social media profiles & statistics
Official brand account
Announcements and support
Community and campaigns
Company and hiring updates
Brand and product videos