NEWT Chat, operated by Reiwa Travel Co., Ltd., is now a registered eligible IT tool under Japan's "Digital and AI Adoption Subsidy 2026" (formerly the IT Adoption Subsidy), run by the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency and the Organization for Small & Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation (SMRJ). Reiwa Travel has been approved as an IT implementation support provider under the program.
From now on, eligible businesses can use the subsidy to adopt NEWT Chat.
Ready to try NEWT Chat for yourself?
The free trial needs no credit card. See adoption results and pricing details in the guide.
About the "Digital and AI Adoption Subsidy 2026"
The subsidy covers part of the cost when small and medium-sized businesses adopt IT tools. To receive it, a business must adopt a tool registered with the program secretariat, with the support of an approved IT implementation support provider.
- Subsidy rate — generally up to one-half
- Covered cost — NEWT Chat cloud usage fees (up to two years)
- Eligible businesses (for inns and ryokan) — capital of 50 million yen or less, or 200 or fewer regular employees (see the official site for criteria in other industries)
Other application requirements apply, such as obtaining a GBizID. The nearest application deadline is 5:00 PM JST on Friday, October 30, 2026. For schedules beyond that, please check the official site (Japanese).
Please note
- IT tools contracted, ordered, or paid for before the grant decision are not eligible.
- Applications are screened, and approval is not guaranteed.
- The applicant business itself enters and submits the application. Reiwa Travel supports business plan preparation and guides you through the procedure.
Ready to try NEWT Chat for yourself?
The free trial needs no credit card. See adoption results and pricing details in the guide.
NEWT Chat features
- 40+ languages — guests get instant answers in their own language
- Setup in as little as 5 minutes — enter your URL and the AI learns your site automatically
- 24/7 availability — automatic replies to guest inquiries, including outside business hours
- Inquiry visibility — use conversation data to improve services and marketing
NEWT Chat is used by a range of properties, from onsen ryokan to hotels.
- Taberu Oyado Hamanoyu: monthly phone calls fell from about 2,000 to about 1,600, saving about 17 hours of work per month
- JHAT Co., Ltd. (hotel MONday): because the AI reads the website directly, the team no longer has to keep building FAQs by hand
- WASUKI BASE Biwako: inquiries to on-site staff fell by about 90%
See the case studies for details.
Related links
- NEWT Chat service site
- NEWT Chat case studies
- Digital and AI Adoption Subsidy 2026 official site (Japanese)
Contact
To discuss adopting NEWT Chat with the subsidy, choose an option below.