radiko becomes a tourist guide! Location-based audio tourist guide "radiko audio Guide" developed and launched. First phase: Simultaneous rollout in 5 islands and 12 municipalities of Amami Islands, Kagoshima Prefecture

radiko Inc. (CEO: Takuo Ikeda, Location: Minato-ku, Tokyo), which provides the free service "radiko" for listening to radio on smartphones and computers, and Blogwatcher Inc. (CEO: Namura Namura, Location: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo) have jointly developed and launched "radiko audio Guide," a location-based audio tourist guide service. This service integrates the podcast function of "radiko," Japan's largest audio platform, with Blogwatcher's location information SDK "Profile Passport."

Furthermore, as the first phase of this service, we are pleased to announce that in cooperation with the Amami Islands Wide-Area Administration Association (Administrator: Sohei Yasuda, Location: Amami City, Kagoshima Prefecture), a simultaneous rollout will begin on July 1, 2026 (Wed) across 5 islands and 12 municipalities in the Amami Islands, Kagoshima Prefecture. This introduction in the Amami Islands marks the first case in Japan of a wide-area audio guide being simultaneously implemented in remote island regions.

▸ radiko audio Guide "Amami Islands Tourist Channel"

https://radiko.jp/podcast/channels/83aad55f-a677-441a-9a9d-848156c964ea/

"radiko audio Guide" is a new tourist guide service that combines the podcast function of "radiko," Japan's largest audio platform used by approximately 8.5 million people monthly, with Blogwatcher's location information technology "Profile Passport," enabling maximum reduction of initial costs. Simply by approaching a target spot, tourists will automatically receive an audio guide notification on their smartphone, allowing them to "listen" to the history and highlights of the tourist destination on the spot.

For the production of the audio guides in the Amami Islands, multiple announcers from MBC South Japan Broadcasting, a local Kagoshima broadcaster, and an artist from Okinoerabu Island served as narrators. The professional narration, delivered by those deeply familiar with the region, conveys the charm of the Amami Islands in greater depth.

Moving forward, we will promote the expansion to municipalities, tourist facilities (theme parks, parks, castles, art museums, museums, etc.), railway companies, and bus companies nationwide, aiming to establish a new standard for enhancing tourist experiences through audio guides.

Background of "radiko audio Guide" Development

Many tourist destinations face common challenges: "concentration on specific spots and lack of circulation," "difficulty in appealing attractions that cannot be fully conveyed by guidebooks alone," and "shortage of guide personnel." The Amami Islands, in particular, have seen an increase in tourists since their registration as a World Natural Heritage site in 2021, but connecting the tourist resources scattered across five islands to encourage circulation and longer stays has been a challenge.

"radiko audio Guide" addresses these challenges in tourist areas with a new approach that combines "audio" and "location information" to deliver necessary information in real-time through "hearing" at the "exact location" visitors are.

"Listening Tourist Experience" Delivered to Your Smartphone Just by Approaching a Tourist Spot

5 Features of "radiko audio Guide"

▸ Feature 1 No Dedicated App Required - Reaches radiko's 8.5 Million Monthly Users

There is no need to develop and promote a new dedicated app. The "radiko" app, already used by many users, becomes the platform for audio guides, allowing for broad reach immediately upon introduction.

▸ Feature 2 Automatic Delivery Just by Approaching - Location-Based Push Notifications

With Blogwatcher's location information technology, push notifications are automatically sent to smartphones when tourists approach within tens to hundreds of meters of a tourist spot (※). By simply tapping the notification, users can listen to the audio guide. The notification range and time zone can be set for each spot.

※ Notifications are only sent to users who have enabled location information and notifications for the radiko app.

▸ Feature 3 Low Cost and Easy Introduction

No large-scale system development or hardware installation work is required. With a pricing structure based on units of 10 spots, the pricing is set to be affordable for small facilities and municipalities.

▸ Feature 4 Audio Production by Announcers from radiko's Participating Radio Stations Nationwide is Possible

radiko includes all 99 commercial radio stations nationwide, allowing production staff and announcers from each station to be commissioned for audio guide production. For the introduction in the Amami Islands, multiple announcers from local Kagoshima broadcaster MBC South Japan Broadcasting provided narration. In addition, flexible audio production is supported according to budget and objectives, including the use of AI voices and professional narrators.

▸ Feature 5 Supports Diverse Scenes, Both Outdoors and Indoors

For outdoor tourist spots, location-based push notifications are used, while for indoor facilities such as art museums, museums, and historical archives, audio guides are provided via NFC tags or QR codes. It can accommodate all kinds of tourist scenes, including parks, castles, shopping streets, hiking trails, and driving routes.

4 Expected Effects of Implementation

▸ Improvement of Tourist Experience

From tourism of "just looking" to tourism of "knowing, understanding, and being moved." By adding hearing to sight, the tourist experience is significantly enriched. Improvement in word-of-mouth ratings and acquisition of repeat visitors are expected.

▸ Promotion of Circulation

Through the audio guide for one spot, an opportunity is created to learn about nearby spots. This serves as a motivation to visit places not originally planned, leading to increased circulation and longer stays.

▸ Resolution of Personnel Shortages

High-quality audio guides can be provided 24 hours a day, even with a shortage of guide personnel. Multilingual support can also be achieved by adding audio files, making it useful for inbound tourism.

▸ Revitalization of Regional Tourism

Starting with the introduction of audio guides, it contributes to the overall revitalization of regional tourism by increasing attention and desire to visit tourist destinations and facilities. Customer attraction effects are also expected through buzz generation, such as SNS promotion by local announcers.

Amami Islands Implementation Overview

▸ Service Name: radiko audio Guide

▸ Start Date: July 1, 2026 (Wed)

▸ Implementation Area: 5 Islands and 12 Municipalities in the Amami Islands, Kagoshima Prefecture (Amami Oshima: Amami City, Yamato Village, Uken Village, Setouchi Town, Tatsugo Town; Kikaijima: Kikai Town; Tokunoshima: Tokunoshima Town, Amagi Town, Isen Town; Okinoerabu Island: Wadomari Town, China Town; Yoron Island: Yoron Town)

▸ Audio Guide Production: Multiple announcers from MBC South Japan Broadcasting and an artist from Okinoerabu Island provide narration.

▸ How to Use: Install the radiko app (free) and allow location information and notifications. When approaching a target spot, a notification will automatically arrive, and the audio guide can be played by tapping it. Direct access is also possible through search within the radiko app or via URL.

▸ Usage Fee: Free for tourists.

Diverse Usage Scenarios - Every "Place" Becomes a Stage for Audio Guides

Beyond the Amami Islands, it can be utilized for various tourist resources, facilities, and transportation in Japan.

▸ Municipalities and Tourism Associations: Introduction of audio guides for tourism on a municipal basis. Design of wide-area circulation routes and promotion of repeat visits through seasonal content updates.

▸ Theme Parks and Parks: Installation of audio guides for each area, attractions, and points of interest within the park. Extending visitor circulation within the park and length of stay.

▸ Castles and Historic Sites: Placement of historical commentary guides at each point, such as stone walls, keeps, and castle towns. Providing in-depth experiences for history enthusiasts.

▸ Art Museums and Museums: In conjunction with NFC/QR codes, detailed commentary for each exhibit is delivered via audio. Eliminates the need for dedicated audio guide device rentals.

▸ Railways, Buses, and Ships: Audio guides linked to scenic spots along the route or from the windows. Information about areas around the next station is delivered during the ride, promoting regional circulation through intermediate stops.

▸ Shopping Streets and Community Development: Audio guidance for recommended stores and gourmet information in shopping streets. Promotes circulation and purchasing as an "ear guide map" that can be listened to while walking.

▸ Mountain Climbing and Hiking: Audio guidance at rest stops and observation decks on hiking trails, highlighting scenic views and photo opportunities. Can also be used for safety information delivery.

Comments from Stakeholders

▸ Mr. Keiji Tomi, Director-General of the Amami Islands Wide-Area Administration Association

We are introducing "radiko audio Guide" to the islands of the Amami Archipelago.

The Amami Islands are currently at a major turning point. In this commemorative year of the 5th anniversary of the registration of Amami Oshima and Tokunoshima as World Natural Heritage sites, and the 10th anniversary of the designation of the Amami Islands National Park, we find it highly significant to be able to disseminate the rich "environment and culture" that the islands have preserved and passed down through a new tool like audio guides.

The Amami Islands possess numerous precious natural, flora, fauna, historical, and cultural resources that can only be encountered by visiting the location. Through this service, we propose a new style of travel where visitors "feel the beauty with their eyes and learn about the history and culture behind it with their ears." We expect that by adding the "joy of knowing" to visual impressions, it will lead to the provision of a more profound and high-quality tourist experience beyond simply gazing at the scenery.

Furthermore, by transmitting the charm of each unique island through "radiko audio Guide," we believe it will deepen visitors' understanding of the Amami Islands and contribute to increased satisfaction.

We hope that many people will visit the Amami Islands and experience their charm.

▸ Takuo Ikeda, President and CEO, radiko Inc.

There are many attractive tourist spots throughout Japan.

radiko has, to date, delivered voices and information rooted in local areas through radio programs nationwide.

Therefore, we believe that by combining the power of audio content cultivated by radiko with location information technology, we can offer a new tourist experience that allows visitors to feel the charm of a place more deeply.

Starting with the Amami Islands, through "radiko audio Guide," we will build a new standard for delivering the attractions of various regions in Japan through audio, in collaboration with municipalities and companies nationwide.

▸ Namura Namura, Representative Director, Blogwatcher Inc.

By combining our location information technology "Profile Passport" with radiko's audio platform, we have created a new tourist experience that can only be realized by radiko x Blogwatcher: "delivering the right information to the right people at the right place." The service's strength lies in its low introduction barrier, making it easy for small municipalities and tourist facilities to start using it.

We hope to assist in regional revitalization through tourism by having many regions and facilities utilize this service.

Company Overview

【radiko Inc.】

▸ Location: REVZO Toranomon 3F, 1-8-1 Nishi-Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo

▸ Established: December 1, 2010

▸ Representative: Takuo Ikeda, President and CEO

▸ Business Content: Development and operation of the "radiko" app for listening to radio and podcasts. All 99 commercial radio stations affiliated with the National Association of Commercial Broadcasters in Japan participate. Monthly users: approx. 8.5 million.

【Blogwatcher Inc.】

▸ Location: Hibiya Park Front 19F, 2-1-6 Uchisaiwai-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

▸ Established: April 2007

▸ Representative: Namura Namura, Representative Director

▸ Business Content: Under the philosophy of "Making good choices and actions for people and society through data," we develop and provide location information-related services through our location information data platform. We offer diverse solutions that support data utilization in advertising, urban development, tourism, and real estate fields, including SDK provision, analysis, ad delivery, and data linkage.

Inquiries and Consultation for Implementation

radiko and Blogwatcher aim to establish a standard for enhancing tourist experiences through audio guides by expanding to municipalities, tourist facilities, and transportation operators nationwide. Those interested in the service are invited to visit the special page for radiko audio Guide. We also welcome casual consultations such as "I'd like to hear more" or "I want to know if it can be used in my region/facility."

▸ radiko audio Guide Special Page

https://audio-guide.radiko.jp/

In addition to an overview of the service, a simple quote can be provided.

▸ Inquiries about radiko audio Guide

https://tayori.com/f/radiko-audio-guide

Please submit your inquiry through the form above. We will respond within 3 business days.

▼Regarding Location Data Used The data utilized by Blogwatcher is solely from users who have downloaded partner apps and granted permission for location information acquisition. ・Details on data acquisition and utilization: https://www.blogwatcher.co.jp/terms/

About radiko

radiko (https://radiko.jp/) is a free service that allows you to listen to radio and podcasts on smartphones and computers. Through features like "Time Free" (free), which allows you to listen to radio programs broadcast within the past 7 days, "Area Free" (385 yen/month including tax※1), which allows you to enjoy radio programs nationwide beyond your area, and "Time Free 30" (480 yen/month including tax※2), which allows you to listen to radio programs within the past 30 days without time limits, anyone can easily enjoy audio content anytime, anywhere, whether at home or during commutes.

Approaching its 15th anniversary in December 2025, under the slogan "FIND YOUR VOICE.," radiko is growing and evolving to expand the audio listening experience, connect more strongly with users, and offer new ways to enjoy content. To this end, various anniversary projects are being implemented, including the appointment of Hikari Ota of Bakusho Mondai as the radiko 15th Anniversary PR Ambassador, the production and distribution of original podcast programs, the release of a brand movie starring Taisei Kido with music by Saucy Dog, the official character "Radimaru," and various campaigns.

【radiko 15th Anniversary Special Site】 https://15th.radiko.jp/

Participating Stations: All 99 commercial radio stations, NHK (NHK AM, NHK FM)

※1) If registered through the App Store or Google Play, the monthly fee is 480 yen/tax included. ※2) If registered through the App Store or Google Play, the monthly fee is 620 yen/tax included.

※ For inquiries regarding the radiko audio Guide service, please contact:

https://tayori.com/f/radiko-audio-guide

※ The information contained in this press release is current as of the date of announcement and is subject to change without notice. Thank you for your understanding.