Ocean secures Series A funding for tax-free shopping platform

Ocean, a Tokyo-based startup, has completed the first close of its Series A funding round. The investment includes new participation from the ONE-JAPAN Tourism Fund—a joint venture between HIS, ZUU Funders, and Nippon Asia Investment—alongside Dual Bridge Capital. Existing investors Z Venture Capital, Delight Ventures, and Bluefin Partners also participated.

The funding is aimed at supporting the transition to Japan’s new tax-free system scheduled for November 2026. Under the upcoming regulations, the current point-of-sale discount method will shift to a refund-based system where tourists apply for tax returns after purchase.

Ocean’s platform, ‘Ocean Tax Refund,’ allows travelers to apply for refunds online via smartphone mini-programs within existing social media apps, supporting over 30 currencies and multiple languages. The company intends to use the capital to strengthen merchant support during the regulatory transition and to expand into inbound marketing services that help retailers connect with international customers after their initial purchase.