Does AI describe your business
correctly?
When a traveler asks "where can I do a tea ceremony in Kyoto?", the entry point is shifting from Google to AI. Who ends up in those three-to-five recommendations? We measure it.
From our July 2026 survey
We asked AI about ten cultural-experience businesses in Kyoto, in Japanese, English, Traditional and Simplified Chinese. A shop with over 500 positive reviews was told "does not exist", and was then described as a different business entirely. Meanwhile, the one business whose prices AI quoted accurately was a small, owner-run tea room.
The difference was not size. It was not review count.
About this lab
Kamogawa AI Search Lab is an independent research project measuring how generative AI recognizes and describes businesses, and publishing the records.
Run by an IT consultant based in Kyoto, as a personal project. Not affiliated with any university or organization.
What we can and cannot say
We do not claim that AI optimization increases bookings. No one has yet demonstrated that causal link.
But change can be measured. Mention rate, AI-referred traffic, actual bookings — track these before and after, and you will know whether anything moved.
No guarantees. But measurement, yes.
Contact
kamogawa.ai.lab@gmail.com
Currently employed full-time; not accepting paid engagements. Happy to share findings and methodology at no cost.