What Step does

STEP (学習塾ステップ) is a privately held Japanese cram school (juku) founded in 1975 in Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, and operates exclusively within Kanagawa. The company runs 162 combined locations comprising 145 junior high-level schools, 15 high school-level schools, and 6 STEP Kids after-school care facilities, supported by 747 teachers of which 96.1% are full-time. Its product portfolio is segmented by student level and competitive exam target: 高校受験ステップ (standard junior high prep), Hi-STEP (elite prep), 県立中高一貫校対策コース (prefectural unified secondary school prep), 大学受験ステップ (university prep), K-STEP (1-on-1 tutoring), and 特色検査対策, 英検対策, スーパートライアル, and 日曜講習 as supplementary offerings, plus the e-STEP video learning platform and the STEP Kids after-school care program.

The business model is a monthly subscription tuition charged to families on a transparent published price list, with the option to enroll in single-subject or full-program packages. The technology stack consists of proprietary textbook and mock-exam content authored in-house, dedicated in-classroom infrastructure (98% of classrooms feature individual study booths), and the e-STEP video delivery platform. Performance outcomes are positioning-grade: enrolled students averaged 362.4 on the most recent mock exam against a Kanagawa prefecture average of 286.1, a +76.3-point differential. The company is independently owned, has no public financial disclosures, and has not pursued external funding, M&A, or new-prefecture expansion in the available record. STEP has ranked #1 in its Oricon customer satisfaction category for eight consecutive years and is the only Kanagawa-headquartered school to earn Eiken Platinum Partner status nationally.

Distribution is delivered through a dense Kanagawa-only school network with transparent monthly pricing for families, rather than through enterprise contracts or licensing. Unit economics are not disclosed, but the 4.6-teacher-per-location average and eight-year sustained top ranking indicate a stable, regionally concentrated revenue base. Externally the company runs a small CSR program (Rwanda educational support since 2015) but has no notable brand partnerships, technology integrations, or marketing campaigns beyond its regional positioning.

Name

Step

Legal name

学習塾ステップ（STEP）

Website

https://stepnet.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

STEP (学習塾ステップ) is a Kanagawa Prefecture-based Japanese cram school founded in 1975, operating 162 schools with 747 teachers and a monthly subscription model, serving students from primary through university entrance preparation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Tutoring Services

NAICS

Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), All Other Miscellaneous Schools and Instruction (611699)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

K–12 Standardized Assessments & Benchmark Exams Prep (State tests, MAP, ISEE/SSAT) (EDANABAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

K–12 Core Curriculum Small-Group Tutoring Centers (Math/ELA/Science/Social Studies) (EDANAHAA), Virtual Test Prep & Online Supplemental Instruction (K–12) (EDAJADAI), Curriculum, Lesson Planning & Instructional Content Platforms (EDAJAMAD)

Keywords

• Cram school tutoring
• Private education services
• Exam preparation courses
• K-12 tutoring
• Academic enrichment programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Fujisawa

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices28 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Regular classroom tuition: Monthly tuition for group classes (集団授業) at 高校受験ステップ, Hi-STEP, 大学受験ステップ. Tuition varies by grade and subject combination. Billed monthly. Additional course materials and facility fees may apply.
2. K-STEP one-on-one tutoring: Monthly fee for individual tutoring sessions (1 class = 80 min × 4 sessions per month). Each additional class can be added separately. 'Bridge discount' of ¥4,000 for students also enrolled in 大学受験ステップ group classes.
3. STEP Kids after-school program fees: Monthly program fees for after-school care and enrichment programs. Fees vary by program type (¥2,000–¥18,000/month per subject). Additional enrollment fee (¥10,000), management fee (¥2,000 per subject), and annual insurance (¥800).
4. Seasonal intensive courses: Separate fees for 春期/夏期/冬期 intensive courses and optional special programs (e.g., 特色検査対策講座, 英検対策講座, Super Trial 難関校受験対策). Standard for 中3 and some 中1/中2 students.
5. HOP course (STEP Kids standalone programs): Standalone program enrollment for elementary students who attend specific programs without full after-school care. Enrollment fee ¥10,000, program fees ¥6,000–¥9,000/month.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

学習塾ステップ (Step) operates a network of private tutoring schools (juku) in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. Founded in 1975 in Fujisawa, it delivers exam preparation and supplementary education programs for elementary through high school students, including dedicated courses for junior high school entrance exams, prefectural integrated junior/senior high school admissions, and university entrance examinations.

Product overview

Step is a comprehensive tutoring company that operates a multi-brand educational service portfolio across elementary, middle, and high school segments in Kanagawa Prefecture. The core offerings are organized into two main tracks: (1) the High School Exam Track — comprising 高校受験ステップ (standard group tutoring for middle schoolers), Hi-STEP (elite group tutoring for top-tier school aspirants), and 県立中高一貫校対策コース (unified secondary school entrance prep) — and (2) the University Exam Track — comprising 大学受験ステップ (group classes for high schoolers) and K-STEP (individualized one-on-one/small-group tutoring, combinable with the group program). STEP KiDS provides after-school enrichment for grades 1-4, with sub-programs including STEP Junior Labo and STEP サイエンス教室. Supplementary add-on programs include 特色検査対策講座 (aptitude test prep), 英検対策講座 (Eiken test prep), スーパートライアル (elite intensive), 日曜講習 (Sunday seminars), and seasonal intensives (春期/夏期/冬期). An e-STEP video learning platform supports self-study and make-up instruction. Step has no public API and operates no platform-ecosystem integrations. Founded in 1975, the company operates approximately 162 schools across middle and high school divisions, staffed predominantly by full-time teachers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• STEPキッズ: 小1生〜小4生を対象とした学童教室。探究プログラムとエンジョイプログラムを提供。
• Hi-STEP
• K-STEP
• 大学受験ステップ
• 高校受験ステップ

Products and services

• 高校受験ステップ (High School Entrance Exam Step) Classroom-based preparation course targeting high school entrance examinations for junior high school students in Kanagawa Prefecture. Delivered across 145 junior high-focused Step school locations.
• Hi-STEP Step branded high school-level exam preparation program delivered through the Step school network in Kanagawa Prefecture.
• K-STEP Named program within the Step course portfolio serving students in the Kanagawa tutoring network.
• 大学受験ステップ (University Entrance Exam Step) Classroom-based university entrance examination preparation for high school students, delivered through Step's 15 high school-focused school locations in Kanagawa Prefecture.
• STEP KiDS Elementary-school-level program within the Step portfolio providing supplementary education to younger students in Kanagawa Prefecture.
• 県立中高一貫校対策コース (Prefectural Integrated Junior/Senior High School Preparation Course) Targeted preparation course for entrance examinations to prefectural integrated junior/senior high schools (kendai-chūkō-ikkan) in Kanagawa Prefecture.
• e-STEP Online/digital learning offering complementing Step's physical school network, enabling remote or blended study within the same Kanagawa-focused program portfolio.

Quantifiable outcome

• STEP students averaged 362.4 points vs prefecture average of 286.1 points (+76.3 points) on the 2025 Kanagawa public high school entrance exam (5 subjects, 500-point scale)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• 株式会社臨海 (Rinkai Co., Ltd.)minorOthers · 17 December 2020A joint statement was issued on December 17, 2020 between STEP and 株式会社臨海 regarding their business relationship.
• イトマンスポーツスクエア藤沢店 (ITOMAN Sports Square Fujisawa)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016STEP Kids Shonan classroom partners with ITOMAN Sports Square Fujisawa for swimming programs. STEP Kids students can access swimming lessons at special partner rates. STEP Kids staff handle pickup and transportation to the facility.
• ムリンディ／ジャパン・ワンラブ・プロジェクト (Murindi/Japan One Love Project)minorOthers · 1 January 2015STEP has supported this Rwanda-based NGO providing prosthetic limbs since 2015. The NGO was founded by Chigurashi Mami (born in Chigasaki, Kanagawa) and her Rwandan husband Gatera. STEP collects donations from students and families and sends funds annually. The NGO has provided prosthetic limbs to over 10,000 people in Rwanda and Burundi. Activities have been featured in middle school ethics textbooks (光村図書, 2015).

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Meiko Gijuku (明光義塾): Largest個別指導 (1-on-1) franchise in Japan with extensive Kanagawa coverage; directly comparable to STEP's K-STEP model and a key competitor in the individual tutoring segment. Lower price point but much wider geographic and brand footprint.
• Yotsuya Gakuin (四谷学院): National exam-prep chain running its own 模試 (Yotsuya Mock) and offering both group classes and 個別指導; competes with STEP's combined 大学受験STEP + K-STEP offering in Kanagawa, especially for university-admission aspirants.
• Sapix (サピックス): Tokyo-based but operates widely in Kanagawa; elite K-12 entrance-exam prep school with its own proprietary curriculum and 模試 system — directly comparable to STEP's Hi-STEP/特色検査 track for top-tier Yokohama Suiran, Shonan, and Baiyo aspirants.
• Waseda Academy (早稲田アカデミー): National K-12 exam prep chain with significant Kanagawa branch network; competes with STEP in middle-school entrance prep and runs similar 模試/open-exam programs. Same category (中学受験/高校受験) and same Kanagawa customer base.
• Rinkai (株式会社臨海): Major K-12 cram school chain with deep Kanagawa/Saitama/Tokyo coverage; the only peer for whom STEP has issued a public joint statement (2020). Operates its own 臨海セミナー/個別指導 brands with high-school entrance and university prep programs directly competing with STEP across Kanagawa.

Broad incumbents

• Toshin (東進ハイスクール): Nationwide high-school-prep chain (大学受験) famous for satellite/online lectures by ，林修 and others; competes directly with 大学受験STEP and K-STEP in Kanagawa. Larger, more technology-enabled footprint than STEP.
• Sundai (駿台): National incumbent focusing on university entrance prep with strong medical-school specialization; competes with STEP's 大学受験STEP/K-STEP for 高3 students in Kanagawa and Tokyo. Broader portfolio than STEP but overlapping core audience.
• Yoyogi Zemi (代々木ゼミナール): National university-prep incumbent with Kanagawa locations; competes with STEP's 大学受験STEP segment, especially for elite private and national-university aspirants. Comparable in scale of mock-exam operations (代ゼミ模試).
• Kawaijuku (河合塾): One of Japan's largest national exam-prep incumbents (大学受験 and 中学受験); has multiple Kanagawa locations and operates its own 模試 (全統模試) — a broader, more national competitor that overlaps with STEP's 大学受験STEP and Hi-STEP products.

Emerging players

• Atama Plus (アタマプラス株式会社): AI-driven adaptive-learning platform used by many juku and 学校 across Japan; an emerging technology-native alternative whose lower-cost personalization could pressure STEP's traditional classroom model, particularly for high-school entrance and university prep.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/stepnet_info
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@STEP_official

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Step