Most first-time school owners underestimate how long the first stage takes. Before the first proper month of classes, you need a suitable room, students, teachers, materials, parent communication, billing, marketing, and enough cash to get through the slow start.
Spring English in Tsunashima, Yokohama gives the right buyer a different starting point. The school is already operating, with students, scheduled classes, premises, teaching materials, and school systems in place.
For a teacher who wants to own a school, or a small education company looking for a well-priced Yokohama acquisition, this is a real opportunity to take over an existing children’s English school and relaunch it with the backing of Modern English.
If you are still comparing whether to buy or build from scratch, you may also want to read our guide to starting a language school in Japan.
1. Take over a school that is already running
Spring English is an established children’s English school in Kohoku-ku, Yokohama. It has been part of the local area for years and already has the basics a new school owner would otherwise have to build one by one.
The current working timetable shows around 35 classes per week, mainly children’s English classes, with EIKEN-related classes also included. The latest student numbers, revenue, staff arrangements, and transfer details will need to be confirmed during due diligence, but this is not an empty-room startup.
That matters. A buyer is not trying to persuade a landlord, decorate a space, choose materials, create a timetable, and find the first students all at once. The base is there. Spring is best viewed as a relaunch and growth opportunity, with scope to rebuild enrolment under stronger franchise systems.
2. One minute from Tsunashima Station
The school is at 1-7-17 Tsunashima Higashi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 223-0052, about one minute from Tsunashima Station.
Tsunashima is a strong family area in Yokohama, with local schools, commuters, parents, and children’s activities nearby. For a children’s English school, location is not just a convenience. Parents need a place they can reach easily, explain easily, and recommend to other families.
The premises are approximately 97.75 m² on the 3rd floor of the Shinbunka Building. The space has been used as an English conversation school and includes multiple rooms, with room to rebuild class occupancy before taking on the cost of a second location.
The current rent referenced by the seller is ¥130,000 per month. Premises transfer, new lease or landlord approval must be confirmed before completion. New lease terms and any building-related issues must be confirmed directly as part of the transfer process.
3. What is expected to be included
The sale is expected to include the school business and the assets needed to keep operating, subject to final confirmation.
- School furniture and classroom equipment
- Teaching materials and curriculum resources
- Current timetable and operating history
- Student and parent records — student and parent information will only be transferred in accordance with Japanese privacy law and any required consent or notice procedures
- Teacher continuity will be discussed during due diligence and transition planning
- Modern English curriculum and school systems under a new franchise agreement
- Live Schedule school management system access
- Relaunch support from Modern English
A full asset list, student details, financials, staff information, and site visit arrangements will be shared with serious buyers after an NDA.
4. Sale price and expected entry cost
The current working structure is:
- School business and assets: offers around ¥1,000,000
- Lease, key money, and related premises costs: approximately ¥1,200,000
- Modern English franchise fee: ¥1,100,000
- Refit, signs, decoration, and relaunch preparation: approximately ¥600,000 to ¥1,000,000, depending on the final plan
A practical buyer should expect an initial budget of roughly ¥3.9M to ¥4.3M before working capital. Recommended working capital is likely to be at least ¥500,000 to ¥1,000,000, depending on timing and relaunch spending.
The projected P&L for 2026/2027 shows gross revenue exceeding ¥10,000,000, with projected profit before tax for a non-teaching owner exceeding ¥2,000,000. These are projections, not guarantees. Full details are available to serious buyers after signing an NDA and should be checked as part of normal due diligence.
These figures are indicative only and subject to due diligence, landlord approval, final asset list and contract.
The low purchase price makes this a realistic option for a hands-on teacher-owner. Compared with opening a similar school from zero in Yokohama, the attraction is clear: rooms, students, systems, and a local base are already in place.
5. Modern English franchise support and possible visa sponsorship
Please note that this is a Modern English franchise school and will enjoy all the benefits and support services such as Modern English operating systems, curriculum support, Live Schedule school management software, bilingual inquiry and phone answering, parent communication and fee collection systems, teaching materials, reporting, relaunch advice and ongoing head office support.
Everything is in place to support you and remove barriers that hinder the success of most independent school. Modern English has been successfully managing for over twenty years.
Because the school operates as a Modern English franchise, we may also be able to discuss visa sponsorship for a suitably qualified buyer, subject to full legal, immigration and business checks. This cannot be guaranteed and must be confirmed case by case.
6. Where a new owner can grow the school
Spring is best viewed as a relaunch and growth opportunity, with scope to rebuild enrolment under stronger franchise systems. That is part of why the price is attractive. It is also where a good operator will find the upside.
A new owner could focus on:
- Refreshing signs, classrooms, and local branding
- Running local trial lesson and referral campaigns
- Improving parent communication and retention
- Adding younger learner classes
- Expanding EIKEN and test-prep classes
- Adding seasonal events and holiday programs
- Using digital learning tools where they help retention
- Increasing class occupancy before adding major new costs
The best buyer is not someone looking for a finished school that runs itself. It is someone who can see the base that already exists and has the energy and commitment to rebuild it properly — backed by Modern English systems every step of the way.
7. Who this school would suit
This school would suit:
- A teacher who wants to own a school instead of working for one
- A couple looking to run a local education business
- An existing school owner looking to expand into Yokohama
- A small education company looking for a low-cost acquisition
- A bilingual operator who can communicate well with Japanese parents
- A hands-on buyer who can teach, manage staff, and sell the school locally
The buyer does not need to invent the curriculum or build every system from scratch. They do need to work. A hands-on owner with the support of Modern English behind them will have the best chance of making this succeed.
8. Notes before enquiring
All figures are indicative and subject to confirmation. The final sale will depend on the asset list, latest student numbers, current revenue, teacher continuity, landlord approval, lease terms, buyer suitability, the Modern English franchise agreement, and the transition plan.
Serious buyers will be asked to sign an NDA before receiving detailed financials, student data, staff details, or site visit arrangements.
9. Review the Spring English buyer pitch deck
A short buyer pitch deck is attached for serious enquiries. It summarizes the Tsunashima opportunity, expected entry cost, station-front location, Modern English conversion plan, and the main points buyers should confirm during due diligence.
Download the Spring English Tsunashima buyer pitch deck (PDF)
Detailed financials, student information, staff details, and site visit arrangements are available after NDA and subject to due diligence.
10. Interested in owning a school in Yokohama?
Spring English has history, students, classrooms, and real room to grow. It needs the right new owner: someone practical, energetic, and ready to relaunch a children’s English school in a strong Yokohama location — with Modern English support behind them from day one.
To enquire, request the information pack and start the NDA process.
Please include:
- Your name
- Current location
- Teaching or school management experience
- Japanese language ability
- Whether you can operate the school yourself
- Approximate available budget
- Preferred takeover timing
- Any questions you would like answered after NDA
Request the information pack
