Kakaku.com

Basic Information

Stock Code
2371
Industry
Services
Category Detail
Internet Site Operations
Prefecture
Tokyo
Establishment Year
December 1997
Listing Year
October 2003
Official Website
https://corporate.kakaku.com/
TSE Information
TSE Information
Yahoo! Finance
Yahoo! Finance
Other Companies
LIFULL, ITmedia, Cookpad, Digital Arts, M3, ABC-Mart, ZOZO, Ateam Holdings, MarkLines, Sharing Technology, Bengoshi.com, Rakumachi, Kamakura Shinsho

Overview

Kakaku.com is an internet information service company founded in 1997, leading the domestic market as a major player in price comparison and restaurant review sites.

Current Situation

Kakaku.com achieved consolidated revenue of 78.4 billion yen and operating profit of 29.3 billion yen for the fiscal year ending March 2025, demonstrating solid performance. Its flagship price comparison site 'Kakaku.com' provides comparison services for a diverse range of products and boasts high industry recognition. The restaurant review site 'Tabelog' also has over 100 million monthly users, wielding strong influence in the restaurant industry. In recent years, it has pursued business diversification into job sites and travel-related sites, focusing on strengthening services through IT technology. From a sustainability perspective, it engages in social contribution activities and is building foundations for medium- to long-term growth. It maintains strong ties with major shareholders such as Digital Garage and KDDI, reinforcing its management base under stable capital relationships. Looking ahead, it plans to focus on enhancing AI and mobile apps to improve user experience.

Trivia

Interesting Facts

  • Founder started business by surveying prices at Akihabara stores
  • Tabelog overtook Gurunavi to become industry No.1 in 2011
  • Has experience of temporary site shutdown due to unauthorized access incident
  • Domestic major operating cross-industry services
  • Operates multiple review sites with over 100 million monthly users
  • Kakaku.com initially updated prices manually
  • Technological innovations enabled real-time price comparisons
  • IT platformer with transactions with multiple foreign companies
  • Strengthened management base through multiple capital-business alliances
  • Company name is coined word meaning 'compare prices'

Hidden Connections

  • Major shareholder Digital Garage expands investments via private equity strategy
  • Synergies with KDDI in mobile lines and information services
  • Business expansion into travel, movies, and fashion via multiple subsidiaries
  • Kakaku.com becomes industry standard as Japan's largest price comparison site
  • Tabelog expansion transforms restaurant industry marketing
  • Operates real estate info site contributing to digitalization of life infrastructure
  • Multi-media strategy enables flexible response to market trends
  • Cultivated communities since early days via bulletin board services

Future Outlook

Growth Drivers

  • Increased access from mobile usage expansion
  • Service sophistication via AI and big data utilization
  • Growing user base from strong review culture support
  • Revenue diversification through multi-media deployment
  • Growth in digital advertising market
  • Ongoing expansion of online shopping
  • Strengthening of local information services
  • Expanding demand for B2B data services
  • Rising sustainable consumption trends
  • Increased travel-related demand from inbound tourism recovery

Strategic Goals

  • Achieve 150 million annual platform users
  • Strengthen revenue structure with 50% increase in advertising sales
  • Promote service automation and efficiency via AI
  • Realize over ¥20 billion in new business sales
  • Halve environmental impact based on sustainability goals
  • Launch overseas expansion of data utilization business
  • Strengthen integration across diverse genres
  • Advance development of new services for women and youth
  • Further strengthen privacy protection framework
  • Nationwide rollout of community-focused services

Business Segments

Advertising and Marketing Services

Overview
Provides online advertising and marketing support to clients across various industries.
Competitiveness
High-precision data analysis and extensive user base
Customers
  • IT companies
  • Retailers
  • Restaurants
  • Travel agencies
  • Automotive-related companies
  • Real estate companies
  • Job advertisers
Products
  • Online advertising services
  • Marketing analytics
  • Promotion support
  • SEO measures
  • Data provision services

Data Provision and API Services

Overview
Distributes data from its own sites for use in diverse external services.
Competitiveness
Reliable data and broad coverage
Customers
  • EC site operators
  • Price comparison sites
  • Mobile app developers
  • Advertising agencies
Products
  • Price data API
  • Review data distribution
  • Ranking information provision

Technology Development and Operations Support

Overview
Provides services supporting the site technology infrastructure for itself and related companies.
Competitiveness
Advanced IT expertise and extensive operational experience
Customers
  • Group companies
  • External partner companies
Products
  • Site operation support
  • System development
  • Maintenance and monitoring operations

Competitive Advantage

Strengths

  • Operation of one of Japan's largest price comparison platforms
  • Broad service deployment across multiple genres
  • High user access numbers and brand recognition
  • Management stability from strong capital alliances
  • Accumulation of extensive reviews and user-generated content
  • Expertise in operating diverse web media
  • Advanced IT technology utilization capabilities
  • Established market position as an industry leader
  • Solid financial base and high profit margins
  • Marketing strength from accumulated customer data

Competitive Advantages

  • Powerful customer acquisition centered on Kakaku.com covering wide product categories
  • Secured largest domestic user base with restaurant review site Tabelog
  • Diversified revenue sources by providing marketing and advertising services to various industries
  • Clear differentiation through data distribution and API services
  • Robust support system from capital and business alliances with major telecom and IT firms
  • Fusion of reliable proprietary price data and user-generated content
  • Successful user retention through extensive site lineup
  • Maintained high customer satisfaction via continuous service improvements

Threats

  • Risk of user share loss due to rising competitors
  • Potential inability to keep pace with rapid IT changes
  • Risk of reputational damage from privacy or security issues
  • Concerns over traffic dispersion from emerging platforms and SNS
  • Possible cost increases from stricter regulations on advertising and information management
  • Risk of advertising revenue decline due to economic fluctuations
  • Intensifying competition in overseas markets
  • Threats from cyberattacks and unauthorized access
  • Risk of revenue base weakening from user churn
  • Risk of development delays due to shortage of technical talent

Innovations

2024: Improved Price Comparison Accuracy Using AI

Overview
Introduced AI technology to enable real-time price fluctuation analysis and optimal recommendations.
Impact
Increased user satisfaction and site usage time

2023: Launched Restaurant Job Platform 'Tabelog Jobs'

Overview
Expanded services by launching a job site specialized in the restaurant industry.
Impact
Successfully expanded customer base and generated new revenue

2022: Major UI/UX Renewal for Travel Portal Sites

Overview
Revamped sites like 4Travel for improved usability.
Impact
Achieved improvements in user dwell time and bookings

2021: Enhanced Functionality of Mobile Applications

Overview
Added new features to Kakaku.com and Tabelog apps to boost convenience.
Impact
App users increased 15% year-over-year

2020: Launched Corporate Data API Services

Overview
Began providing price and review data via API to enterprises.
Impact
Established new revenue base for B2B business

Sustainability

  • Promoting environmental burden reduction using digital technology
  • Establishing systems to support diverse work styles
  • IT education support activities for local communities
  • Strengthening information security and thorough personal data protection
  • Promoting women's advancement and gender equality
  • Utilization of energy-efficient data centers
  • Ensuring transparency in CSR activities
  • Addressing environmental and social issues in the supply chain
  • Promoting internal diversity
  • Conducting eco-events and campaigns