![]() ![]() If they balk, another method is to find a close Japanese friend who trusts you enough and is willing to use his or her bank account to open the gym membership account. First, try telling them that you’ll pay in cash. Explain that you’re only in the country for however long and are willing to pay for a membership that’s in one lump sum. ![]() If you’re fluent enough with the language or can find English speakers, request to speak directly to the franchise manager. That means you’re left with paying outrageously expensive month-to-month or day visitor passes. Without either of those, I was denied gym membership at just about every place, including Gold’s Gym. A Japanese bank account or credit card which you use to pay your membership.In my experience, if you want to sign up for an actual gym membership, you need: Getting Gym Memberships As a Foreign Visitor Is Tricky Typically, daytime-only is cheaper, so if you can go during the day this would be the better deal. It’s bonkers to me as an American, but whatever. That means a general membership doesn’t necessarily give you anytime access, unless you pay for that feature. They have separate prices for daytime-only usage and full-day access, presumably because nighttime is prime time and really hits the salarymen’s demographic. ![]() Want to be able to use it at any time? Sorry, you have to pay extra for that. In Harajuku’s Gold’s Gym, I almost shit a brick when I saw the prices. Here’s the English pamphlet they had:Īlso, gyms in Japan charge memberships based on when you’d like to use the facilities. In America, I paid $30 to $40 on average per month to use the gym. This perspective is obviously based on my anchor point, the price point that I’m used to. If your main love is weight training, Gold’s Gym in Japan is a great option. Gold’s biggest benefit is that you can easily find many other locations throughout Japan.īut…gym memberships in general are really. The problem is, not every gym has a weight room. The big chain gyms include Central Sports, Konami Sports Club, Tipness, NAS, Anytime Fitness, and Gold’s Gym. Eventually though, I realized that there were actually plenty of gyms around Tokyo and other parts of Japan. ![]() When I first arrived in Tokyo, I wasn’t sure where to start looking. There are a couple of barriers to finding and accessing a gym in Japan. This came as a surprise to me because while Japan may be lightyears ahead in cool tech like trains that bring you sushi and toilets that squirt at your bum, opinions about gym culture and weightlifting are still stuck in the 60s. So one day, when I walked around Shibuya, one of the famous wards in Tokyo, I came across an Under Armour billboard that featured a Japanese woman holding a barbell (!!!!). Here’s what I know about finding and accessing a gym (with weights!).įitness and gyms aren’t what you normally associate with Japan. Lifting weights is an important part of my routine, but it took me a lot of sleuthing to figure out where all the good, affordable gyms in Japan are. I spend quite a bit of time on a visitor visa in Tokyo. Where the hell are all the gyms in Japan? But if you care about your fitness and working out in a gym, you might wonder: It is friendly, inclusive, and an amazing area to further your health.Most people visit Japan for the cuteness, Godzilla, crazy robot shows, ramen, sushi, and all that other super Japanese stuff. I couldn't recommend this gym more for a well experienced lifter or a newcomer alike. The squat racks are full of plates, the dumbbells go up to 60kg, there are machines for every muscle group under the sun, and the cardio equipment is plentiful and perfectly maintained. Further, they have a wide variety of equipment for all your exercise or cardio needs. The gym is always kept perfectly clean, ensuring that it is COVID safe and enjoyable for everyone coming to workout. SPECIAL shout-out to the manager Julien who is the best at everything he does. Whether it be issues with signing up for the gym, trouble finding equipment, advice for an exercise, or a spot for your time in need bench pressing, they got you covered. They are just as willing to hear about your day as they are willing to help you with any of your needs surrounding the gym. The team is all around amazing, all with very friendly attitudes. I have never in my life been to a more professional, friendly, and high quality gym than Anytime Fitness Haymarket. ![]()
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