Job Discussion Forums

lessthanpep · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 1 Location: Minnesota, USA

I am very interested in working in Japan next year, hopefully through the JET program. One small concern that I have, however, is that most Japanese cities are fairly congested, and probably not ideal for joggers. I was wondering if health clubs are fairly popular in Japan (sorry for the generalization) and if so, how they match up to health clubs in the U.S.A. and what the costs for joining one are. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

Celeste · Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2003 7:28 am Post subject:

I have a partial membership with a swanky health club in town through my place of employment, and this entitles me to 2 visits per week at 800yen per visit. A friend of mine has an unlimited membership at a local gym for which she pays about 20 000yen per month. There seem to be a lot of gyms here. The are very similar to the ones I went to in Canada, but perhaps not as spacious.

azarashi sushi · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 562 Location: Shinjuku

Gyms are everywhere in Japan... Generally the standard is very high although often crowded and not so spacious. Here in Tokyo I pay 12 600 per month.

TokyoLiz · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1548 Location: Tokyo, Japan

Writerman,

LHanks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 25

You should have no problem finding a gym in Japan. They are reasonably priced and they are not hard to find. I joined one but ran into a snag. I have a small tattoo on my shoulder. I kno Rolling Eyes

w that most Japanese have a negative opinion of those with tattoos. The Japanese mob, the Yakuza, have them therefore they hold a negative stigma. I joined the gym, wore a shirt covering it while working out. I went into the locker room to change. A staff memeber caught a glimpse of my tattoo, the next day I received a letter informing me that they were returning my money and my membership was being cancelled. They had a no tattoo policy. So if you have one double check before you have to go through the upsetting ordeal I went through. Rolling Eyes

aSt · Joined: 12 Aug 2009 Posts: 11

LHanks, that's incredible what happened. This was a post long ago so I don't know if you are still on here but how have things worked out since? I'm hoping to go over to Japan in the New Year and one of my major concerns is maintaining a fitness regime over there as I do in the States. How accessible are the gyms now? Are there dress codes? Will I have trouble finding a gym near to where I leave be it in Tokyo or a less populated city such as Kyoto for example?

aSt · Joined: 12 Aug 2009 Posts: 11

If any one has any information to offer on this subject, the populace of gyms, expenses, ease of locations, regulations, etc., that would be great.

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

Gyms are all over the place. Even the totally nondescrript western suburb of Tokyo where I recently moved has 3 gyms within 5 minutes of the station and the same will be the case in any decent-sized city (Kyoto included). Unless you are way out in the ricefields, there will be a gym. Perhaps at many gyms the guys are expected to wear a t-shirt or tanktop while working out, but otherwise, no dress code that I know of- do gyms where you are often have dress codes?

Other than Gold's Gym, the majority of gyms will have the "no tattoo" policy and quite likely enforce it. I have a small tattoo on my foot but it's so small I can cover it up with a Band-Aid luckily, so no problem there.

Gyms are usuallly within 5 minute's walk of the train station, a full membership tends to cost around 14,000 yen a month, with cheaper memberships if you don't use their towels or if you only go at certain times of the day etc. Actually this topic was discussed far more recently than 2003- if you have a look just a couple of pages back from the front or less you will probably find it.

Also I'm betting Gold's Gym Japan has an English website- that could be helpful.

move · Joined: 30 May 2009 Posts: 132

A couple years ago I was paying about 5000 yen for a nighttime membership at Tipness in the suburbs of Tokyo. I think an anytime membership was like 7000 yen a month. Although I'm sure prices have gone up since then.

Clubs are really clean, and, gasp, people re-rack their weights! One of my biggest pet peeves is walking around half the gym looking for the other 20 pound (er...10ish kg) dumbbell.

All this is beside the point though. If you do get accepted to Jet, you'll most likely be on a sparsely populated island halfway between Hokkaido and Russia. I you are, suggest the following workout regimen. (note: full sides of Kobe beef are gonna cost you).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iPFK5T_G3U

Ryu Hayabusa · Joined: 08 Jan 2008 Posts: 182

Even in my city of 55 000 people, there is one gym (that I know of) and one community centre with a fitness room. The facitilities are not nearly as good as what I had back in Osaka with Gold's Gym but the price is right. I pay 500 yen per visit to the gym and it's 300 yen per visit at the community centre. Monthly memberhips at the gym here are about 6000 yen.

Cubic09 · Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 11:53 pm Post subject:

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

Best drop the stereotypes- the Japanese tend to do well at things like soccer, baseball and Olympic sports, so are not all 90-pound weaklings. Remember things like karate, judo and sumo all originated here as well!

Day time classes in suburban gyms tend to be aimed at women in their 40s and older as they are the ones who will be able to attend at that time. Central city gyms and places like Gold's will have much more challenging classes.

aSt · Joined: 12 Aug 2009 Posts: 11

Hahahaha! That's great to hear. As for the Rocky style workouts, I'll keep that in mind if I ever find myself without the proper facilities! Thanks.

I was just curious about dress code since there seems to be regulations on tattoos, if there were regulations on attire as well. I'm female and where I'm at in the States I generally work out in a tank top (vest top to others) and shorts, don't know how appropriate that is over in Japan. Also, I have a tattoo on my back shoulder so that will be an issue.

Thanks again.

aSt · Joined: 12 Aug 2009 Posts: 11

Oh yes, and I found the other discussion on Health Clubs in the forum, thank you. It was on page 7 if anyone else is interested in taking a look. This was the topic that came up when I did a search for "Gyms".

We have Gold's Gym over here in the States too, that's great to hear, they're over there as well and tattoo friendly!

Thanks again!

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

The tattoo prohibition is a yakuza-related thing, so no dress code goes along with it- it's not that they are being conservative per se, it's just a standard policy here as they hope it will keep the yakuza out.

The tattoo will definitely be an issue if the gym you go to specifically prohibits them- if you do join and it is spotted it is quite likely you will be asked to leave, no matter what the design is or how big it is.

Tanktops and shorts are fine, although you will find that Japanese women tend to cover up a bit more- I usually see longer pants and T-shirts at the gyms I go to.