Job Discussion Forums

Nick5 · Joined: 11 Sep 2005 Posts: 6

Hello,

I'm working on a financial budget for my move to Tokyo. I'm wondering, what kind of monthly charge am I looking at to join a fitness center? Is there any joining fee.

I mainly use free weights.

Thanks.

Big John Stud · Joined: 07 Oct 2004 Posts: 513

I like free weights too. Gold's Gym and Tipness center both cost about $100.00 a month. (10,000yen). I am a member of Gold's Gym. I used to be a member of Tipness Center. Both have a lot of free weights and modern machines. Tipness Center is all around Tokyo and the one day a week the gym you regularly go to is closed you can go to another gym. Something I no longer can do as a member of Gold's.

Nick5 · Joined: 11 Sep 2005 Posts: 6

Thanks. I figured it would be around 10,000 yen for a membership.

BradS · Joined: 05 Sep 2004 Posts: 173 Location: Tokyo, Japan

I recently moved into Tokyo and happily quit the Koshigaya Preon Gym. I joined up with Tipness last week and find them to be pretty good, though a very different feeling ammong the different branches.

I joined up at the Shibuya Tipness. Great service, very little screaming in the middle of your workout and a genuine feel to the customer support I get there. There's also very little "It's a gaijin customer! What should I do?!?!" look that I got at the Preon Gym. The equiptment at Shibuya isn't exactly brand new, but it's sufficient.

Ikebukuro Tipness is actually two stations from my house but I almost never go there. The temperature is way to hot (I have to ask them to turn it down every time I visit) and the staff do that annoying high pitch scream every 2 minutes (no kidding) that ALL OF THEM have to repeat. One konichiwa is fine, but when all 6 staff (who stand around doing NOTHING) scream it out... it's way to stressful for me.

Shinjuku Tipness is HUGE and clean, though I do feel a bit uncomfortable there. The staff seem to panic whenever I come in and minimal help is given when I need help (like directions).

Anyway, hope that helps. I know only Tipness, but if you choose a "one branch only" membership this'll be very useful.

Nick5 · Joined: 11 Sep 2005 Posts: 6

Thanks Brad. And what about price?

Hoser · Joined: 19 Mar 2005 Posts: 694 Location: Toronto, Canada

I go to LIV gym. I have the daytime membership (mornings till 6pm mon-thurs and saturday)
It costs me 6900 yen a month.

Big John Stud · Joined: 07 Oct 2004 Posts: 513

As I wrote above, I now go to Gold's Gym, but I used to be a member of Tipness. Yes every gym has its own unique atmosphere. And depending on your personality and how you like to train will either make a Tipness Center or any gym suitable or not.
I used to like Ikebukuro and Nagano Tipness Centers the best of all the gyms. I didn't care of Shibuya at all nor Shinjuku. Shinjuku was always crowded and Shibuya didn't have as good equipment.
The cost to go to all the gyms at anytime was around 10,000yen.

I go to Gold's now because they have a lot more free weights and modern machines. I live and work near the gym too.

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

I go to LIV but I pay 8000.
I can go til 9:00 p.m.
It is closed on Fridays, which is annoying.
Kind of steep, but it is close to my home, so I can walk there.

I used to go to Konami, and that was 4,000.
The paperwork was a pain. I don`t know why, but maybe they bad experiences with foreigners or were just xenophobic.