Aug 28, 2023
Public Sports Facilities in Tokyo
Staying in shape in a big city like Tokyo can be a chore sometimes. I myself am a big fan of lifting weights and biking outdoors, but sometimes it seems cars and bad traffic along with the occassional bout of extreme weather can have me sidelined for days or weeks without getting my weekly cycling workouts in. Fortunately, I live near one of the cheapest solutions to this problem, and it is very likely you do as well: The Public Gymnasium.
Public gymnasiums in Japan really are a special thing. Called anything from “Sports Center (スポーツセンター)” to “Taiikukan (体育館, literally “fitness building”), these community-operated gymnasiums have almost the same range of equipment and amenities as their privately run counterparts but the prices can be inexpensive by comparison. While many gym chains may charge up to a ¥30,000 sign-up fee and run ¥10,000+ per month, one can usually join a community gym for less than ¥2,000 per month without a signup fee. This could even be less if you happen to be a resident of the ward or city where the public gym is located.
Most gyms have a training room with a full complement of weights, resistance training machines, treadmills, and stationary bikes. Many offer martial arts dōjōs, basketball and volleyball courts, and even pools and saunas. Usually, they will have training classes and clubs like aerobics, cross-training, indoor climbing, and archery.
While some facilities can be older and very much resemble boring municipal buildings, some of the newer public gymnasiums have amazing architectural design as well as cutting edge equipment. Definitely try to find the closest one to you and get a workout in.
Here is a list of a few public gyms around central Tokyo:
3-5-1 Okubo, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 169-0072
1-40-18 Nishihara, Shibuya, Tokyo 151-0066
1 Komazawa koen,Setagaya, Tokyo
3−16-1 Shibaura, Minato, Tokyo
Toshima Ward Ikebukuro Sports Center
2-5-1 Kamiikebukuro, Toshima, Tokyo
Photo curtesy of the Minato-ku Sports Center, All Rights Reserved
Michael Stigall editor
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