If you're in Tokyo for the longer term, you'll probably want to find your favourite local bakery, the nearest international supermarket, the best English bookshops in town and other places that will make you feel more at home. This includes finding the right accommodation, where you can relax after a strenuous workout at your chosen sports club or gym. Two excellent choices for accommodation that cater to foreign visitors are Ibis Tokyo Shinjuku and the luxurious Futakotamagawa Excel Hotel Tokyu. You may also be looking for a good sports club or gym to join. That said, if you're not fluent in Japanese and have tattoos, finding a place that suits you may not be a walk in the park. But the good news is that there are several foreigner-friendly sports clubs and gyms in Tokyo, among which a low level of Japanese and (covered) tattoos is not a problem. If you want to explore other options, you can also find more Tokyo hotels on tophotels.com. Here's a look at seven of the best foreigner-friendly sports clubs and gyms you can join in Tokyo right now!
1. Anytime fitness
As the name already suggests, Anytime Fitness is open 24/7 and has over 600 gyms across Japan (160 of which are in the Tokyo area). If you are an Anytime Fitness member in another country, your membership will also be valid throughout Japan. The monthly membership fee varies from place to place, but is generally around 7,500 yen per month. People with tattoos will need to cover their ink completely. Although not a chain of luxury health clubs, in most of their locations you'll be able to find any machine you need for strength training, endurance training and cardio.
Website: Get fit anytime
2. F45 Training
Like Anytime Fitness, Australian chain F45 Training has gyms all over the world. Currently, they have 1 location in Japan in the Hamamatsucho district of Tokyo. F45 Training is known for its energetic mix of circuit training and hiit (high-intensity interval training) lasting 45 fast but intense minutes. All muscle groups are worked in a fairly balanced way and those who prefer to train in a group will appreciate their style. Because of their relatively short workouts, even if you have a busy life, you can stay healthy and fit. Being at the higher end of the spectrum, a membership to F45 Training costs around ¥20,000 per month.
Visit the website: F45 Training
3. Orange Theory
The unique selling point of Orangetheory, which has several locations in the Kanto region, is that your training is optimised for you personally based on your heart rate. During your workout, they make you wear a wristband that measures your vital signs, and having this visual proof of your hard work gives many people even more motivation to get the most out of their training. Another thing that sets Orangetheory apart is that you'll start and finish your workout in a group and have an individual portion in the middle. If this style of training is what you're looking for, you'll surely be hooked in no time. Because of their personal approach, Orangetheory isn't the cheapest option at around 17,000-20,000 yen a month for a membership.
Website: Orange Theory
4. Club 360
With two locations in Azabu, one of Tokyo's most expat-rich districts, Club 360 specifically targets English speakers. It also happens to be one of the most family-friendly sports clubs, with several group classes aimed at children. As well as a plethora of different classes and a state-of-the-art fitness machine room, they also offer other services such as massages, physiotherapy and nutritional coaching. Personal training is also one of their strong points. Club 360 targets the higher end of the market and for an unlimited use membership it will cost you over ¥30,000 per month, but you can also opt to pay per class which will cost you ¥4,000 each time.
Visit the website: Club 360
5. Local community centre gyms (neighbourhood gyms)
If you're looking for a budget gym option, look no further than your local neighbourhood community gym! Every neighbourhood in Japan's metropolitan areas has at least one public gym that is accessible to everyone. They usually only have a pay-per-use system, but even if you go frequently, you'll probably pay less than you would for an unlimited-use membership at a budget gym chain. Prices vary from place to place, but you can expect to pay between ¥250 and ¥400 per visit. The quality of the gym will also vary according to location, but generally the selection of equipment is decent and they offer various group classes such as aerobics and Zumba. Some gyms even have a swimming pool which you can use for an additional fee. Neighbourhood gyms' policies respect inclusivity and tattooed people are welcome as long as they cover them up.
6. Gold Gym
Are you looking for serious results and or are you into bodybuilding? Chances are Gold's Gym is your best bet in Japan. This American gym chain is known as a haven for people who are more experienced gym-goers and want to build a particularly strong physique. Gold's Gym equipment has everything you need to do it properly, and they also sell protein shakes and other muscle-building supplements. They also have tanning beds available. Membership fees vary slightly depending on location, but you can expect to pay around ¥13,000 per month.
Website: Golden Gymnasium
7. SOGO Fitness
The concept behind SOGO Fitness is a little different to your average gym, as it's an international non-profit fitness community that focuses on organising health and wellness events such as outdoor bootcamps, running clubs and yoga groups. They enjoy the social as well as the sporting aspect of training at SOGO fitness, and it's easy to make friends with other athletes while training. If you want a positive and supportive training environment, SOGO Fitness could be exactly what you're looking for.
Joining a sports club or gym in Tokyo can be a little daunting, especially if you don't speak Japanese. However, there are plenty of foreigner-friendly options with helpful staff who speak English and are ready to help you accordingly. We hope you've found a friendly gym or health club abroad in our list above that you might like to join, and that you can continue working out to your heart's content here in Japan!
Have a great trip!
