***This article has been last updated on December 2019****

Settling into a new city, especially one with as different a culture as Tokyo, can be daunting at first. It takes a lot to make a new life, and it’s important to take care of your health and fitness once you’ve gotten into the groove. 

Tokyo is filled with opportunities to take care of your fitness, with parks or riverfronts that are peppered around Tokyo where you can stretch your legs or enjoy the morning air.

Need a gym instead? No problem! Gyms are great places to meet like-minded individuals and (either directly or indirectly) keep you on track to your fitness goals. We’ve created a list of our recommended gyms in Tokyo, from your basic local sports centre to the most foreigner-friendly gyms around.

Photo from Unsplash by gina_lin

Local Gyms

Photo from Photo-AC by masa2

Before we look at all the private gym options with larger membership fees, you should consider using your ward or city sports centres (スポーツセンター). These will be the best deals on any local gyms in Tokyo. Gym access might cost as little as 400¥ for a day pass (NOTE: You may need to show some kind of certification that either you or your host lives in that ward, so be prepared with a bill or document your first time, though it generally works on an honour system).

Prices also may increase depending on your usage of other facilities such as pools, classes, courts or running tracks. Availability and options will depend on each individual centre, but this is an excellent option to stay healthy without breaking the bank. In addition, this is a great way to meet your neighbours and give back to your local community.

The most popular city gym is the Tokyo Metropolitan Gym, which was used during the 1964 summer Olympics and has always been a popular site for fitness. The facility offers a wide range of activities as well as a full-size Olympic pool, studio classes, running track, futsal courts and a fully-equipped gym. Rates are also reasonable:

For information on the rates and what is needed to register, click here.

Photo by Unsplash by Humphrey Muleba

Private Gyms  

Foreigner-friendly

There are also a number of private gyms around the city. Membership fees will vary depending on the type of gym as well as where you live.

We have put together a list of a few gyms that have been recommended by current Tokyo expats along with a few that may not be well-known.

**They are listed in alphabetical order for ease of reference with a note on which ward may have a branch. While not an exhaustive list, these are some of our top picks– we’re always happy to hear about more, though, so feel free to comment if you know of other gyms! Metroresidences is always looking to find new ways to help our members reach their fitness goals, and we rely on people like you to help us improve! 

Photo by AC-photo Tomoharu photography

Japanese Gyms

There are a number of Japanese gyms around Tokyo which operate solely in Japanese. While not recommended for those who speak little to no Japanese at all, these gyms are of course open to any and all for membership. Just keep in mind that the rules, expectations, etc. may be less ‘flexible’ in these places. However, if you’re familiar with the culture and language already, these may be more to your liking, as they tend to be less expensive and/or intrusive. These can range from free weights and cardio machines only, to a full service with swimming pool and courts included. 

Photo from Unsplash by mr lee

Non-Gym Fitness

If you’re not the gym-going type (or the fees deter you) but are still looking for some running buddies or workout pals, there are Meet Up and Facebook community groups where you can go and enjoy various fitness activities throughout the city.

Related Articles

–Gajin Communities and how to find one

These two seem to have the largest number of members, but a Google search will bring up plenty of other communities in the city you can try out for yourself. 

• Suns Out Guns Out (SOGO Fitness) – They have various sub-groups underneath this name for running, body & mind, etc.

Namban Rengo (running club)– This group is for more serious runners, and contains some of the top amateur marathon trainers in Tokyo. While it’s not a requirement to be training for any kind of race, it may not be the best group to try if you’re just starting your fitness journey.

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