Gaijin Friendly Gym's?

[Papa-Lazarou]

Im in Tokyo for a few months, can anyone recomend a gym where the staff wont look at me like a dirty sweating bear and i can just pay as i use?

Preferably with a swimming pool, sauna and free weights

Ta!

(If this should be in another forum, please move it and send me a strongly worded PM)

[mdcruz88]

Gold's Gym?

[Papa-Lazarou]

Cheers, looks good

Is at a "pay as you use" or do i have to join/monthly fee's?

[kamome]

The Tipness chain of gyms is good, too. But you will have to pay month-to-month. It's about 10,000 yen/month, plus you may have to pay a fee for joining. I don't know of any gyms in Tokyo that will allow you to pay as you go.

[Mini_B]

Tipness is the worst gym ever. It's SOOO crowded and the equipment sucks. I went there to check it out and it was terrible. I joined AXIA in Ikebukuro which is a good gym. They have some free weights but mostly machines. The good thing is that it's not crowded like Tipness and the staff isn't completely annoying. 5700 a month for daytime only, 10,000 for all-time (7am-11pm).

I still the the best bang for the buck are the community gyms that charge 100 yen a day. The one in Urawa is great!

There are also Mixed Martial Arts gyms everywhere that will whip your ass into shape!

[mytt]

Hi. I'm not fond of Tipness, either, and I've heard that Gold's is extremely crowded and competitive (i.e., a lot of bodybuilders go there apparently). For those of us who are regular and just looking for a good workout, I highly recommend the OASIS franchise. See http://www.sportsoasis.co.jp/contents/english.html -- although it is better if you read and understand Japanese (then see http://www.sportsoasis.co.jp/). They have mostly Japanese members, but they cater to all, and they are not overly-crowded. The best thing: if you belong to certain branches (e.g., Akasaka, Aoyama), you can choose the "F/R" plan (full-rental, which includes all sportswear, shoes even, swimming trunks, towel... you just bring your own socks). I like that feature, because it enables me to go directly from the office to the gym and without the hassle of lugging sportswear or doing all that resulting laundry. They also have a plan ("kojin-puran") which enables you to use any of the branches through the metropolis. I am not an athletic person, but I am very active at the gym since having joined a year ago; now I go on nearly a daily basis. While there, you can choose to use free-weights, dumbells, machines, running mill, step mill, stretching pads, or participate in all sorts of lessons from aerobics to dance to boxercising. They also have personal trainers that can be hired on an hourly basis for a commission. In my experience, the staff are friendly and the facilities immaculate. By far, this is the best gym I've ever gone to, at least for someone like myself who is not into competiting with others. Everyone goes at their own pace, and you feel free to make mistakes without the pressure of being stigmatized (as you might, in the US at least). Hope this helps, and good luck... take it at your own pace and just remember to keep going, even if it is slower at times.

[mytt]

...Forgot to mention that Oasis requires you to be a member, and you do have to pay a monthly fee. It depends on the plan you choose, but like I mentioned earlier, even if you don't think you will use the gym much, you might find yourself using near-daily. The plans vary in price, but generally run from 10,000 - 14,000 yen per month. Sounds like a lot, but if you start to go regularly and think about it from that perspective, in the long run it is not. A well-made investment on your health, or so I think. Unfortunately, Oasis does not accept walk-in visitors. All visitors must be accompanied by members. If you do not know a member, your only option is probably that you have to join for a month as a trial basis. I don't know if they have exceptions to that rule, but you can try and ask them.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Tipness is pure garbage. Anyone who know anything about lifting would never work out there. Gold's used to have a deal where you could buy a 2 weeks trial membership for Y4000. You might want to try that at first and then go some where else when the trial is up.

[tonikoro]

Any Nagoyans ever hit the community Gym at Biwajima Sports center?

[mdcruz88]

Can't remember exactly what the rates are. I pay 2100yen every visit for 3 hours. I would get a membership but I'm so pressed for time I'd be lucky to get in once a week.

[kamome]

Tipness is pure garbage. Anyone who know anything about lifting would never work out there. Gold's used to have a deal where you could buy a 2 weeks trial membership for Y4000. You might want to try that at first and then go some where else when the trial is up.

I only mentioned Tipness because the original poster needs a place that is flexible, with friendly staff and meets his month to month needs. Tipness is crowded, for sure, but it is gaijin friendly and may have more flexible payment plans. I probably wouldn't recommend it to those who are long-term residents (unless you happen to live close to one of their branches).

I think the big problem is that no matter where he goes, he'll be locked into a monthly payment plus sign-up fee in Tokyo.

As long as we're throwing out names of gyms, XAX is a chain by Konami Sports. Pretty similar to Tipness in that it has some free weights, pool/sauna, and costs about 10,000 yen/month.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Tipness is pure garbage. Anyone who know anything about lifting would never work out there. Gold's used to have a deal where you could buy a 2 weeks trial membership for Y4000. You might want to try that at first and then go some where else when the trial is up.

I only mentioned Tipness because the original poster needs a place that is flexible, with friendly staff and meets his month to month needs. Tipness is crowded, for sure, but it is gaijin friendly and may have more flexible payment plans. I probably wouldn't recommend it to those who are long-term residents (unless you happen to live close to one of their branches).

I think the big problem is that no matter where he goes, he'll be locked into a monthly payment plus sign-up fee in Tokyo.

As long as we're throwing out names of gyms, XAX is a chain by Konami Sports. Pretty similar to Tipness in that it has some free weights, pool/sauna, and costs about 10,000 yen/month.

The main problem with Tipness is that the equipment is crap. You're btter off jogging in the smog and doing push-ups at home.

[kamome]

The main problem with Tipness is that the equipment is crap. You're btter off jogging in the smog and doing push-ups at home.

Which branch have you used and when did you go?

[Papa-Lazarou]

Thanks guys, Gold's does a 2 week trial membership so that will do for me.

I seem to remember stuff like Whey Protien being frighteningly expensive in Tokyo, is it still?

[FG Lurker]

The main problem with Tipness is that the equipment is crap. You're btter off jogging in the smog and doing push-ups at home.

Which branch have you used and when did you go?

In my experiences with Tipness the branches vary widely. I used to use the Kyobashi one all the time, and one day dropped in on Namba... What a shock! Kyobashi was great but Namba was super-crowded and generally felt old.

[kamome]

The main problem with Tipness is that the equipment is crap. You're btter off jogging in the smog and doing push-ups at home.

Which branch have you used and when did you go?

In my experiences with Tipness the branches vary widely. I used to use the Kyobashi one all the time, and one day dropped in on Namba... What a shock! Kyobashi was great but Namba was super-crowded and generally felt old.

Yeah, that's why I asked SJ where he went. I've only been to the Roppongi Tipness, and I found the equipment to be fine. The big problem there was the crowding. Of course, the tradeoff is that all the hostesses and strippers work out there, so you get plenty of eye candy while you wait for the machines.

[mdcruz88]

Lazarou,

Which branch did you try out? I went to the new one in Harajuku. Pretty decent, except they didn't have any crossover cables.

Gonna try out the Omotesando one...

[Papa-Lazarou]

Lazarou,

Which branch did you try out? I went to the new one in Harajuku. Pretty decent, except they didn't have any crossover cables.

Gonna try out the Omotesando one...

I didnt, i just looked on the WebSite

I will be going to the Harajuku branch, however

You will recognise me by my Sherlock Holmes hat and incredibly foul mouth

[mdcruz88]

So the Omotesando doesn't allow visitor passes. No worries, the Harajuku one is only a short 5 minute walk down the road.

Turns out they have another room that I didn't know about. The main area is on the 3rd floor while they have another section on b1.

Now if I could only read the labels on these Japanese protein supplements...

[Papa-Lazarou]

Does anyone know if Ephedrine is legal in Nihon?

[sirwanksalot]

Any Nagoyans ever hit the community Gym at Biwajima Sports center?

I used to go to Nisshin sports center for 3000 yen per month. Pretty good and not so crowded.

[Samurai_Jerk]

The main problem with Tipness is that the equipment is crap. You're btter off jogging in the smog and doing push-ups at home.

Which branch have you used and when did you go?

The only one I'm familiar with is the one in Soka, which was pure grabage. No freeweights (at the time). All the serious lifters I knew who worked out in Tokyo (I'm talking competative bodybuilders, pro fighters, and personal trainers) said that pretty much all of them were shit.

Of course I haven't lived in Japan for about 3.5 years so maybe they've changed, but I doubt it.

[kamome]

All the serious lifters I knew who worked out in Tokyo (I'm talking competative bodybuilders, pro fighters, and personal trainers) said that pretty much all of them were shit.

Of course I haven't lived in Japan for about 3.5 years so maybe they've changed, but I doubt it.

Yeah, Tipness and the other Japanese-owned gyms are probably not the best for serious lifters.

The truly serious health nuts have Steve Bildermann's wife kick their ass into shape through bodysculpting.

[IkemenTommy]

Reviving an old thread here..

But I recently moved and I am looking for a gym near Gotanda/Meguro area. I was going to Golds Gym South Tokyo before because they had some serious weights and no complaints but now I started swimming so a gym with dedicated 25m would be a plus.

I keep hearing that these gyms with swimming pools always have way too many vagina work-out machines, treadmills, and limited free weights. I was leaning towards Gotanda Tipness but I have a feeling they fit that category. My other option is to go a real gym with decent weights and go to the local kumin pool but pay 350 yen per visit.

What would you guys recommend?

[Yokohammer]

Reviving an old thread here..

But I recently moved and I am looking for a gym near Gotanda/Meguro area. I was going to Golds Gym South Tokyo before because they had some serious weights and no complaints but now I started swimming so a gym with dedicated 25m would be a plus.

I keep hearing that these gyms with swimming pools always have way too many vagina work-out machines, treadmills, and limited free weights. I was leaning towards Gotanda Tipness but I have a feeling they fit that category. My other option is to go a real gym with decent weights and go to the local kumin pool but pay 350 yen per visit.

What would you guys recommend?

This probably wouldn't apply if you live in an apartment, but I've always figured that if your main interest is weights and you have some space, a small investment will get you a bench and a good set of free weights to use at home. Of course this also wouldn't apply if you prefer using large machines.

Not having to go to a gym has plenty of advantages: it's way cheaper to train at home in the long run, you can work out whenever the mood strikes (even if it's just a few quick curls or something), you don't have to go out in the rain if the weather is crap, you don't have to wipe some hungover slime-ball's sweat off the bench before you can use it, etc.

But I work at home too, so it just makes good sense. If I was commuting to an office and there was a good gym near work, that might seem like a better idea.

Just my 2 yen.

[Ol Dirty Gaijin]

Go and visit the place. It's the only way you'll know.

[hanasims]

Reviving an old thread here..

But I recently moved and I am looking for a gym near Gotanda/Meguro area. I was going to Golds Gym South Tokyo

I was thinking about Gold's gym but I couldn't find the fees on their website. I can only probably make it there a couple times a month, but that is better than nothing. How much on a time basis and how much is the entrance fee? Any info would be appreciated.

[sublight]

You could always try the public sports centers. They may be sparse on bells and whistles, but they usually have all the basics and plenty of free weights (cheaper to maintain than the electronic kegel-cizers), plus they all work on a pay-as-you-go basis, with no required advance payments or long-term contracts. I've used ones in Machida, Setagaya and Arakawa, and they've all been pretty good.

[wuchan]