Finding a good gym in Japan
Gyms in Japan are a very interesting topic. You'd think it would be fairly easy to find a good gym here but trust me it isn't. A good gym here is like a unicorn in a forest or a needle in a hay stack. You'll have to search and dig through the rubble to find one that fits you.
I think the concept of a gym is different in Japan. Being a gym addict back when I lived in Jamaica, when I came to Japan that was one of the first things I set out to do, join a gym. I googled and asked friends where was the best place to go. When I asked people they mentioned Renaissance sports gym or Central gym. It's important to know that when I first moved here I was placed in Sendai. The largest city in the Tohoku area. Now back to gyms. Renaissance and Central and most other gyms here are mostly focused on cardio machines. When I was in the early stages of searching and when I visited different gyms I was shocked to find most places filled with treadmills elliptical and cycling machines. If I was lucky I would find a small corner in a gym with dumbbells and maybe just maybe a bench press. The weights would range from 2kgs to about 30kgs at most. For me being a serious lifter who was looking to compete this was heartbreaking.
What was even more heartbreaking was the cost to join these gyms. For one month a typical gym in Japan can cost you from 7,000 yen - 10,000 and more. I couldn't understand why people would pay that much just to run on a treadmill.
After visiting a few gyms I was redirected to Golds Gym. Now if you don't know Golds Gym is the mecca of gyms in my opinion. Most bodybuilders flock to golds because they come equipped with all the dumbbells and machines you'd ever need. However this wasn't cheap either. I'm paying 10,000 yen for a one month membership. It's not cheap but it's better than going to the park and doing push ups.
However even the Golds Gyms in Japan are a bit off in my opinion especially the ones away from Tokyo and Osaka. Take for example in Sendai, from what I've seen most of the trainers have no clue about weight training and if they do have a clue then it's not enough. You'd expect your trainer, especially trainers at golds to know which feet position is best for the quads or hamstrings or which angle is better to hit the upper pectoral muscle and not the shoulder muscles. A few trainers do know their way around the gym but the majority don't. I suggest if you do come to Japan and want to train then do your research and learn the proper way to train, especially if you're away from Tokyo. Huge guys or women are an anomaly in Japan and especially out of the urban areas. I think that is why most trainers only focus on the basics of training and don't delve into it at a deeper level. There is no need to do that if your client base only wants to run and stretch.
Now in my opinion if you're not a serious lifter and machines and pools do it for you then Golds Gym might not be for you. Since it has a lot of free weights plate loading machines. If you're more into running and machines then join another gym that has what you're looking for. You'll be happier and maybe you'll make some friends in the hot baths they have at gyms here.
For non serious lifters
If you have the money and want personal training
I think the concept of a gym is different in Japan. Being a gym addict back when I lived in Jamaica, when I came to Japan that was one of the first things I set out to do, join a gym. I googled and asked friends where was the best place to go. When I asked people they mentioned Renaissance sports gym or Central gym. It's important to know that when I first moved here I was placed in Sendai. The largest city in the Tohoku area. Now back to gyms. Renaissance and Central and most other gyms here are mostly focused on cardio machines. When I was in the early stages of searching and when I visited different gyms I was shocked to find most places filled with treadmills elliptical and cycling machines. If I was lucky I would find a small corner in a gym with dumbbells and maybe just maybe a bench press. The weights would range from 2kgs to about 30kgs at most. For me being a serious lifter who was looking to compete this was heartbreaking.
What was even more heartbreaking was the cost to join these gyms. For one month a typical gym in Japan can cost you from 7,000 yen - 10,000 and more. I couldn't understand why people would pay that much just to run on a treadmill.
After visiting a few gyms I was redirected to Golds Gym. Now if you don't know Golds Gym is the mecca of gyms in my opinion. Most bodybuilders flock to golds because they come equipped with all the dumbbells and machines you'd ever need. However this wasn't cheap either. I'm paying 10,000 yen for a one month membership. It's not cheap but it's better than going to the park and doing push ups.
However even the Golds Gyms in Japan are a bit off in my opinion especially the ones away from Tokyo and Osaka. Take for example in Sendai, from what I've seen most of the trainers have no clue about weight training and if they do have a clue then it's not enough. You'd expect your trainer, especially trainers at golds to know which feet position is best for the quads or hamstrings or which angle is better to hit the upper pectoral muscle and not the shoulder muscles. A few trainers do know their way around the gym but the majority don't. I suggest if you do come to Japan and want to train then do your research and learn the proper way to train, especially if you're away from Tokyo. Huge guys or women are an anomaly in Japan and especially out of the urban areas. I think that is why most trainers only focus on the basics of training and don't delve into it at a deeper level. There is no need to do that if your client base only wants to run and stretch.
Now in my opinion if you're not a serious lifter and machines and pools do it for you then Golds Gym might not be for you. Since it has a lot of free weights plate loading machines. If you're more into running and machines then join another gym that has what you're looking for. You'll be happier and maybe you'll make some friends in the hot baths they have at gyms here.
My Top Gym Picks Are
For Serious Lifters
For non serious lifters
If you have the money and want personal training
- Try personal gyms
- Rizap (Ridiculously expensive)
If you want to enjoy an onsen after gym
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