Writer: Isabelle L.
Editor: Hanae F.
Translator: Himia T.
INTRODUCTION
As a student in Tokyo, it’s very easy to get lost in confusion with all the options for fitness and well-being. With constantly fluctuating health trends, inconsistent schedules as a student, or the stress in choosing the best sport options for you, staying healthy becomes a challenge many face. With that, the easiest way in ensuring your health stays maintained throughout university is by finding the right gym for you. Ranging from both affordable and expensive, and many various and unique types of features, prices, and quality of experience, here’s a student’s guide to the best gyms in Tokyo!
Gyms in Tokyo
In Tokyo, the 2025 fitness boom has allowed the city’s gym to be both more accessible and diverse than ever, reflecting new lifestyle needs and post-pandemic health trends seen in all ages. With that, Tokyo offers every kind of gym imaginable, even English-friendly gyms for our fellow international students! Still confused about which gym to make your membership in? Here’s a breakdown made just for students!
24/7 Convenience
These popular gym chains focus largely on convenience paired with essential equipment: free weights, benches, machines, and a few treadmills, but conveniently, you can work out anytime you want. Tokyo is largely filled with 24/7 keycard gyms, such as Anytime Fitness, JoyFit24, FASTGYM 24, and SmartFit, which have multiple branches all across Japan and in the city. In addition, monthly membership fees are moderate, ranging around ¥7,000–¥9,000, and accessible nation-wide. Chains like Anytime Fitness and Gold’s Gym are two big international brands, therefore are often more english accessible, helping to make communication much easier!
Full-Service Fitness Clubs
Want a gym with a community feel and all amenities? A full-service fitness club is the deal. Large commercial gyms often feature studios for classes, weight training machines, cardio areas, spas, and even swimming pools and saunas. With many available in Tokyo, such as Konami Sports Club, Tipness, Central Sports, or Tokyu Oasis, these fitness clubs are perfect for students willing to invest more for greater returns. While they have higher fees compared to others, they are often more prone to experiencing better fitness conditions, making it top-notch for serious fitness enthusiasts!
Budget-Friendly Prices
For students, a cheap and quick gym is often the best alternative. Therefore, options like chocoZAP, are perfect for students who just want to get a few steps and a simple workout! Pricing from only ¥3,000 a month, chocoZAP offers multiple locations across Tokyo that are smaller and filled with basic machines. Additionally, they offer extra small services, like massage devices or self-serve tanning with no additional cost. However, while accessible and easy to register, it’s important to note that as a budget-friendly gym, they offer no locker rooms or showers, with most things being handled via an app.
Women-Only Options
For our female students who are more timid to enter gyms alone, then no worries! Japan also provides numerous gyms for only women! “Curves” is a popular ladies-only gym which can be found in many areas within Tokyo and features an area friendly for beginners. These environments can help make working out feel more comfortable for those who prefer to exercise without the usual male-dominated crowd. In certain gyms, there are also women-only hours or sections which you could also look for or simply ask the staff! It’s important to additionally note that because gyms which are women-only cater more towards locals, expect most instructions to be made in Japanese, especially for registering and initial learning.
CONCLUSION
With that being said, finding a gym in Tokyo, as a student or a foreigner can often be daunting due to different customs and language barriers, or even just as a beginner. Therefore, Tokyo has more friendly gyms than ever, so you just have to know what to expect and where to look! If you’re an international student, it’s recommended that you opt for English-speaking gyms due to easier communication with resources and staff; additionally, you could also look for community-based options (like Tokyo American Club/international sports centers) which can provide English-friendly environments. Finally, for any student looking to go into the fitness world, choose gyms which are close to your home, work, or university and try multiple gyms before committing to one in order to find the best fit!
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