Yes! But be aware that talking on the phone or playing music without headphones is not allowed. Additionally, no photographs or videos are allowed in most Japanese gyms.
When visiting a new city, it can be challenging to find a place to work out. Don't worry though, the fitness culture in Japan is great!
Broadly, there are two kinds of gyms in Japan: those that are run by private companies and those run by the local city ward or municipality. Public gyms are much cheaper and don't require memberships. You just pay for the time you wish to use the gym for, which can be as cheap as 400 yen in some places.
Rules are very important in Japan, and as there is a no tattoo rule in nearly all pools, onsens and gyms, a foreigner walking up to the desk with tattoos showing is bound to cause concern. Just cover up and keep those tattoos covered and that is acceptable. If you can't cover up, don't go to those environments.
Anytime Fitness is a global fitness gym chain, and there are more than 600 gyms throughout Japan. If you are a member of Anytime Fitness in your home country, you can use any Anytime Fitness gym in Japan for free.
Anytime Fitness
If you are a member of Anytime Fitness in another country, your membership will also be valid at any location in Japan. The monthly membership fee varies from location to location, but it is usually around 7500 yen a month. People with tattoos will need to completely cover up their ink.
Fitness First
Fitness First is an international fitness centre brand with over 60 locations across Australia.
While tattoos are not illegal, they can prevent people from getting the full Japanese experience. When using public transportation in Japan, such as trains, tourists with visible tattoos will want to keep in mind that their ink may be offensive to some of the locals.
Ear piercings are against Japanese school dress code, along with any other forms of jewelry and even painted nails. In fact, piercings of any kind are very uncommon in Japan, even for older people. Usually the people who get ear piercings in Japan are rule-breakers, or people who are trying to look tough.
Having a balanced diet
In fact, the Japanese diet is very much balanced and versatile. They eat nutritious foods in each meal that includes carbohydrate, animal protein, vegetable protein, healthy fat, vitamins, and minerals. Thus, they enjoy eating rice, fish, soy, vegetables, fruit, and green tea without sugar.
Most Japanese citizens live in very walkable cities where public transportation is convenient, safe, and affordable, and not many households own cars. As a consequence, when most people go to work, they walk. When people go grocery shopping, they walk.
NOTE: The Japanese don't ever dress poorly. Their fashion may be off the wall, but they do it with Armani jeans and Gucci shirts. So I wouldn't wear jump-suits, sweats or gym shorts, unless it's just to chill out in your hotel room.
Soccer (football) and baseball are two of the most popular sports among boys, while many girls enjoy playing tennis or dancing.
Located near Ikebukuro Station in Tokyo, Muscle Girls is Japan's only fitness-themed bar. It originally opened as a women's gym but has since broken into the bar industry and gone viral. Muscle Girls even started a YouTube channel dedicated to entertaining viewers and spreading their love for fitness.
Dress up
Business casual isn't big in Japan and yoga pants are only appropriate when you're going to yoga class. In summer, many people choose to wear longer skirts or slacks instead of shorts, and few wear tank tops.
Lululemon, the popular yoga wear brand, launched in Japan in 2016. It now has two stores in Tokyo, and is planning to add more stores in Japan. Although very few people know about it, Lululemon initially launched in Japan in 2004, but withdrew in 2008.
Dressing modestly is important to maintain cultural customs and norms. Avoid things like tank tops, shorts, and mini-skirts. Opting for more conservative clothing is always a safe bet even if you don't plan to visit temples or shrines. It's also generally frowned upon for women to show cleavage.
The Yakuza are still active in Japan. Although Yakuza membership has declined since the implementation of the Anti-Boryokudan Act in 1992, the Japanese National Police Agency estimated in 2022 that approximately 11,400 Yakuza members were engaged in illegal activity in Japan.
Yes, you can get a traditional yakuza tattoo. Yakuza doesn't use tattoos to identify their members, so you won't run into trouble. These tattoos are personal and based on Japanese legends, symbolism, and art.
Although the number of tattoo-friendly onsen and sento is growing, many still do not allow tattooed guests. Etiquette is important to Japanese bathing culture and crucial for a relaxing onsen experience. Inked visitors should avoid these facilities and instead find one of the many that do allow tattoos.
Derrimut 24:7 is nationally renowned as Australia's biggest gym, offering a variety of services creating a gym experience like no other. By the year 2030, they aspire to have 300 gyms operating locally and internationally.
Approximately 16% of the Australian population holds a membership to a gym or fitness club, which is equivalent to 3.9 million people.
Today, Anytime Fitness is Australia's largest gym chain with over 500 clubs and over half a million members.