Resident of Japan. Have a bank account with Shinsei SBI bank and was only given a cash card and debit card, cannot apply for credit card.
I want to join a gym in my local area but they only accept credit cards or cash cards, but specifically don’t allow my SBI bank cards.
What sort of card can I use that will be accepted here? They said cash cards are accepted but only from certain banks. Is there any other type of cash card that isn’t from a bank?
I just went through the extremely tedious journey to join SBI Bank as no other banks would let me join due to not speaking English.
Please help!
30 comments
The obvious answer is credit card but if you’re new in Japan might be near impossible to get.
Fwiw, Golds gym only accepted monthly payment through their credit card. I applied and got accepted pretty quick to my surprise.
Japan post bank cash card works for me.
Maybe there’s a sports center nearby. No need to join. Just go and buy a ¥300 ticket at the machine.
When I first came to Japan, I wanted to get a Tsutaya account but I couldn’t get one. I can’t totally remember why, maybe I didn’t have a JP bank card or I didn’t have an appropriate phone, but whatever the reason, I had to have a close friend of mine make account in his name and then I paid him when his monthly deduction came. In less than a year, I got my own account proper but that situation could’ve gone on indefinitely. Of course, you need steady income and a friend who understands your situation.
Now, a TSUTAYA membership seems less severe than a gym membership, but maybe you could try the same thing.
EDIT: Disregard the stuff below, I just realized I joined using my Epos credit card. It was VERY easy to open the account, I used one of their offices in Shinjuku or Ikebukuro to do the paperwork because I had issues with the online form. That said, I think they have no English support. You need someone to join you and translate for you, they may be willing to open the account.
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I used my Mitsubishi bank account when joining Anytime Fitness. I figure it varies widely depending on the bank and the gym.
When I dealt with Mitsubishi bank though, I had to speak in Japanese. I was able to help a friend deal with them when opening his bank account, so if you can get someone to join you you may be able to proceed. Again, it may depend a bit on the person dealing with your case. This was a few years ago as well.
Which gym did you go to? I joined a gym with only a shinsei account, i think it was Anytime Fitness or an other 24h gym. The only thing is that because it was Shinsei, when i registered they said they had to debit the membership fee for the first 3 months instead of just the first month.
They can’t set up a direct transfer from your bank account every month? If you can get a PayPay bank account they will give you a debit card and a credit card. Just remember to transfer enough money into your account every month to cover whatever charges you make.
Any chocoZAP nearby? Can pay through app
I don’t have a credit or debit card, only bank cash card like you. Joined Tipness no problem, payment is by direct charge from the bank. So it may be an option if there’s one near you.
Try getting a Rakuten card? It’s the only one I was able to get a few years ago.
Just wait and see how hard it is to *leave* a gym once you have joined!
I applied for the LINE Pay/Mitsui sumitomo credit card 4 weeks after arriving in Japan and got approved.
You don’t need to create a bank account with another bank just for a credit card.
I used to pay anytime fitness every month with cash since they couldn’t figure out how to set up auto withdrawal with shinsei. I would suggest getting a bank with a credit card. If you want english support I would suggest SMBC prestia. Still not the most convenient bank but you get a debit credit credit card from them. I recently got a normal SMBC account and that has been nice but it requires a hanko and you need to know Japanese or have someone who can explain what you are signing up for.
Another option is to just go to a local community gym. That is all cash and usually cheaper than a gym membership unless you are going to the gym every day
Is there a municipal gym?
I joined chocozap with smbc debit card.
I pay cash to anytime fitness.
Open up a bank account at SMBC and get the cash card combined with debit card. You should be able to use that. Quite easy to open one.
I’ve found a lot of gyms will request this, but it’s not actually necessary and you can just ask to have them withdraw directly from your account.
I could do this for Golds btw.
I had no issue joining [https://www.cospa-wellness.co.jp/fitbase24/](https://www.cospa-wellness.co.jp/fitbase24/) with a foreign credit card.
Are you only trying to join fancy proper gyms?
I just want a couple cardio machines and weights to lift / yoga mats to stretch on, so I use the local community center gyms (in my area they’re called training rooms / トレーニング室). Maybe there are some in your area too?
They’re not fancy (no showers, no classes, whatever) but super cheap. I’ve attended 2 different ones over the years and both were around 300 yen per visit, paid in cash
I’m on mobile so I can’t tell if it’s been posted already, but LINE does a credit card that has literally no benefits or percs but it’s very easy to get.
Community gym if one is near you is better. Just pay the few hundred yen each time you go.
Anytime Fitness accepts whatever if you go in person. Not all Anytime Fitness are made equally, so if you get an annoying one, go to the next one over. The rules are pretty strict but once you’re in I’ve never seen the rules enforced even once, so just get in and use it. Once you register you keyfob is good anywhere. Hell, you can register at the American Anytime Fitness and use the keyfob in Japan if you’re seriously in a bind.
Local community gyms will have you buy a ticket to get in for the day (or might have a monthly pass options).
I haven’t used a “normal gym” for a few years, but don’t they take regular automatic Bank Transfers to major banks still? A few years ago THAT was the core way to pay, and CCs were rare.
Side suggestion: Look for a smaller gym (there are many independently owned and cool looking gyms in my area of Yokohama, for example). Or one focused on kickboxing or Muay Thai if you have even a slight interest in that. They almost always do bank transfer payments (or cash). The larger gyms will be more strict about payment methods.
most of the gyms Ive joined did payment through automatic bank transfers. I used Post. is this an option with the gyms you are trying to apply to?
Go to your local city gym/ sports center. no membership needed.
The correct bank to use is Sony Bank. They give you a Visa debit card with cashback. Get that.
Try joyfit. I joined and was accepted instantly through the app!
Buy an online prepaid debit visa card
My gym just let me join with a bank account. Comes out of my normal UFJ back account every month. (Fast gym 24)