So i was thinking about joining a gym but im not sure what the process is like and what things might surprise me joining a gym here vs back in the states. i know the costs are much higher…i believe almost 7k yen a month or more…what are the rules and process of joining?
23 comments
I walked in and asked to sign up. They gladly did the thing with no problems. Bring your cash card, bank book, id’s etc.
make sure it’s during their hours staff are there. bring id, cash card, bank book. fill out a form with the employee. get your access card or dongle
Also don’t forget your Inkan you stamped your bank account with.
To add to what the others are saying, they might require you to input basic registration information (name, address, etc.) online before completing the joining process in person. Since I didn’t do this, when I joined several months ago, they made me fill it out on my phone in the lobby while they waited.
As for whether there are deals or extra fees, this might differ from location to location. Your best bet is to check out the website for your local place and see if they have any promotions going. I remember them giving me a discount on my first full month because of a promotion they were holding then.
Before you go sign up, if you have a few nearby and wouldnt mind going there for a month or so, I would check out their deals. Compare the deals and rates before signing up because they’re all different and some branches are more expensive than others
Heads up: anytimeFitness has a good “refer a friend” campaign. Usually it’s so something like half price for the one who signs up and 3 months of half price for the “sponsor”.
So if you have any friends at anytime, be sure to mention their name when signing up.
Do it online – they accept credit cards. Then go to your local gym to verify for identity and pickup your access key.
Anytime has regular campaigns that waive the entry fees and give a discounted first month, so be on the lookout for those. Japanese gyms in general, and Anytime in particular, have a pretty straightforward process. In fact with Anytime I believe you can do the whole process online and pay with a credit card as well.
As a side note, quitting a gym in Japan is pretty painless in my experience. Fill out a form and they leave you alone, so long as you submit it before the following payment period.
Took me about ten minutes to sign up. You just fill in a form and tell them your desired payment details. I got the first month free. 6400 yen per month after that.
They might try to sign you up for some quackery/bullshit “hydrogen” water. It’s free for the first month. Either say no then and there, or make a note to cancel before the monthly fee kicks in.
I would suggest you make a reservation first to visit just to see the place if it has what you want/need. Then you can register then and there. Usually they do bank payments but credit card is possible but only done online. So you will need internet.
Check their website/ Instagram for campaigns. Usually it’s half off for the first month but better if you can time it where it’s free for the first month and no key money. Normally keys are 5k. Water and lockers(if available) are additional. Cancellation of membership will take 1 month to take effect.
Depending on the gym you might come across some weirdness. At Gold’s you have to proclaim that you have no tattoos or chronic health issues. If you do have tattoos or chronic health issues it’s automatic rejection. Even if you can cover the tattoo. Even if your chronic illness has fuckall impact on your ability to lift safely. It’s absurd because Gold’s US doesn’t forbid tatts and Gold’s US members can use their membership here, and the staff do not have the medical qualifications to determine if or how a medical illness can affect exercise.
I used to join a Konami gym in Nara before I moved for work. Made a reservation online to tour the facility and look at the equipment. I think it was during one of their signup campaigns so I only paid around JPY 12k upfront (2 month membership). It was a small gym in a small town, so the monthly fee was cheaper than bigger gyms.
500 yen for the key. 8k per month. One month up front.
They will take cash for the first month. You need to bring your cash card(doesn’t have to be a credit or debit card) and they’ll set up billing from then.
This info is about 3 years old. I imagine it hasn’t changed though.
Its kinda expensive compared to my home country for a 24hr gym. In the UK its about 3500-5000 yen.
That said, the experience is miles better for a budget gym. Budget gyms in the UK can be disgusting, and people leave equipment all over the floor. Here though its all nice and clean and put away. You also dont mind showering or using the toilets at them as its clean and maintained.
Because you are a foreigner, you must offer up your first born child or, in the absence of children, your next of kin, as collateral.
AF has a policy that if you have tattoos they have to be covered. Other than that, signing up is pretty easy.
I recently joined a gym and I did it all online. Super easy. I only needed to come by during staffing hours so I could get my access key.
It’s pretty simple, like everyone said. I want to add that the first 30 days after joining you can only access the gym you signed up with, after that you can access any facilities. I think if you frequent one particular gym that’s not the one you started with, they will automatically move your membership to the most frequent location and charge the fee accordingly.
It’s pretty convenient if you travel a lot. I do find the equipment are not calibrated consistently across all locations.
I literally just joined a gym temporarily about 12 minutes ago. Because gyms general require you to be there more than 6 months, this was a bit of feat. I had to pay all the entrance fees, card creation money, etc. And I paid for the 2 months I’ll be a member in advance.
First they told me that a short term membership was impossible, but upfront cash and a little nice words won the day.
This was awesome 24 hour chain fitness center like Anytime.
I’m a member at Anytime Fitness, and signing up was a breeze!
You pop into the gym and just let them know you want to sign up. But I recommend that before you head over, take a look at the specific gym you’re interested in online. See what kind of machines they’ve got and any deals (like free sign-ups or discounted rates for the first couple of months). And don’t forget to ask for a tour when you’re there. It helps you get a vibe of the place.
The actual sign-up part is pretty straightforward. They’ll have you scan a QR code and add them on LINE. Then, you fill out the signup form right on your phone. I’ve been part of Anytime for almost two years, so some of the specifics are a bit fuzzy, but I remember that for the first time, I didn’t have to fork out more than the equivalent of two months’ membership fees. If memory serves me right, the combo of the sign-up fee and the first monthly payment was around 18,000 yen.
The prices can vary from gym to gym. So, make sure you double-check that too. For the initial 31 days, you’re kinda tied to the Anytime Fitness you first signed up with. After that grace period, you’re free to bounce around.
If you find yourself going to one particular gym more than the others – even though you signed up with a different one, your monthly fee will switch to match the one you’ve been going to the most. For example, you initially signed up at Gym A for 7000 yen a month, but you’ve been loving Gym B, and their monthly fee is 8000 yen. Next month, they’ll switch you over to the Gym B rate.
Edit: Yeah, Gyms here are pretty expensive and not that well-equipped if you want free weights. Anytime can range from 7000 to 9000¥, Tipness and Renaissance are around 6000 to 14,000¥ depending on the pass you want, while Gold Gym is around 16,000¥ last time I checked. If you are into powerlifting, there are gyms specialized for that, but their rates are also higher (like Oni Gym)
You can gym Anytime, and at times anywhere na may Branch sila
If your from the USA you can apply to anytime fitness cheaper than the japan price and use the same card and membership in japan. Last I checked your membership works at anytime fitness. The plus side is it’s way cheaper than the Japanese price.
Have you checked out your local town or city sports center/gym?
The one by me is 300 yen for the day. No hassle sign-up. They don’t have much but they do have a universal machine, bench/squat rack, stationary bikes, dumbbells, and a few other essentials, so if you don’t go that often or don’t need fancy equipment, it might be a better option.
Do you have any tattoos? That could/will be an issue.