Gyms in Kansai (Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, etc):
Major chain gyms like Gold’s Gym, Anytime Fitness and Tipness have multiple locations in the Kansai area. Please see [Gyms for the short-term visitor to Japan – General Information] for information about these gyms.
More specifically, Gold’s Gym offers daily, 2-weekly and monthly passes [review coming soon], while the Teradacho and Nishi-Ohashi branches [see review of Nishi-Ohashi branch] of Anytime Fitness also offer trial or casual memberships.
Please also read my guide to Japanese Gym etiquette, as that will apply to most of these gyms.
Below I have compiled information on other gyms specific to the Kansai area. View all gyms in a single map.
Osaka
- Sports Gym B&F (click for more details and a review)
- Location: Hanazonocho, Osaka [Map]
- Prices for short-term visitors: 1,200 yen (day) / 7,000 yen (week) / 13,000 yen (month)
- Opening hours: 9:30 – 22:30 (Mon-Fri), 09:30 – 21:00 (Sat), 12:00 – 17:00 (Public holidays)
- Facilities: See review for details
- Notes: OK for non-Japanese speakers, no appointment/reservation necessary. Pro bodybuilder’s gym.
- Nagai Training Center [public gym] (click for more details and a review)
- Location: Nagai, Osaka [Map]
- Prices for short-term visitors: 600 yen (day) / 6,000 yen (11 x one-day pass) / 6,000 yen (month)
- Opening hours: 9:00 – 21:00 (Tue-Sat), 9:00 – 17:30 (Sunday and Public holidays)
- Facilities: See review for details
- Notes: You have to make a reservation and complete an “introductory session” before joining. A real PITA. Might be difficult for non-Japanese speakers.
- Osaka Municipal Central Gymnasium [public gym] (click for more details and a review)
- Location: Asashiobashi, Osaka [Map]
- Prices for short-term visitors: 600 yen (day) / 6,000 yen (11 x one-day pass) / 6,000 yen (month)
- Opening hours: 9:00 to 21:00 every day. Closed on the 3rd Monday of every month and during New Year’s Holidays.
- Facilities: See review for details
- Notes: You have to make a reservation and (maybe) complete an “introductory session” before joining. Might be difficult for non-Japanese speakers. I have confirmed with them that it’s OK for non-residents to train there.
- COSPA (Comfortable Sports Space)
- Location: Major chain with around 30 locations in Kansai. The most central location in Osaka is the Uehommachi gym. There are also a few gyms in Kyoto, Hyogo and Nara prefectures. Search for a location near you.
- Prices for short-term visitors: Some gyms offer a one-day trial pass for 1,426 yen (1,540 w/tax) and others don’t. It seems to depend on the location. The website indicates that a prior reservation is required, so call them before you show up. It also looks like this offer may only be used once per person.
- In addition to the above-mentioned one-day trial pass, the gym “sometimes” sells packs of visitor tickets. For example, they are currently offering 1 ticket for 2,750 yen and 10 tickets for 20,000 yen (to be purchased by the end of August and used by the end of September). This is indicated as being “for a limited-time only”, so I wouldn’t rely on it. Check it out.
- CrossFit Minami Osaka (link to website [English])
- Location: Nipponbashi, Osaka [Map]
- Prices for short-term visitors: 3,300 yen (day) / 10,000 yen (week) / 26,500 yen (month)
- Opening hours: See website for details
- Notes: OK for non-Japanese speakers. A CrossFit gym, but you can do Olympic lifts, etc. during open gym times.
- King Gym (link to website [Japanese])
- Location: Kyobashi, Osaka [Map]
- Prices for short-term visitors: 2,000 yen (day) / 9,000 yen (month) [+1,000 yen membership fee]
- Opening hours: 9:00 – 23:00 (Mon-Fri), 12:00 – 17:00 (Sun and public holidays)
- Notes: Looks like a bodybuilding-focused gym like Sports Gym B&F.
- Try Sports Club (Link to website [Japanese])
- Location: Takatsuki, Osaka [Map]
- Prices for short-term visitors: 2,000 yen (day), 7,000 yen for 5 x one day passes
- Opening hours: 10:00 – 23:00 (Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat), 10:00 – 19:00 (Sun and public holidays). Closed on Tuesdays
- Notes: Looks like it has suitable equipment for serious gym-goers. It has dumbbells up to 100kg, two power racks, barbells, benches, Kettlebells and various machines.
- Spa World (Link to website [English])
- Location: Shin-Imamiya, Osaka [Map]
- Prices for short-term visitors: 2,400 yen (3 hours) / 2,700 yen (day) [2,700 / 3,000 on weekends]
- Opening hours: 10:00 – 22:00, 365 days a year.
- Notes: A hot-spring/water park facility that also has a fitness room.
- Naniwa Sports Center [public gym] (Link to website [Japanese])
- Location: Namba, Osaka [Map]
- Prices for short-term visitors: 600 yen (day) / 6,000 yen (11 x one-day pass) / 6,000 yen (month)
- Opening hours: 9:00 – 20:30 (Tue-Sun). Closed on Mondays (or the following day if Monday falls on a public holiday) and during New Year’s Holidays.
- Facilities: The website mentions “14 cardio machines and 13 weight machines.” But the photo doesn’t look promising. Probably not worth it unless you want to use the swimming pool in the same facility. (This costs extra)s
- Notes: On the 6th floor. They will want to give you a brief 5 min explanation of the gym rules on your first visit.
- Magnum Fitness Center (Link to website [Japanese])
- Location: Suita, Osaka [Map]
- Prices for short-term visitors: 1,000 yen (day) / 7,000 yen (month) – no membership needed.
- Opening hours: 10:00 – 22:00 (Mon-Fri), 13:00 – 18:00 (Sundays and public holidays). Closed during New Year’s Holidays. [I’m unsure about Saturdays, the website mentions nothing]
- Facilities: The equipment looks old, but plentiful. From the photos we can see a power rack, leg press, Smith machine, heavy dumbbells, benches – everything you need.
- Notes: Looks like a typical old-school basement bodybuilding/power lifting-focused gym. Great option if you’re staying in the Northern suburbs of Osaka.
Kobe / Hyogo Prefecture
- Muscle Production Training Gym (Link to website [Japanese])
- Location: Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture [Map]
- Prices for short-term visitors: 2,500 yen (day) or 7,500 yen for 5 x one-day passes.
- Opening hours: 16:00 – 23:00 (Mon-Fri), 13:00 – 21:00 (Sat). Closed on Sundays and public holidays.
- Facilities: This is primarily a free-weight gym with a focus on power lifting.
- Kobe Wingstadium Sport Club (Link to website [Japanese])
- Location: Kobe (Near JR Hyogo Station) [Map]
- Prices for short-term visitors: 1,800 yen (day)
- Opening hours: 10:00 – 23:00 (Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri), 10:00 – 21:00 (Sat), 10:00 – 19:00 (Sun and public holidays). Closed on Thursdays.
- Facilities: Looks like it has suitable equipment for serious gym-goers based on the images I’ve seen.
Kyoto
- Shimadzu Arena KYOTO [public gym] (Link to website [Japanese])
- Location: Kita-ku, Kyoto [Map]
- Prices for short-term visitors: 350 yen (day)
- Opening hours: 9:00 – 21:00 every day. Closed on the 1st, 2nd, and 5th Wednesday of each month and from Dec 29 to Jan 3.
- Facilities: (Quoted from Reddit user) Large gym with mat area, 3 benches, 2 squat racks, various machines, monkey bars. Equipment is old but solid.
- Health Pia 21 [public gym] (Link to website [Japanese])
- Location: Minami-ku, Kyoto [Map]
- Prices for short-term visitors: 610 yen (day) [1.130 yen for Gym + Pool]
- Opening hours: 9:30 – 21:00 (Tue-Sat), 9:30 – 17:00 (Sundays and public holidays). Closed on Mondays (except in July and August), closed from the 4th Tuesday of June until the following Thursday, closed during New Year’s Holidays.
- Facilities: From the photos it looks like the gym is machine-based, but there at least appears to be a bench press, dumbbells and a Smith machine or squat rack.
- Notes: The first time you go to the gym, you will have to attend an “introductory session”. These sessions are held at 10:00 (Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun), 14:00 (Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun) and 19:00 (Tue-Sun). Might be a problem for non-Japanese speakers.
Have you been to any of these gyms? Leave a comment and let us know what you thought!
Do you know any other gyms in Kansai suitable for short-term visitors? Submit a gym review!