Yes, bikini season is over, no more trips to the beach for a while. But now is the perfect season for outdoor exercise. Autumn weather in Tokyo gives us a great chance to get out and be active, not too hot, not too cold, and sculpt our body into shape before heading back inside for winter hibernation. Where to go? There are more parks to Tokyo than Yoyogi and more places to go to get fit than your local gym.
If you are the sporty type and you like jogging, playing soccer, tennis or baseball, there is a beautiful riverside park in Futako-Tamagawa, which is located within 5 min. walk from the Futako-Tamagawa station. You will have to make online reservations to use the facilities (Baseball field: 2,700 yen / 2 hours, tennis court: 1,300 yen / 2 hours). Futako-Tamagawa station is 20 min. from Shibuya by Denentoshi line.
Those used to Tokyo’s ever-gray landscape of skyscrapers and tower blocks will not regret taking the short train journey and getting to know the whole stunning area along the Tamagawa River. Of special not are the breathtaking sunsets – something to really take your mind off your running while you are jogging along the banks.
For those who are up for serious work out, Komazawa Olympic Park is the perfect place to go. Also on Tokyu Denentoshi line and only 6 minutes out from Shibuya, it has a 2.148km jogging course, a gym with state of the art fitness-machines as well as outdoor swimming pool, athletics stadium and ball game stadiums. While the jogging trail in Futako-Tamagawa is more about getting out of the city, Komazawa provides a much more Central Park, New York experience with lush greens in the foreground and the city hanging impressively behind.
The well equipped gym at Komazawa is open from 9am to 9pm and the fee there is only 450 yen for two hours (220 yen / hour after the first 2 hours). It makes more sense to go to this well-equipped, nicely-situated gym than a regular gym that costs more than 10,000 yen a month.
One of the most popular places with local health enthusaits in Tokyo is the Imperial Palace, Tokyo. Not just a tourist spot; you will often see many people jogging and power walking around the moat in the evenings. A fantastic view of the palace and the moat on one side and a beautiful city view on the other… as a tip, one lap of the imperial palace takes approximately one hour by foot.
If you are a fan of indoor exercise such as yoga, bouldering and eating organic foods as part of a healthy diet, some popular places are introduced in the leisure guide section of the my Toyota website as a part of driving courses. Please check it out.
T.Hoshino
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T.Hoshino blogs on behalf of My Toyota.jp
