Working out alone isn’t for everyone. It can be hard to find the motivation to jog or hit the gym without anyone else. Luckily, Japan loves group activities. There are plenty of ways to stay active and social, even as a foreigner. Joining fitness groups in Japan is a great way to practice the language with native speakers! While you can always check out your local community center for local events and fitness groups, here are a few resources you can use to meet new people while getting fit in Japan.
Outdoor and Running Groups
Outdoor and running clubs are popular in Japan. The country’s lush and beautiful nature is practically all around you. And while there are exceptions, like if you live out in a really small town, most cities in Japan will have some sort of jogging or hiking groups.
Like most groups, you’ll find something for your experience level and goals, like serious running groups prepping for a marathon or a casual hiking group making treks up Mount Takao.
Most people just want to share a goal and relax after work with like-minded people, so they’re typically welcoming of anyone who applies.
- Namban: An excellent resource for more serious runners. Based in Tokyo but is made mainly of foreigners looking to participate in races across Japan.
- Park Run (Japanese): Park Run is a five-kilometer weekly group run held worldwide and in several parts of Japan. Beginners to seasoned runners are welcome to join. No membership fees.
- 080 Tokyo: An international, English-friendly run club that hosts weekly evening runs on Monday evenings around Yoyogi and Shibuya. Great for beginners.
- The Tokyosampomaster: A hiking group based in Tokyo that organizes hikes around Japan.
- Outdoor Fitness Groups in Japan | Meetup: is a good place to find outdoor activities and hiking around Japan.
- Moshicom (Japanese): A Japanese site for organizing and joining smaller events or clubs around Japan.
Cycling groups
For those who like (relatively) low-impact sports, cycling is a popular way to stay active.
Moreover, Japan is a nation of bike riders. While bikes are generally used as a way of commuting, there are recreational enthusiasts all over. And the more outside of the city you are, the more likely you will find beautiful cycling spots. This makes it easier to find fitness groups in Japan, even if you are outside of a big city.
It can be expensive to start cycling as a hobby, but building a bike for your goals is part of the enjoyment for those in the community. Joining a cycling community can give you an active hobby and a group of friends to enjoy downtime at the various bike shops around Japan.
- Tokyo Cycling Club: A general forum for cycling enthusiasts in Japan. It can be a good place to meet fellow cyclers, buy a bike or find races near you.
- Half Fast Cycling Tokyo: A casual gathering of cyclists based in Tokyo. They host volunteer-run cycling gatherings of all levels.
- Cycling groups in Japan | Meetup: Meetup has resources for cyclists of all levels to find a group in Japan.
- Kancycling: A resource for cyclists based in the Kansai area. Has several guides and routes to help you explore the region by bike.
- Kansai Scene Cycling Club: Join one of the many club events by signing up on Strava. Perfect for making new friends with similar hobbies.
Sports Groups
Sports are already about building bonds as a team, so they tend to be a welcoming way to jump into fitness. The type of sports clubs available will depend on the city. Futsal, soccer, basketball and volleyball are universally popular enough that there’s almost always one of those around.
Clubs for tennis, baseball and golf are also big in Japan but come with big price tags for equipment and facilities. A good way to find these can be by checking at the local gym or stadium. Don’t worry about skill level, as most of these are for fun or just small local leagues. While you can find more serious teams, they will probably need you to try out before being considered.
- Tokyo Gaijins: A fitness group that’s more of an all-Japan host for anything outdoors or sporty. They have events for anyone interested in basketball, volleyball, badminton, futsal, swimming or hiking.
- Basketball Groups in Japan | Meetup: Aside from cycling, Meetup also has several listings of ball sports groups that cater to different skill levels around Japan.
- TKG Basketball (Japanese): Made up of basketball players in their 20s, TKG Basketball is beginner-friendly and based in Tokyo. Be sure to follow their signup guidelines. It’s a great group to join if you want to level up your Japanese language and basketball skills.
- Go Go Badminton Osaka: Welcomes players of all levels. Games are held after work and on weekends.
- Tokyo Badcox: A badminton group that holds five weekly evening double badminton games in various locations around the city. Beginner friendly.
- コナミスポーツクラブ (Japanese): Sports clubs like Konami offer a wide variety of sports and fitness options for anyone who can speak a little more Japanese.
Martial Arts
Japan is the motherland of many popular martial arts worldwide. Martial arts focus on strengthening the mind and body through a shared experience of discipline and hard work, making them a perfect way to build bonds while building up your physique.
The broad scale of martial arts has sportier ones like Jiujitsu and Kickboxing. While the other end has more disciplined ones like karate and aikido, which tend to have stronger communities with training camps and other activities.
- Ki Society: If you are interested in the more disciplined side of Japan, the Ki Society of Ki aikido has dojos around the world and in Japan.
- Japan Karate Association: This association has branches around the globe so you can start your martial arts life or continue it with the Japan Karate Association.
- Japan MMA Gyms: runs a list of MMA gyms by location. You can search for the one closest to you and find a direct link to their website. Depending on where you are, Japanese might be required.
Can’t find what you’re looking for? There are tons of groups on Reddit, Facebook, Meetup and even the Line app to find more niche fitness groups in Japan in specific locations.
Have you ever joined a fitness group in Japan? What groups do you recommend? Let us know in the comments!
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