✌️ Come with me to Anytime Fitness in Japan! 🇯🇵

Ever wondered how to stay fit while traveling? 🤔

While there are MANY options, from resting, to travel-friendly circuits, to running or cycling to explore your destination and keep moving, I have to say that my all-time favorite way is to simply use my global Anytime Fitness gym membership! The major selling point for getting an AF membership, at least for us, is that after the first 30 days of membership you get free access to ANY AF location around the world (I’m not sure how many there are now, but we used to say 5,000 when signing up new members a couple of years ago at my location, and I’m sure that number is up, if Japan’s huge growth is any indication! 📈 - note: unsurprisingly, a model that relies on folks to share and take care of a common space and clean up after themselves works better in a communal society like Japan than it does in individualistic America. 😅

While I love going to AF at home, Japan has taken the “anytime, anyplace” model to a whole new level! These gyms are so up to date, with so much new and varied equipment, not only your typical cardio machines, but also SO much equipment for strength training, from machines, to free weights (barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, and even sandbags), cable machines, squat racks and smith machines! 🏋️‍♂️

There are also convenient cubbies for your belongings, lockable lockers, wipes and cleaning equipment everywhere, and multiple shower rooms and bathrooms / changing rooms, including a women’s only section! 👯‍♀️

It’s incredible to see all of this, given that when we started coming to Japan in the early 2000s seeing a gym at all, let alone a gym with anything but cardio equipment, was incredibly rare! It’s so great to see the evolution of fitness in general and strength training in particular across the country; I’ve been able to visit more than 7 AF locations on this trip alone, from Tokyo to Osaka to Matsuyama, Beppu, and now Matsumoto. Okinawa is up next! 😍🇯🇵💪