5 Foreigner-Friendly Ward-Run Sports Facilities in Toshima, Tokyo

Among the sports facilities operated by Toshima City in Tokyo, here are five that are especially easy for foreign residents staying for a few months to a few years to use. Each facility supports activities like gym training, swimming, basketball, table tennis, badminton, and volleyball, and their usage systems are convenient even for those on mid-term stays.

豊島体育館 (Toshima Gymnasium)

• Address: 3-47-8 Kanamecho, Toshima City, Tokyo
• Access: Tokyo Metro Yurakucho/Fukutoshin Line at “Senkawa Station,” Exit 2, about a 2-minute walk (near direct connection). By bus, take the Ikebukuro Station West Exit bus toward Nihon University Hospital and get off at “Senkawa Station,” then walk 3 minutes.
• Hours: 9:00–21:00 (last entry at 20:45).
• Closed: Last Monday of even-numbered months (or the previous Monday if that day is a holiday); December 28–January 3; and around election vote-counting days.
• Fees: For individual use, adults 400 yen per visit and children 200 yen, which allows access to the training room or open gym sessions. Prepaid cards are available (e.g., 3,600 yen for 4,000 yen worth of credit)city.toshima.lg.jp.
• Reservations: No reservation is needed for individual gym use; simply buy a ticket at the reception. To reserve the gymnasium for group use, you must book in advance via Toshima’s public facility reservation system (user ID registration required)city.toshima.lg.jp.
• Etiquette/Notes: Wear appropriate exercise clothing and indoor shoes, and bring a drink with a secure lidcity.toshima.lg.jp. There is no swimming pool at this facility, but for activities like table tennis or badminton in the arena, you should bring your own rackets and shuttlecockscity.toshima.lg.jp. Also, be considerate of others by refraining from loud behavior and sharing equipment—following the typical etiquette in Japanese public gyms.
• Features: This gymnasium offers a large arena and a training room, accommodating sports from table tennis and badminton to basketball and volleyball. The facility is designed with universal access in mind, including signage in multiple languages for clarity. While staff communication is primarily in Japanese, the multilingual signs make it easy for foreign users to navigate and feel comfortable.

巣鴨体育館 (Sugamo Gymnasium)

• Address: 3-8-7 Sugamo, Toshima City, Tokyo
• Access: About a 10-minute walk from JR Yamanote Line “Sugamo Station” (North Exit) or “Otsuka Station” (North Exit). (No parking lot available.)
• Hours: Open 9:00–21:30 (reception until 20:30). The training room is available 9:30–20:45 and the heated pool 10:00–20:30 (last pool entry at 20:00).
• Closed: Year-end/New Year (December 29–January 3). Additionally, there may be occasional maintenance closure days.
• Fees: Adults 400 yen per use (up to 2 hours for the gym or pool), children 200 yen. This single fee covers both the pool and training gym, and extension beyond 2 hours costs an additional 200 yen per hour for adults.
• Reservations: No reservation is required for individual use. For group use of the arena, an advance booking via the public reservation system is needed, similar to other facilitiescity.toshima.lg.jp.
• Etiquette/Notes: As with other facilities, outdoor shoes are not allowed—please wear indoor athletic shoes. In the heated pool, you must wear a swim cap and rinse off in the shower before swimming. Those with tattoos are asked to cover them (e.g., with a rash guard). During busy times, users follow the rules of taking turns on equipment, maintaining an orderly and respectful atmosphere.
• Features: Managed by the Tokyo Dome Group, this modern facility includes a second-floor arena that can accommodate one basketball or volleyball court, or up to four badminton courts or 16 table tennis tables simultaneouslycity.toshima.lg.jp. The first floor houses a training gym, multipurpose room, and other amenities, while the basement features a heated swimming pool and a warming room (jacuzzi), so you can work out or relax regardless of the weather. Like other Toshima facilities, signage is provided in multiple languages for easy understanding, showing consideration for foreign users.

池袋スポーツセンター (Ikebukuro Sports Center)

• Address: 2-5-1 Kami-Ikebukuro, Toshima City, Tokyo (inside Kenko Plaza Toshima, 8th–11th floors)
• Access: About a 7-minute walk from Ikebukuro Station (East Exit, near Exit 23). Enter the Kenko Plaza Toshima building and take the elevator to the 9th floor reception.
• Hours: Monday–Saturday (including holidays) 8:30–22:00 (last entry 21:30, facilities use until 21:45); Sunday 8:30–21:00 (last entry 20:30, use until 20:45). Note: the jacuzzi is only open until 21:15 on Wednesdays due to maintenance.
• Closed: Every 2nd Monday of the month (or next weekday if it falls on a holiday); New Year’s holidays (Dec 30–Jan 3). Additionally, there are 5-day maintenance closures in mid-June and mid-Novembercity.toshima.lg.jp.
• Fees: 400 yen for adults grants 2 hours of access to both the swimming pool and training gym (overtime beyond 2 hours costs 200 yen per hour). This fee also includes use of the sauna and locker, making it accessible to all on a budget. Tickets are purchased from a vending machine and inserted at the entrance gate. If you didn’t bring indoor shoes, rentals are available for around 300 yen.
• Reservations: No reservation is needed for individual use. Studio programs (yoga, dance, etc.) are first-come, first-served on the day and cost an additional ¥100–¥200 per class (facility usage fee required)city.toshima.lg.jp. Some popular classes may require advance booking. For group or facility rental, submit a request via the ward’s reservation systemcity.toshima.lg.jp.
• Etiquette/Notes: Since street shoes are prohibited, be sure to bring indoor workout shoes. The training room is only available to high school students and older. Avoid monopolizing machines during peak times; users are expected to take turns. Some staff can communicate in basic English, and essential signs and instructions are provided in English as well, so foreign users can feel at ease.
• Features: Located on the upper floors near Ikebukuro Station, this center offers great city views—on the 11th floor pool area, you can even enjoy a jacuzzi with a skyline backdrop. The 9th floor has the reception, the 10th floor houses a fully equipped training room with around 50 exercise machines, and the 11th floor features a 25-meter pool and sauna. It’s popular not only with locals but also visitors from outside the ward, including many foreign users; on weekends the locker rooms can get crowded due to its popularity. Even so, the facility is well-organized and kept very clean, and the staff are friendly and helpful.

南長崎スポーツセンター (Minami-Nagasaki Sports Center)

• Address: 4-13-5 Minami-Nagasaki, Toshima City, Tokyocity.toshima.lg.jp
• Access: A 2-minute walk from Toei Oedo Line “Ochiai-minami-nagasaki Station” (Exit A2), or a 10-minute walk from Seibu Ikebukuro Line “Higashi-nagasaki Station”. The center is very close to the station, in a quiet area next to a park and residential neighborhood.
• Hours: 9:00–21:30 (last entry 20:45, final usage 21:15).
• Closed: Last Monday of each month (if that day is a holiday, then the previous Monday); December 29–January 3.
• Fees: Adults 400 yen per visit, children 200 yen, covering use of the heated pool, training room, and fitness studio programscity.toshima.lg.jp. If you stay beyond 2 hours, overtime fees apply at 200 yen per additional hour for adults (100 yen for children).
• Reservations: Individual use requires no reservation. Some fitness classes have limited capacity and may allow prior booking (see the facility’s website for details). Group use or gymnasium rentals should be requested via the public reservation systemcity.toshima.lg.jp.
• Etiquette/Notes: Similar to other facilities, you must use indoor shoes and wear proper athletic attirecity.toshima.lg.jp. Pool users must wear swim caps and cover any tattoos (e.g., with swimwear or a rash guard) in accordance with the rules. The building is modern and kept very clean, and users are expected to follow the rules, ensuring a pleasant experience for everyone.
• Features: The center includes a 25-meter indoor heated pool with 8 lanes, which is even certified for official swimming competitionscity.toshima.lg.jp. The spacious arena can accommodate one basketball court, one volleyball court (or two practice courts), four badminton courts, or up to 12 table tennis tables at oncecity.toshima.lg.jp. There is also a fitness studio, meeting room, and even a nursing room, making the facility family-friendly and suited to all ages. Being virtually connected to the subway station, it is very convenient for foreign users, and like other Toshima facilities, it provides bilingual signage for guidance.

雑司が谷体育館 (Zoshigaya Gymnasium)

• Address: 3-1-7 Zoshigaya, Toshima City, Tokyocity.toshima.lg.jp
• Access: Directly connected to Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line “Zoshigaya Station” (Exit 2; take the elevator to 3F). Also a 2-minute walk from the Toden Arakawa Line “Kishibojin-mae” stop, and about 10 minutes from JR Yamanote Line “Mejiro Station,” providing multiple transit options.
• Hours: Typically 9:00–21:30 (last entry around 20:30). Note: The pool closes for a five-day period in mid-June for water replacement and maintenancecity.toshima.lg.jp.
• Closed: Every last Monday of the month (or previous week if that day is a holiday); and December 30–January 3city.toshima.lg.jp.
• Fees: Adults 400 yen (for 2 hours), children 200 yen, covering individual use of the pool or arena, with overtime charges applied beyond that timeframe (adult 200 yen per hour, etc., same as other ward facilities).
• Reservations: You can drop in during public open-use hours without reservation. However, since the facility’s arena is often reserved for group use or classes on many days, it’s best to check the schedule in advance. For group bookings, use the ward’s online reservation system as with other facilitiescity.toshima.lg.jp.
• Etiquette/Notes: When using the pool, always wear proper swimwear and a swim cap, and rinse off before entering. Visible tattoos are not allowed (cover them with a rash guard or similar). Inside the gymnasium, change into athletic shoes in the locker room and handle any equipment with care. Bilingual signs are posted throughout, so even first-time visitors can navigate easily.
• Features: Conveniently located with direct subway access, this facility serves mainly local residents and has a friendly, community atmosphere. It features a heated indoor pool and a main arena, as well as a smaller multi-purpose room. The arena offers public sessions for activities like table tennis and badminton, and it also hosts classes for martial arts like kendo and naginatacity.toshima.lg.jp. There is no dedicated weight training gym here, but it’s great for casual swimming and sports. Because schools and local clubs often use this gym, the windows for individual use are limited; however, this also means the environment is relaxed and newcomers, including foreigners, can fit in easily.