By How to Live in JAPAN 編集部 
Koto City (Kōtō-ku) in Tokyo has several ward-run sports centers open to local residents and foreign residents alike. If you’ve been in Japan for 6 months to a year and are getting comfortable with work, you might be thinking of starting exercise for health and stress relief. This guide explains how to use the main public gymnasiums in Koto Ward, where you can easily enjoy training at the gym, playing badminton, swimming, table tennis, and more. These facilities are convenient and beginner-friendly – let’s take a look!
Major Koto Ward Sports Centers (Facilities & Features)
- Fukagawa Sports Center (1-2-18 Etchūjima) – A comprehensive sports center with excellent access: 2 minutes from Etchūjima Station (JR Keiyō Line) and 5 minutes from Monzen-Nakachō Station (Tōzai & Ōedo Lines)city.koto.lg.jp. It offers a training gym, a large arena (for basketball, badminton, etc.), martial arts rooms, a playroom for small children, and more. There’s even a climbing wall and a kyūdō (Japanese archery) range on-sitekoto-hsc.or.jp, allowing you to try serious sports. It does not have a pool, but it features an indoor 150m jogging track for running practice.
- Kameido Sports Center (8-22-1 Kameido) – Located a 3-minute walk from Kameido-Suijin Station (Tōbu Kameido Line) and 15 minutes from JR Kameido Stationkoto-hsc.or.jp. This center has a 25m, 6-lane heated swimming pool, a training gym, large and small arenas (used for badminton, table tennis, etc.), and judo & kendo halls. The pool is available year-round, so you can enjoy swimming even in winter.
- Ariake Sports Center (2-3-5 Ariake) – Situated in the Odaiba area, about an 8-minute walk from Odaiba-Kaihinkōen Station (Yurikamome Line) and 12 minutes from Kokusai-Tenjijō Station (Rinkai Line). This is a large facility with a gym, a heated pool (its water slide is slated for removal due to age), and indoor arenas for sports like basketball and volleyball. Because it’s in the Tokyo Bay zone, the equipment is relatively new, and it’s sometimes used as an event venue.
- Higashisuna Sports Center (4-24-1 Higashi-suna) – Though it’s about a 20-minute walk from Minami-Sunamachi Station (Tōzai Line) or Ōjima Station (Shinjuku Line), you can reach it in 5 minutes from the “Higashi-suna 4-chome” bus stopkoto-hsc.or.jp. It has a standard 25m pool, a training gym, a large arena, martial arts rooms, and other typical facilities. Located in a residential area, it offers a quiet environment for your workouts.
- Fukagawa-Kita Sports Center (3-2-20 Hirano) – About 10 minutes from Kiba Station (Tōzai Line) and 12 minutes from Kiyosumi-Shirakawa Station (Hanzōmon/Oedo Lines)koto-hsc.or.jp. This center also features a heated pool, training gym, large arena, and martial arts area, and is loved by the local community. It’s near Kiyosumi Garden and Kiba Park, so you can combine your exercise with a pleasant walk in the neighborhood.
How to Use & Register
All sports centers in Koto are open to everyone, regardless of residency. For most individual uses—such as the training gym, pool, or general open use of the arena—no reservation is needed. You can simply go on the day and sign in. Buy a ticket at the entrance ticket machine and hand the stub to the front desk to gain entrykoto-hsc.or.jp (if you have a monthly pass, just show it at the desk). If it’s your first time in the gym, you may receive a short orientation or explanation of the equipment from the staff. Be sure to change into exercise attire in the locker room before using the gym, pool, or courts.
However, for sports like badminton or table tennis during designated individual use hours, an advance reservation may be required. To limit crowding and ensure safety, these sessions have capacity limits and use a reservation systemkoto-hsc.or.jp. You’ll need to register as a user on the Koto City facility reservation website (“Koto Sports Net”) and book a spot online. Registration requires filling out a form and showing ID (to verify name and address), but people living or working in Koto and even those outside the ward can registerkoto-hsc.or.jp (note: ward residents may get priority in lottery bookings). Each person must reserve their own slot – you cannot reserve as a group on one accountkoto-hsc.or.jp. After registering, you receive a user card (called the “Sazan Card”) which lets you enter lotteries for courts or rooms and manage bookings either online or at the center.
Fees
One big advantage of ward gyms is their affordability. A single-use ticket for the gym or arena (per time slot: morning, afternoon, or evening) costs ¥450 for adultskoto-hsc.or.jp (high school students and younger ¥100, seniors 65+ living in Koto ¥100koto-hsc.or.jp). The pool costs ¥450 for up to 2 hours, with an additional ¥225 per extra hourkoto-hsc.or.jp (children ¥150 for 2 hours). Discounted booklets of 11 tickets and 1-month, 3-month, or 6-month passes are also availablekoto-hsc.or.jpkoto-hsc.or.jp. For example, a one-month training room membership is ¥3,600 for adults, allowing unlimited gym usekoto-hsc.or.jp. These passes and coupon tickets can be used at all Koto ward sports centerskoto-hsc.or.jp. In addition, every second Saturday is “Koto Sports Day,” when the main arenas and gym (and training room for ages 16+) are free for people living or working in Koto Wardkoto-hsc.or.jp. Take advantage of these free days to save money!
Tips & Rules
Keep a few important points in mind when using the facilities. Be sure to bring appropriate gear: comfortable sportswear, indoor-only athletic shoes, and a towelkoto-hsc.or.jp. If you’ll use the pool, you must have a swimsuit and a swim cap (Japanese pools require swim caps for hygiene). Most facilities have lockers (you might need a ¥100 coin, which is usually refundable). Take care of your valuables; the centers are not responsible for lost itemskoto-hsc.or.jp. Note that the training room (gym) is only open to those of at least high school age (generally 16 years and older)koto-hsc.or.jpkoto-hsc.or.jp. Smoking is prohibited on the premises, and please refrain from loud music, photography, or any behavior that might disturb others. Also, pay attention to the time segments and last entry rules. For instance, the training room’s final entry is 9:30 pm, and it closes at 9:50 pm, while other facilities accept final entry by 9:00 pm and close at 9:30 pmkoto-hsc.or.jp. The centers close at 10:00 pm, and you should finish your activities and exit the locker room before closingkoto-hsc.or.jp.
Multilingual Support
Most signage and staff communication at these sports centers is in Japanese. However, some basic English assistance or multilingual support is available. For example, Fukagawa Sports Center provides an English information PDF for userskoto-hsc.or.jpkoto-hsc.or.jp. Some staff members might speak a little English, but it’s not guaranteed, so it’s wise to bring along a Japanese-speaking friend or use a translation app on your phone if you need help. The official websites are in Japanese, but you can use browser translation tools to read the essential information (location, hours, etc.). The Koto City Office and local international association also offer consultation services for foreign residents about living information, so feel free to ask them if you have questions about using the sports centers. We’ve listed links to each facility’s official page below – check the official websiteskoto-hsc.or.jp for the latest details and updates.