Karinoya Learning Room

Daily Life Lessons · Public Facilities

Using Gyms and Pools

Goal of this lesson

Know the difference between "individual use" and "group use" at municipal gyms and pools, check fees, what to bring and the rules in the user guide, and be able to use them while following rules on shoes, swim caps, showers and more.

Explanation

Municipal gyms and pools (such as sports centers) usually offer "individual use" (個人利用), where you can use the facility on your own, and "group use" (団体利用), where a group rents a room or court. For individual use, at many facilities you enter after paying at the reception desk or buying a ticket. For group use, it is common to register as a user in advance and apply through a reservation system or similar. Registration conditions, fees and hours differ by facility.

In a gym, use indoor sports shoes, not the shoes you wore outside. Many pools require you to wear a swimsuit and a swim cap, and you wash your body in the shower before swimming. Do not swim while drunk. How tattoos are handled also differs by facility.

Some facilities reduce or waive fees for people with disabilities and the people who accompany them. Check the facility's user guide.

Read in Easy Japanese (yasashii nihongo)

市（し）や 町の 体育館（たいいくかん）や プールは、だれでも 使えます。

- 一人で 使う ときは、受付（うけつけ）で お金を 払（はら）ったり、券（けん）を 買ったり します。 - グループで 部屋や コートを 借（か）りる ときは、先に 登録（とうろく）して、予約（よやく）します。 - 料金（りょうきん）や 時間は、施設（しせつ）で ちがいます。

体育館では、外で はいた 靴（くつ）では なく、中で はく 運動靴（うんどうぐつ）を 使います。

プールでは： - 水着（みずぎ）と 水泳帽（すいえいぼう）を つける ところが 多いです。 - 泳（およ）ぐ 前に、シャワーで 体を 洗（あら）います。 - お酒（さけ）を 飲んで 酔（よ）って いる ときは、泳いでは いけません。 - タトゥーの きまりは、施設で ちがいます。

障（しょう）がいの ある 人や、付（つ）き添（そ）いの 人は、料金が 安く なったり、無料（むりょう）に なったり する ことが あります。 利用案内（りようあんない）を 見て ください。

Check quiz

Q1

What is the general process for a group that wants to rent a court at a gym?

  1. Use any free court on the day as you like
  2. Register as a user in advance and apply through a reservation system or similar
  3. Ask a neighbor to rent it for you
  4. Just give your name at reception and use it any time
AnswerB. Register as a user in advance and apply through a reservation system or similar

For group use, it is common to register as a user in advance and make a reservation. Registration conditions differ by facility.

Q2

Which shoes should you use inside a gym?

  1. The shoes you wore outside
  2. Sandals
  3. Indoor sports shoes
  4. Only socks (no shoes needed)
AnswerC. Indoor sports shoes

In a gym, use indoor sports shoes, not the shoes you wore outside. Check the facility's information for what you need.

Q3

What do you do before swimming in a pool?

  1. Wash your body in the shower
  2. Take off your swim cap
  3. Jump in right away without warming up
  4. Put on lots of sunscreen
AnswerA. Wash your body in the shower

National hygiene standards also require people to wash their bodies, for example in a shower, before swimming.

Q4

Which statement about using a pool while drunk is correct?

  1. You may swim if you drank only a little
  2. You may swim if you wear a swim cap
  3. You may swim if you tell the lifeguard
  4. You must not swim
AnswerD. You must not swim

Swimming while drunk is dangerous. National hygiene standards also say heavily drunk people must not be allowed to swim.

Q5

Which statement about rules such as fees and how tattoos are handled is correct?

  1. They are the same everywhere in Japan
  2. They differ by facility, so check the user guide
  3. They do not apply to foreigners
  4. The receptionist that day decides freely
AnswerB. They differ by facility, so check the user guide

Fees, hours, how tattoos are handled and so on are set by each facility. Check the user guide or website.

Frequently asked questions

Q. Can I use the facility if I don't live in that city, town or village?

A. Many facilities allow non-residents to use them individually, but the fee may differ from that for residents. Registration for group use may be limited to people who live, work or go to school in the area. Check the facility's user guide.

Q. Can I rent a swimsuit or swim cap?

A. Some facilities do not lend them. Check what to bring in advance on the facility's website or by phone. Some facilities also need coins for the lockers.

Q. Can I use the facility if I have a disability?

A. You can use most facilities, and at some, showing your disability certificate (障害者手帳) reduces or waives the fee. The fee for a person accompanying you may also be reduced. Who is eligible and the procedures differ by facility, so it is a good idea to ask in advance.

Practice: answer the questions on this page

This practice tool asks questions in random order (it works when JavaScript is enabled). You can still read all the questions and explanations above without it.

Systems and procedures may differ depending on the city, ward, town or village where you live and on the time of year. Please check the latest information from your local government or the relevant organizations.
Content checked on: 2026-10-03

This page is a translation of the Japanese original. If the translation and the original differ, the Japanese version takes precedence. View the Japanese original