Kobe is a popular port city for great views, shopping, and dining. With Sinkansen bullet trains stopping here and its closeness to Osaka, it is easy to access this city from Osaka in one day. In total, there are 4 local gyms selling a day pass to travelers. Many hotels with gyms charge JYP1000-2000 per visit, even to hotel guests. If you are a fitness traveler, it may be a good idea to stay at a hotel near local gyms with a day pass. See my recommendations below the map.
Tip: Shinkansen bullet train stops at Shin-Kobe station. The main entertainment area in Kobe is around Motomachi station.
Below gyms (red icons on the map) sell a day pass to travelers.
Gold's Gym Kobe Motomachi : Open Mon-Sat 7:00 to 23:00, Sun 9.00-21.00. Day pass costs JPY2800 per visit. See the official gym website.
Granfitness24 Motomachi: Located in front of Motomachi station. Open Mon-Sun 11.00-20.00. Day pass costs JPY2800 per visit. You can pay with credit card. See the official website.
Fitness Gym West: Open Mon-Fri 11.00 - 20.00, Sat and Sun 9.00-18.00. Day pass costs JPY2200 per visit. See the official gym website.
Gold’s Gym Shinkobe: Open Mon-Sat 7:00 to 23:00, Sun 9.00-21.00. Day pass costs JPY2800 per visit. This gym is near Shin-kobe bullet train station. See the official gym website.
To avoid embarrassment and disappointment at the gym, please read Tips and etiquette before going to the gym in Japan.
Recommendation: There are 2 areas convenient for tourists. First area is around Shin-Kobe station. As the bullet train stops here, it is easier to go to other cities such as Kyoto, Tokyo, Hiroshima etc…In this area Gold Gym Shinkobe is the best and only option for day pass. Second area is around harbor area. This is the main tourist area. Fitness Gym West is a great option. Compared with others, it is cheaper and facility is still very good.
If you are an Anytime Fitness Member in your home country, you can use 1100+ Anytime Fitness gyms in Japan 24/7 for free (your home country’s membership covers the cost). You can use the same security key tag to enter. Often Anytime Fitness gyms in Japan are hard to find as they are located in the back street or on the 2nd floor of big building. In this area, there is one gym in convenient locations as follows (Purple icon on the map).
Oriental Hotel has a good gym room and hotel guests can use it for free. If you want a full-on workout with heavy weights, you can walk to Gold's Gym Kobe Motomachi in 5 min. Also, you can go to Kobe East Park in 7 mins for jogging. Check out the review and price from here.
Dormy Inn Kobe Motomachi is a great 3-star hotel with natural hot spring bath. Motomachi station, China Town, Meriken park as well as Granfitness24 Motomachi are all within 10 mins walking distance.
If you are coming to Kobe with Shinkansen bullet train for short stay in Kobe, ANA Crowne Plaza Kobe, an IHG Hotel is a good option for fitness travelers. Though its rating is not high, this hotel is almost the only modern hotel nearby Shin-Kobe station where the Shinkansen bullet train stops. It is also right next to a popular cable car to go tto the Herb Gardens. Most importantly, they have a decent gym rroom,and hotel gguestscan use it for free.Check out the review and price from here.