Shikoku is a big island located in the western part of Japan. It is a relatively low-key area for international tourists, but there are lots of beautiful places and great local food. There are 3 major cities on this big island. Matsuyama, Takamatsu and Kochi. All of them have a handful of great tourist spots. For fitness travelers, however, there are not many gym options here. The following is my recommendation.
Matsuyama city was developed historically with Matsuyama castle as its symbol. On top of this historic must-see tourist spot, you can also visit Dogo Onsen, one of the oldest public baths in Japan (onsen = hot spring bath). For fitness travelers, there is no local gym that sells a day pass to travelers in Matsuyama unfortunately, but there is one hotel with gym. It is ANA Crowne Plaza Matsuyama. This good and comfortable 4-star hotel is located in the central city area and convenient for business or sightseeing. Hotel guests can use the gym for 24/7. It is a small and basic gym and free weights are limited up to 22.5kg. It is recommended to go early morning because it gets busy between 5pm-8pm.
If you are a member of Anytime Fitness in your home country, you can visit Anytime Fitness Matsuyama for free. You can use the same security key in your home country as it is. It is located in the central city area, and you can find many hotels within walking distance.
There is only 1 local gym that sells a day pass to travelers in convenient location in Takamatsu. It is called Line Gym. The day pass costs $30 per visit. Open Mon-Fri 10.00-22.00, Sat 10.00-21.00, Sun 10.00-18.00. Closed on Tue. Unfortunately, there is no hotel with gym in Takamatsu. So it would be better to stay at the hotel in the city center and goes to Line Gym (7 min train ride from the city center). My recommendation goes to Royal Park Hotel Takamatsu. This 4-star hotel is close to the central area, Ritsurin Koen (famous Japanese Garden) and Line Gym.
If you are a member of Anytime Fitness in your home country, you can use Anytime Fitness Takamatsu just like Anytime Fitness in your hometown. You can use the same security key for the front door, and there is no extra cost to use the gym.
Kochi is not a fitness traveler friendly city with no hotel with gym and there is only 1 gym that sells a day pass to travelers. It is NITRO FITNESS 24h GYM. It is bit far from the city center, taking 10 min train and 10 min walk from the station. It costs $22 per visit. Open 11.00-18.00
Recommended hotels are Dormy Inn Kochi. It is a good 3-star hotel with a hot spring bath in good location (close to the train station, Kochi Castle and Hirome market). It takes 25 min walk (or 17 min train & walk) to NITRO FITNESS 24h GYM
If you are a member of Anytime Fitness in your home country, you can use Anytime Fitness Kochi for free. You just go and use the same security key for the front door.