Christmas time is the time of the year to relax and feast, enjoying all the nice and tasty things the Christmas markets and stores have to over. Nevertheless, spring is coming and you should be prepared and fit for the adventures ahead. 

If you’re staying in Japan longer than just for a holiday, you might think about staying in shape and doing sports so today we will give you some tips and advises for fitness and sports you can do in Fukuoka. 

First, there is running and biking 
Running is all fun and games in the summer but in the winter it’s a different thing. Fukuoka is not that cold though so if you dress up warm you can still go out for a run, you might even enjoy the landscape and nature of winter in Kyūshū. The Ōhoripark is used daily by bikers and joggers, in the summer but in the winter time as well. A single lap around the park is 1,2 kilometers which makes it easy to calculate a good training goal. The jogging path is made of a bouncy material so your ankles and knees don’t have to suffer if you pick up the pace. If you’re looking for a bigger challenge, there is the Nishikoen, we wrote about a little while ago. While the lap is a little shorter than the Ōhoripark one, it has much more elevation, making it a lot more challenging to run more than one lap, due to the steep parts of the road. Nishikoen is a lot more hidden and quiet than Ōhoripark so you can enjoy silence and nature while fighting yourself up the mountain. 
An indoor alternative to stay fit, not for a particular sport, are gyms. Gyms in Japan work the same way as they do everywhere else in the world, monthly fee is around ¥3500. That isn’t exactly cheap but your fitness and health isn’t the part where you should cut the budget and try to safe. There are several gyms located in the Tenjin area, which are all offering a free trial so don’t hesitate and try it out.

If you’re interested in swimming, there is a public pool in Akasaka, next to the Tenjin area. Akasaka is the part of the city that is home to our language school and a really nice neighborhood to explore. The pool rules don’t really differ to western ones, even though tattoos are strictly prohibited. If you happen to be tattooed but it can be hidden, you may use a band aid or wear a bath suit and visiting a public pool is no problem at all. Using pools, in this case the one in Akasaka is around ¥600 which makes it a cheaper alternative to a gym. 

Getting fit for spring and summer can be a lot of fun when you’re doing it together with friends so look out for a training partner!