Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on July 2013
Compensate the ale ingestion [See Beer Special] by hitting the track—with some friendly local groups.
Namban Rengo www.namban.org
Informal group offering social and running events to people of all levels. There’s about 20-30 members there each week, so it’s easy to find someone to match your pace, though some members compete in serious marathons, etc. Free to join.
Running in Tokyo http://runningintokyo.com
International group for social/mixed-level runners. Website links to Japanese clubs. Free to join.
Hash House Harriers www.tokyohash.org
With the tagline: “A drinking club with a running problem,” this bolshy club abounds with puns, nicknames and a changing bank of trails—and themes!—each week.
Vegan Runners http://veganrun.blogspot.jp
Vegetarians permitted.
Tama Orienteering Club www.orienteering.com/~tama
Trail running, orienteering and off-the-beaten-path tracks. The website is all in Japanese, but the organizer is bilingual and welcomes international runners.
Japan Running News http://japanrunningnews.blogspot.jp
Hit up this blog for regular updates on the elite running scene across the nation, as well as a guide on how to enter races in Japan.
Tracks of My Beers
Go beyond Yoyogi Park and the Imperial Palace to shed that gut.
Komazawa Olympic Park www.tef.or.jp/kopgp
Top-notch outdoor sports facilities, distance gauges, an indoor gym and greenery abound. Playgrounds for the kids, and even a dog run. The gym and athletics field cost ¥450/two hours and ¥220 every hour after that. First-time visitors must undergo a health check first (included). Sometimes booked out for groups. 1-1 Komazawakoen, Setagaya. Nearest stn: Komazawadaigaku.
Akasaka Palace
Mooted as Tokyo’s Versailles, this former imperial residence is now the spot where visiting dignitaries lay their heads while on official business. The lush gardens of this National Treasure of Japan are free to run around in. 2-1-1 Motoakasaka, Minato-ku. Nearest stn: Yotsuya.
Jogport Ariake http://jogport.com
New-concept running space from the Tokyo Marathon Foundation separates you off from the general public and provides showers and locker rooms for ¥700 per go, or ¥1,890 per month. Near Tokyo Big Sight. 1F Ariake Frontier Bldg, 3-7-26 Ariake, Koto-ku. Nearest stn: Kokusaitenjijo.
Nakano Central Park www.nakano-centralpark.jp
This plush development just west of Shinjuku has a large green park at its center, and an Under Armour Running Station where you can shower off and even rent shoes and other kit. Monthly membership obtaining access to lockers, showers and a rental towel per visit goes for ¥3,000. 4-10-2 Nakano, Nakano-ku. Nearest stn: Nakano.
