So I recently moved to Japan and after a few weeks realised I was yearning to get back into the pool. (At home I trained with a Masters squad).
A few points about the differences between UK pools and Japanese pools and then I will review individual pools as I visited them.
I will start with some pool etiquette & tips as I have found there are certain things that you would get away with at home that you cannot here.
1. Pools aren't that well signposted. I have struggled to find a few of the pools I have visited so far. Some are down alleys, in the middle of housing areas or just in the middle of nowhere. Do your research before you pick a pool to visit and pin-point it on a map.
2. When you enter the pool building, instead of purchasing a ticket at a counter you buy it from a machine, although if you have any problems, just ask and someone will help you. Most pools allow you to swim for two hours and then once you leave if you are over the time you then pay some more money before you exit. Some pool tickets also work in a locker but all pools are different.
3. Before you enter the changing room, you have to take off your shoes. If you are familiar with Japan anyway you know this is part of culture. It can also be handy to take off your socks at this point as well as the floor can understandably be wet!
4. Everyone must wear a swimsuit, cap and goggles. No bikinis as is allowed in the UK. If you don't have these items, most pools have them for sale. If you ask someone for help with buying a ticket, it is very likely that they will ask if you have all the items before you enter the pool.
5. People in Japan go to a pool to actually swim. No messing around with inflatables and generally hovering like people do in the UK. Most pools will have designated swimming lanes and then some walking lanes.
6. Lanes tend to be split into different speeds depending on how big the pool is. Some are just a fast lane and a slow lane, whereas bigger pools also have a medium speed. Another odd thing is that some lanes are up and down like normal in the UK, but some are one way, so you swim up one way in the lane then transfer to another lane and swim back up the other direction. There will then be one or two lanes for walking which is a very popular activity in Japan.
7. No tattoos. If you have a tattoo it has to be covered up as best as you can. They are quite strict on these rules with signs in every pool.
8. Some pools allow only people who live or work in that 'ward' to use them or even offer a discount for those locals.
9. Although we should do this in the UK it is compulsory in Japan to shower before entering the pool. As for after swimming, many pools do not allow you to use shampoo or body wash in the showers. I don't quite understand this rule but apparently its because it makes the floor slippy!
10. Perhaps the most important difference to note in Japanese pools is the break. Most pools have a break every hour for five minutes where everyone gets out of the pool and sits on the side while the lifeguards do their safety checks. Again its a strange rule that can be a little odd the first time you experience it but you get used to it after a while!
11. Another rule that bugs me a little. You cannot have a bottle of water on the poolside. This means you have to store it with your towel usually on a shelf and have to keep getting out the pool to keep yourself hydrated with a drink. Again I am not entirely sure why this rule stands but it must be adhered to as I have been told off several times for this.
12. A few of the pools I have found to be too hot. The average temperature of pool water in the UK is around 27/28 degrees Celsius. It seems to be around 30 in Japan which shouldn't feel like too much of a difference but the actual air temperature is a lot warmer too. This isn't the case with every pool just a few of them.
A few points about the differences between UK pools and Japanese pools and then I will review individual pools as I visited them.
I will start with some pool etiquette & tips as I have found there are certain things that you would get away with at home that you cannot here.
1. Pools aren't that well signposted. I have struggled to find a few of the pools I have visited so far. Some are down alleys, in the middle of housing areas or just in the middle of nowhere. Do your research before you pick a pool to visit and pin-point it on a map.
2. When you enter the pool building, instead of purchasing a ticket at a counter you buy it from a machine, although if you have any problems, just ask and someone will help you. Most pools allow you to swim for two hours and then once you leave if you are over the time you then pay some more money before you exit. Some pool tickets also work in a locker but all pools are different.
3. Before you enter the changing room, you have to take off your shoes. If you are familiar with Japan anyway you know this is part of culture. It can also be handy to take off your socks at this point as well as the floor can understandably be wet!
4. Everyone must wear a swimsuit, cap and goggles. No bikinis as is allowed in the UK. If you don't have these items, most pools have them for sale. If you ask someone for help with buying a ticket, it is very likely that they will ask if you have all the items before you enter the pool.
5. People in Japan go to a pool to actually swim. No messing around with inflatables and generally hovering like people do in the UK. Most pools will have designated swimming lanes and then some walking lanes.
6. Lanes tend to be split into different speeds depending on how big the pool is. Some are just a fast lane and a slow lane, whereas bigger pools also have a medium speed. Another odd thing is that some lanes are up and down like normal in the UK, but some are one way, so you swim up one way in the lane then transfer to another lane and swim back up the other direction. There will then be one or two lanes for walking which is a very popular activity in Japan.
7. No tattoos. If you have a tattoo it has to be covered up as best as you can. They are quite strict on these rules with signs in every pool.
8. Some pools allow only people who live or work in that 'ward' to use them or even offer a discount for those locals.
9. Although we should do this in the UK it is compulsory in Japan to shower before entering the pool. As for after swimming, many pools do not allow you to use shampoo or body wash in the showers. I don't quite understand this rule but apparently its because it makes the floor slippy!
10. Perhaps the most important difference to note in Japanese pools is the break. Most pools have a break every hour for five minutes where everyone gets out of the pool and sits on the side while the lifeguards do their safety checks. Again its a strange rule that can be a little odd the first time you experience it but you get used to it after a while!
11. Another rule that bugs me a little. You cannot have a bottle of water on the poolside. This means you have to store it with your towel usually on a shelf and have to keep getting out the pool to keep yourself hydrated with a drink. Again I am not entirely sure why this rule stands but it must be adhered to as I have been told off several times for this.
12. A few of the pools I have found to be too hot. The average temperature of pool water in the UK is around 27/28 degrees Celsius. It seems to be around 30 in Japan which shouldn't feel like too much of a difference but the actual air temperature is a lot warmer too. This isn't the case with every pool just a few of them.
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