The first pool I visited in Tokyo was the Metropolitan Gymnasium in Sendagaya. It has a range of facilities besides the pool and is due to host the Table Tennis for the 2020 Olympics.
This means they are closing the facility some time at the end of March/start of April 2018 and it will be closed until 2020 so if you want to swim in this pool, go soon! Please note this is from a women's perspective of changing rooms etc so men's facilities could be slightly different!
The pool is really easy to find and is around 30 seconds walk from Sendagaya station. As you arrive at the building you see the main arena, then to the right there is a path that goes down towards the facility entrance. This is where you will find the pool. Once you enter there is a small café on the right then further on there is an information desk and on the left there is a machine where you buy your ticket. The staff here do speak English and will help if you need it.
The cost is 6oo Yen for two and a half hours of usage, this allows you to enter the gym as well. You then take your ticket to a gate where you slot in your ticket then pick it up once you are through. Then you go through to the changing rooms where you must first take off your shoes. You may also want to take off your socks as the floor can, understandably be wet.
On the left as the enter the changing rooms is a sort of spa ( I can't comment on any other details as I haven't been in here myself yet). There are also toilets, where you should use the available toilet shoes. Further on you will find on the right a relaxing room where there are massage chairs before you enter the actual changing area.
There are plenty of lockers, so take your pick. Your ticket slots into the locker so it will lock when closed. The lockers have a handy little shelf inside underneath the lock which can be used for placing jewellery or phones.
Once you are changed into your swimsuit (no bikinis allowed), speedos for men seem to be allowed although most wear knee-length suits. This also applies to ladies as over half in the pool seem to be wearing knee-length suits so if you have one, don't be afraid to wear it. Everyone must also wear a hat & goggles. This is a big change from the UK as many people swim regularly with no hat. Most Japanese seem to wear the material caps but I have worn my silicone one on several occasions and it has been fine.
You will then pass through a sliding door where there are showers on the left as well as hot baths. Then through another sliding door there are sinks on the left then an automatic shower that is on a sensor for when someone stands under it. Place your towel and other items in the shelf to the right and walk through the showers, then collect your belongings on the other side.
Now you will have entered the pool area. Walk to the left towards the shallow end and you will pass the lifeguards desk, drinking fountains and there is a shelf to store your towel. Then you can choose whether you want to swim in the 50m or 25m pool. The 25m pool can be accessed down a staircase, it is signposted or you can ask a lifeguard. The 50m pool is split into 8 lanes. Usually Lane 8 is reserved for a club or lessons. Then the middle lanes are split into 2 slow lanes, 2 medium-paced lanes and 1 fast lane. The other 2 lanes are reserved for walking. Choose which lane you feel suits you best although many people seem to chop and change lanes when they feel like it. I have also seen lifeguards asking people to move lanes if they have been too fast or slow. There are also kick boards and pull buoys available for use. All the lanes at this pool are swim up one side and back down the other unlike some pools that have one way lanes. You are not allowed to bring bottles of water on the poolside, they must be left on a bench which means you have to climb out the pool every time you want a drink.
After you have swam you can then use the showers or hot baths in the changing rooms. At the exit there is a swimming shop with costumes, bags, caps, goggles and equipment. When you leave simply enter your ticket back into the gate to exit. If you are over the allotted time there is a machine where you can pay the extra money.
This is a really nice facility for a swim and although it can be busy its never too crowded to have a proper swim. From experience its seems to be slightly quieter if you can go before the 12:50 break.
Summary
This means they are closing the facility some time at the end of March/start of April 2018 and it will be closed until 2020 so if you want to swim in this pool, go soon! Please note this is from a women's perspective of changing rooms etc so men's facilities could be slightly different!
The pool is really easy to find and is around 30 seconds walk from Sendagaya station. As you arrive at the building you see the main arena, then to the right there is a path that goes down towards the facility entrance. This is where you will find the pool. Once you enter there is a small café on the right then further on there is an information desk and on the left there is a machine where you buy your ticket. The staff here do speak English and will help if you need it.
The cost is 6oo Yen for two and a half hours of usage, this allows you to enter the gym as well. You then take your ticket to a gate where you slot in your ticket then pick it up once you are through. Then you go through to the changing rooms where you must first take off your shoes. You may also want to take off your socks as the floor can, understandably be wet.
On the left as the enter the changing rooms is a sort of spa ( I can't comment on any other details as I haven't been in here myself yet). There are also toilets, where you should use the available toilet shoes. Further on you will find on the right a relaxing room where there are massage chairs before you enter the actual changing area.
There are plenty of lockers, so take your pick. Your ticket slots into the locker so it will lock when closed. The lockers have a handy little shelf inside underneath the lock which can be used for placing jewellery or phones.
Once you are changed into your swimsuit (no bikinis allowed), speedos for men seem to be allowed although most wear knee-length suits. This also applies to ladies as over half in the pool seem to be wearing knee-length suits so if you have one, don't be afraid to wear it. Everyone must also wear a hat & goggles. This is a big change from the UK as many people swim regularly with no hat. Most Japanese seem to wear the material caps but I have worn my silicone one on several occasions and it has been fine.
You will then pass through a sliding door where there are showers on the left as well as hot baths. Then through another sliding door there are sinks on the left then an automatic shower that is on a sensor for when someone stands under it. Place your towel and other items in the shelf to the right and walk through the showers, then collect your belongings on the other side.
Now you will have entered the pool area. Walk to the left towards the shallow end and you will pass the lifeguards desk, drinking fountains and there is a shelf to store your towel. Then you can choose whether you want to swim in the 50m or 25m pool. The 25m pool can be accessed down a staircase, it is signposted or you can ask a lifeguard. The 50m pool is split into 8 lanes. Usually Lane 8 is reserved for a club or lessons. Then the middle lanes are split into 2 slow lanes, 2 medium-paced lanes and 1 fast lane. The other 2 lanes are reserved for walking. Choose which lane you feel suits you best although many people seem to chop and change lanes when they feel like it. I have also seen lifeguards asking people to move lanes if they have been too fast or slow. There are also kick boards and pull buoys available for use. All the lanes at this pool are swim up one side and back down the other unlike some pools that have one way lanes. You are not allowed to bring bottles of water on the poolside, they must be left on a bench which means you have to climb out the pool every time you want a drink.
After you have swam you can then use the showers or hot baths in the changing rooms. At the exit there is a swimming shop with costumes, bags, caps, goggles and equipment. When you leave simply enter your ticket back into the gate to exit. If you are over the allotted time there is a machine where you can pay the extra money.
This is a really nice facility for a swim and although it can be busy its never too crowded to have a proper swim. From experience its seems to be slightly quieter if you can go before the 12:50 break.
Summary
- Pool: 1 x 50m pool & 1 x 25m pool
- Ticket cost 600 Yen for 2 hours 30 minutes. An extra 300 Yen for any time over.
- Closest station-Sendagaya on the Chuo- Sobu Line. 5 minutes from Shinjuku. 20 minutes from Shibuya. 25 minutes from Tokyo Station.
- Locker cost- N/A Entrance ticket slots into locker
- Swimming cap/hat and googles: Compulsory
- Showers: Yes and they allow shampoo and body wash.
- Break: Yes twice a day for 10 minutes at 12:50 and 18:50
- Swim Shop: Yes
- Hairdryers: No
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