Where the concierge points people first
- B-Pump Tokyo Akihabara — One of the best-known bouldering gyms in the city, with a big range of problems and strong regulars. Busy on weekday evenings after office hours; go earlier if you want the easier walls to yourself. (35.6999, 139.7680)
- Base Camp Tokyo Edogawabashi — A few minutes' walk from Edogawabashi station, and one of the few central gyms with roped walls for lead and top-rope as well as bouldering. First-timers get an introduction before they climb. (35.7096, 139.7374)
- Rocky Bouldering Gym Shinagawa — One of several Rocky gyms on this list, near Shinagawa station. Convenient for a session on the day you arrive by Shinkansen or before an evening flight from Haneda. (35.6275, 139.7565)
- Urban Base Camp Shinbashi — A branch of Urban Base Camp, the gym brand linked to veteran Japanese climber Yuji Hirayama, near Shinbashi and walkable from Ginza. The easy choice for a lunchtime or after-work session in the business district. (35.6647, 139.7529)
The rest of the climbing spots in Tokyo — every one we hold
- Boulcom Tokyo (35.6910, 139.7651)
- Climbing Gym Spider (35.6517, 139.7336)
- Fish and Bird (35.6759, 139.8180)
- Headrock Climbing Gym (35.6885, 139.8031)
- Pump Climbing Academy (35.6891, 139.7091)
- Rocky Climbing and Fitness Gym Shinjuku-Akebonobashi (35.6936, 139.7177)
- Rockyボルダリングジム 両国店 (35.7026, 139.7984)
- Tウォール新橋店 (35.6649, 139.7530)
- エスカラード クライミングジム (35.6978, 139.6982)
- エナジークライミングジム高田馬場 (35.7133, 139.7025)
- クライミングスクール・ジム J&S池袋 (35.7238, 139.7112)
- グラビティリサーチ銀座 (35.6711, 139.7627)
- ディーボルダリング田町 (35.6467, 139.7486)
- ヒローズアップ！クライミングクラブ (35.6375, 139.6739)
- ベータクライミングジム (35.6922, 139.7222)
- ボルダリングジム そらよん (35.6386, 139.7229)
- 登處八丁堀 (35.6760, 139.7813)
- 空の向こうに四足歩行 (35.6386, 139.7229)
Grades count down, and the first visit means paperwork
Japanese bouldering gyms mostly grade in kyū, which count down as the climbs get harder, from around 10-kyū for beginners to 1-kyū, then on into dan grades for the hardest problems. Each gym sets its own scale, so treat a grade as local. On a first visit expect to fill in a registration form and a waiver, pay a one-off membership fee on top of the day rate, and hire shoes if you have none. For real rock, Tokyo's outdoor bouldering is at Mitake in the Okutama hills, reached by train from Shinjuku in under two hours.
Ask NUM for a bouldering gym near your hotel in Tokyo
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