Yokohama International Swimming Pool — Attraction in Yokohama

I’m rewriting my previous review because the first one didn’t do justice to my experience. I’ve been a member at this gym for several years, and while I genuinely enjoy working out here, I feel it’s important to share some concerns about the inconsistent and discriminatory behavior of certain staff members.

When I first joined, I’ll admit I might’ve been a bit cocky, but over time I’ve learned and grown. I now understand that rules exist for safety and order, and I’ve made every effort to respect them. I’m not someone who wants to argue with staff or cause problems but one particular staff member seems to have it out for me. I know this might sound exaggerated, but it’s not.

This individual frequently approaches me to say I’m breaking rules such as not using clips on the barbell, sitting near the emergency exit, or not setting safety pins for the bench press. He’s even complained to my partner for taking an emergency phone call at the gym. On the surface, these things might sound reasonable but context matters. Here’s where the double standards and discriminatory treatment become clear:

Emergency Exit Rule: When my son used to attend swimming lessons, I often saw people sitting directly in front of the emergency exit in the sub-pool area. This same staff member would walk by and say nothing. After raising this inconsistency with several managers, that rule was eventually clarified proving he was selectively enforcing his own rules at the gym to me personally.

Barbell Clips Issue: The same happened with barbell clips. At the time, there was no rule requiring them, but after this staff member made a scene and involved the manager, new signs suddenly appeared enforcing it. What’s worse, I wasn’t even lifting heavy just 40kg and I explained that not using clips can actually be safer when bench pressing alone, as it allows you to slide the weights off if needed. Ironically, I’ve seen many people genuinely struggle with weights or fail lifts without any intervention from him or other staff. I’ve personally helped people who got stuck under the bar something staff should’ve been monitoring.

“Manners” Comment: Another time, a female staff member scolded me for warming up with a barbell in the box-jump area, claiming it was dangerous for people using the treadmills even though the treadmills were completely empty. I was simply trying to stay out of other gym goers way because the main barbell area was crowded.

Selective Enforcement: I see people leaving plates on barbells, taking selfies, and doing supersets that block areas around the gym it's not technically against the rules (the selfie one is tho). I personally don’t care, people come to train and should enjoy it. But it’s frustrating that Japanese members can do all of these things freely while I, as a visibly foreign member, get singled out for minor infractions or made-up rules. It feels like this particular staff member is constantly looking for reasons to call me out.

Unequal Treatment of My Wife: My wife was called out today for taking an emergency phone call, yet older members are allowed to leave belongings like water bottles next to equipment or even near where others are training without issue. She’s even had to confront someone directly about it herself because staff didn’t step in.

I want to be clear: I’m not writing this to attack anyone or “bash” the gym. I actually like coming here, and most staff are friendly and professional. But this one individual’s behavior has crossed into discriminatory territory, and the inconsistency in how rules are...

I never write reviews but this is a long time coming and this place deserves it honestly.

This is more of a review of the gym here and managment. First of let me say that I have been coming to this pool/ gym since I was a kid. I learned to swim here as a kid and I have a son who comes and swims here as well. I have been really serious about weightlifting since a year ago and I have been regularly coming to the gym to train. Little did I know that management does not like a lot of things that make noise. I have a problem with this. Not because it's my determination to make noise but the sport of lifting heavy objects off the ground will always make noise, if your argument against that is well then go lighter it is a valid argument but the purpose of becoming stronger is being able to lift heavier overtime with ease but struggling is also part of the journey of lifting.

And to be honest i think the people who actually come on a regular basis and lifts weights actually have no problem with this. I think it is the people who come for a week or so and then decide to quit who complain the most. I used to do cardio at the same gym and always thought that people who lift weights were a bit loud but ever since i started doing it myself I realize I was wrong, it takes a lot of effort and practice to be able to do these things and sometimes when you push hard you have to just be able to slam the weight even though its not your intention because lets say in a overhead squat position your arms are locked out and you cant bring it back because of the immense weight above your head and it's very different from a snatch where you can easily bring it back down but because you have been holding the barbell above your head while doing a squat for several reps and there is so much fatigue in your arms that if you did try to bring it down normally you will 100% injure yourself.

As for management who make the rules, I want to say that you absolutely suck. I can't do overhead squats because at the end I slam the weights? OK

But when some middle aged man or a highschooler gets stuck under a barbell doing bench press and I can count over a dozen times where I have seen them needing help and you guys have done NOTHING. You guys will come at people for deadlifting too loud or slamming weights but someone getting choked to death by a barbell its okay with you guys.

Slamming weights? no-no

Getting crushed by a barbell? yes-yes

Jokes aside, it's a great place, it really is. It has all the right barebone essentials for a gym, it has a real old school vibe. You can tell that the people who designed the place had it in mind to be a great gym but the people who run it now have no idea what they are doing. I think the gym staff + management are easily influenced by criticism given about noise from people who come only a few times. And for the record they don't stop coming because of the noise, they stop coming because people give up going to the gym all the time, I did it too. Like I said I used to do cardio here and i thought people who lifted weights were loud but I never complained.

Criticism will always be louder then a praise.

Listen to your regulars not the ones that...

Probably one of the best swimming pools in Yokohama.

Facilities are great: 3 swimming pools - 2 semi-olympic, head-to-head, one deep (2 meters) and the one shallow (for children and rehabilitation) and one olympic pool. There are Jacuzzi, water jet seats and Sauna in the "room" with the 2 semi-olympic pools and diving platform and pool with the olympic one. I understand there is a gym as well, never used it thought...

Changing cabins, shower cabins, hair dryers, safe lockers for valuables, storage lockers, swimming wear centrifuge, toilets available in good conditions. The shower stream is too hot and low pressure for my taste.

Each pool has separate lines: walking only (one way only), slow swimmers (both ways), fast swimmers (two ways), block-start training (one way only), training (e.g. synchronous swimming courses, etc..).

It gets quite crowded after work, with many people training (professionals) there. Until 2020 Tokyo Olympics, UK team will be training there as well.

Price is 700 Japanese Yen for one entrance (2 hours) for adults. 10 entries tickets available, as well as monthly passes (2 hours everyday) available for 7000 Japanese Yen.

I gave it 4 starts because the Main Pool (olympic size one) is rarely available to regular customers. In my case I used it only during the summer, being closed/used by somebody else the rest of the year; maybe it has to do with the UK Olympics team... Also, I would have loved to have early hour access (e.g. 7:00 in the morning), so I could go swimming before work.

If you are looking for an olympic pool, this might not be the place...