Saturday, early afternoon. Four minutes on foot from Omiya Station. Down a flight of stairs to the basement, and the first thing to greet a visitor is the Hammer Strength certification plaque, followed by the heat of the room itself. Groups spot each other on the platforms, plates clatter against plates — the particular pressure of a downtown gym. The lockers are individually keyed rather than the boxed style typical of Anytime Fitness, a small but telling detail. Later, above ground again, a walk down the Hikawa Sando leads to a stone memorial for the battleship Musashi, half-hidden under the trees of the shrine grounds. Within a matter of minutes, the temperature of the street changes entirely. Station-front noise gives way to something closer to silence. Omiya, it turns out, holds more range than its crowds first suggest.
| Address | KDX Omiya Building B1, 1-38-1 Miyacho, Omiya-ku, Saitama-shi, Saitama 330-0802 |
| Nearest Station | Omiya Station (JR), 4-minute walk |
| Monthly Fee | ¥7,678 (tax included; ¥6,980 before tax) |
| Phone | 048-780-2346 |
| Official Site | https://www.anytimefitness.co.jp/omiyaekimae/ |
Equipment
Lockers here are individually locked rather than the boxed style used at most Anytime Fitness locations — a slightly unusual choice, whether for security or simply local custom. Private shower rooms and private changing rooms follow, with more of each than the typical branch offers. A free water server (hydrogen water included), body composition analyzer, personal trainers, an AED, and MAG grip attachments round out the amenities, and the club accepts high school students at no charge. The machine lineup runs on Life Fitness and Hammer Strength, and the branch carries the Hammer Strength Black Plate certification, awarded for exceeding 15 units of qualifying equipment. Wi-Fi is available but the signal runs weak. Lockable storage isn’t listed, though open shelving is provided; bicycle and car parking are not documented.
Access
A 4-minute walk from Omiya Station. Exit toward the east side and follow the main road — a straightforward route.
Interior and Facilities
A single basement floor, laid out long and narrow. Walking straight in from the entrance leads to the locker room, with restrooms and showers further back. As noted above, lockers are individually keyed; the number of shower and restroom stalls exceeds the branch average, easing the wait even during busier hours.
A stretching area sits at the front of the training floor — somewhat tight given how busy the space gets, and mats are self-set. Cardio equipment lines the left wall, while stack-loaded machines fill the center in generous numbers, leaving little to be desired by exercise type. Free weights and plate-loaded machines occupy the back, accounting for roughly half the total floor. Three adjustable benches, five Smith machines and power racks, and a clear path from bench to dumbbell rack.
What stands out is the number of people training in groups — a familiar sight at downtown branches. The atmosphere recalls Kichijoji-Ekimae in certain ways, and the large monitors mounted near the ceiling leave an impression of their own. Wi-Fi connects, though the signal stays weak throughout.
A Hammer Strength certification plaque hangs quietly on the wall — a mark reserved for branches with 15 or more qualifying units installed. It says, without saying much, how seriously this location takes its equipment.
Crowd Levels
Visited on a Saturday afternoon; not busy enough to cause a wait, but the gap between machines runs narrow, and passing between them calls for a bit of care.
Surroundings
Near the station, a building carries a large mural reading “Nettō Kōshien” — a nod to Japan’s national high school baseball tournament — enough on its own to signal the neighborhood’s energy. Stepping into the Hikawa Sando changes the air almost immediately. The tree-lined approach leads to the grounds of Hikawa Shrine, where a stone memorial for the battleship Musashi appears without warning. Erected by the Saitama Defense Association in memory of the battleship lost during the Pacific War, it’s an unexpected brush with history in the middle of a gym-hopping afternoon.
The return route runs back through the Hikawa Sando toward Omiya Park — larger than expected. Walking through it, the torii gate of Saitama Gokoku Shrine appears without much warning. The quiet feels almost implausible only a few minutes from the station’s crowds; the air within the tree-covered grounds seems to shift in texture. Coming across a place like this mid-pilgrimage is, in its own way, the appeal of walking a city on foot.
A long line had formed near the stadium around the park — likely a soccer match underway. Past the shrine and the park, the view shifts abruptly to a large roadside retail complex housing Shimamura, Avail, and Birthday — the quiet of the shrine giving way, without transition, to something distinctly lived-in. That contrast is, arguably, half the fun of exploring on foot.
Overall Impressions
A station-front location that still manages real depth in its machine lineup: 5 Smith machines and power racks, a strong stack-machine selection, and a Hammer Strength certification to back it up. Anyone training seriously should find plenty here. The surrounding neighborhood carries its own range — the energy near the station, the quiet of the Hikawa Sando, the openness of Omiya Park. That contrast, more than anything, is what stays with you.
Rating
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Access | ★★★★★ |
| Equipment | ★★★★☆ |
| How Uncrowded | ★★★☆☆ |
| Value for Money | ★★★☆☆ |
| Would Visit Again | ★★★★☆ |
| Overall Score | 9 |
| Pilgrimage Class Rated Yes if this gym is worth making a special trip for, even if you don’t live nearby. | − |
The pilgrimage continues.
📖 Japanese Review → エニタイムフィットネス大宮駅前店レビュー
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