From Tachikawa to Nakano.
20 gyms along the Chuo Line,
and the ones worth visiting again.
【2026 Edition】
The Chuo Line is long. Too long to walk end to end just yet. So this time, I limited the scope to Tachikawa through Nakano. 20 gyms, visited in person and checked one by one. This isn’t an equipment ranking. It’s a pilgrimage ranking, built around one question: would I come back?
Anytime Fitness locations are usually near a station. But along the Chuo Line, that isn’t always true. Some sit right by the station, others inside a larger building, others underground — the variety is wide. Being close to the station doesn’t necessarily mean cramped. I didn’t expect this much variation along a single train line.
I haven’t fully covered the Hachioji side yet, so this round is limited to the 20 gyms between Tachikawa and Nakano. I’ll come back to the full Chuo Line picture once I’ve walked further west.
1st ／ NISHI-KOKUBUNJINishi-Kokubunji11 points・Pilgrimage Class
A 15-minute walk from Nishi-Kokubunji Station. Honestly, a bit far. But it’s worth it. A standalone building, with a 7-Eleven next door. One large floor, genuinely spacious. 4 power racks and Smith machines, 3 adjustable benches. Water dispenser on site, restrooms and showers more than adequate.
Nishi-Kokubunji／15-minute walk from the station, standalone building, 7-Eleven next door. The free-weight area has a quiet, hideout-like feel.
What stands out. The free-weight area sits toward the back of the gym and feels a little tight, but that gives it a hideout-like calm. Both weight-stack machines for beginners and plate-loaded machines are available, so it works well regardless of experience level. Not a Hammer Strength certified location, but the machine selection rivals one.
Why it stuck with me. I only stopped by on the way to Kokubunji City Hall. But the neighborhood itself was calmer and better than expected. A large park is close by, making it an ideal spot for a walk after training. The distance from the station is a real drawback, but the comfort of the area more than makes up for it.
Who it’s for. Anyone who’d trade proximity to the station for space and calm. Anyone who wants to finish a session with a walk through a park. Confidently recommended if you live in the Kokubunji or Nishi-Kokubunji area.
▶ Read the full Nishi-Kokubunji review
2nd ／ HIGASHI-KOGANEIHigashi-Koganei11 points・Pilgrimage Class
20 seconds on foot from Higashi-Koganei Station. Under the elevated tracks, with a 7-Eleven next door. 5 Smith machines, 5 benches, plus 3 more benches of unclear purpose. Water dispenser on site. One large floor.
Higashi-Koganei／20 seconds from the station, under the elevated tracks. Equipment on par with the Shakujii-Koen location. Still new, with flowers on display.
What stands out. The equipment here rivals the Shakujii-Koen location. It gets moderately busy, but the size of the floor keeps it from ever feeling stressful. It’s clearly a newer location — there were fresh flowers on display.
Why it stuck with me. The neighborhood feels similar to Musashi-Koganei — calm, without much noise or bustle. Great access from the station combined with a genuinely spacious floor. A place I’d happily return to.
Who it’s for. Anyone who won’t compromise on proximity to the station but still wants space. A solid pick for anyone along the Chuo Line who wants to avoid crowding stress.
▶ Read the full Higashi-Koganei review
3rd ／ MUSASHINOMusashino10 points
One bus ride from Mitaka Station. The distance from the station is the one real drawback. A single floor that looks like a converted family restaurant. No water dispenser. 3 adjustable benches, 4 Smith machines.
Musashino／one bus ride from Mitaka Station. An open floor in what looks like a former family restaurant. MUFG Park sits right across the street.
What stands out. A popular location with a fair number of people, but the floor is large and the equipment plentiful enough that training never feels stressful. The atmosphere is close to the Shakujii-Koen location. As long as you can accept the distance from the station, satisfaction runs high.
Why it stuck with me. MUFG Park sits right across the street, making a walk before or after training genuinely enjoyable. The open layout, likely inherited from its former life as a restaurant, gives the space a character you won’t find elsewhere.
Who it’s for. Anyone who’d prioritize floor space and comfort over walking distance from the station. A good fit for anyone living around Mitaka or Musashino.
▶ Read the full Musashino review
4th ／ ASAGAYA-KITAAsagaya-Kita8 points
A 3-minute walk from Asagaya Station. Ground floor of a building on a main street. Free water dispenser on site. A square-shaped floor, reasonably spacious. 4 adjustable benches (one in a slightly tighter spot), 5 power racks and Smith machines. A few plate-loaded machines as well.
Asagaya-Kita／3-minute walk from the station, ground floor on a main street. The square layout feels close to the Saginomiya and Shakujii-Koen locations.
What stands out. During my visit, I happened to see a foreign member going through the sign-up process — a reminder of how international the membership base can be. The atmosphere is close to the Saginomiya and Shakujii-Koen locations. It tends to get busy before noon on Sundays, and the free-weight area can feel a little tight during those hours.
Why it stuck with me. The bike parking area was packed, a sign of how embedded this location is in the neighborhood. Asagaya itself has plenty of shopping streets and restaurants — an easy, livable area.
Who it’s for. Anyone who wants both proximity to the station and solid equipment. A good match if you also want a livable neighborhood with shopping streets nearby.
▶ Read the full Asagaya-Kita review
5th ／ KOGANEI-PARKKoganei Park8 points
The nearest station is Musashi-Sakai, though it’s still a bit of a walk. Spacious, with a decent equipment lineup. The free-weight zone runs on a write-your-name-and-wait system, family-restaurant style. The machine zone is comfortable to use.
Koganei Park／nearest station is Musashi-Sakai. Space and equipment are the main draw here.
What stands out. The size of the floor and the depth of the equipment lineup. Even when the free-weight area gets busy, the waitlist system keeps things fair — no one feels shortchanged.
Why it stuck with me. During the visit, I caught myself thinking, “if only this were closer to home.” That’s how strong the satisfaction with the facility itself was.
Who it’s for. Anyone who values a comfortable floor over walking distance. A good fit if you live in or regularly pass through the Koganei Park area.
▶ Read the full Koganei Park review
6th–20thDigest
From here on, a faster pace. Every location had its own character.
A 5-minute walk from the station, a narrow single basement floor. Calmer than the Kichijoji Ekimae location, and quiet even on a holiday afternoon. Good for anyone who wants to train at their own pace.
▶ Full review
A 3-minute walk from the station, a basement entrance that feels almost like a hidden door. Smaller than the Nakamurabashi or Yaho locations, but the equipment lineup is complete. No windows, but the air feels clean. Kokubunji itself is a relaxed bedroom town.
▶ Full review
A basement location, Hammer Strength certified. The equipment is strong but the space feels a little tight, and it draws a crowd. A stylish crowd, more here for the look than serious training. Catch a movie at Parco on the way out.
▶ Full review
30 seconds from the station, floors 2 and 3 of a building. The 3rd floor is surprisingly open for how close it sits to the station, with plenty of equipment. The neighborhood feels quiet and livable.
▶ Full review
A 7-minute walk from the station, a three-story building. No stairs, just a single escalator, which turns into a real bottleneck when it’s busy. I had the place to myself during my visit — the facility itself left nothing to complain about.
▶ Full review
Closed briefly in 2025, then reopened — and looking great since. Water dispenser and body-composition scanner on site. Not too crowded, though a dividing wall in the middle of the floor hurts the layout somewhat.
▶ Full review
Zero minutes from the station, nearly a direct connection. The free-weight zone runs a little tight, but there were fewer people than expected for a Sunday before noon. From some of the cardio machines, you can watch the trains pass close by.
▶ Full review
A single floor on the 2nd level of a building. The equipment is minimal but sufficient. The layout works well and leaves enough breathing room. The neighborhood is calm, with good access from the station.
▶ Full review
Floors 1 and 2 of a building. Weeknight evenings can bring a wait. I have a strong personal attachment to Ogikubo — I lived there for three years and still think of it as home. Igusa Hachimangu Shrine and a park are both nearby.
▶ Full review
A 5-minute walk from the station. Not crowded, a quiet gym. Neither remarkable nor lacking — a solidly usable location.
▶ Full review
A 4-minute walk from the station. The equipment count is compact, and it can get busy enough to require a waitlist at certain times. Even so, as a neighborhood, I’d currently rank Nakano as the best along the Chuo Line.
▶ Full review
Floors 3 and 4 of a building on a shopping street. Sunday mornings consistently bring a wait. A younger crowd, training as much for style as for results. Worth considering if you live nearby.
▶ Full review
Just outside the south exit, floors 2 and 3 of a building. A compact setup, true to the Chuo Line style. The neighborhood is pleasant to live in, and this location suits anyone who values being right by the station.
▶ Full review
A short walk past a shopping street, a two-story building. The free-weight area on the 1st floor is compact and can get crowded at busier times. A pleasant neighborhood, good for anyone who wants to fold training into daily life nearby.
▶ Full review
A 5-minute walk from the station. A compact space, with machines arranged simply. No ab bench. Better suited to lighter sessions or a quick workout between errands. A walk through Tachikawa afterward is a nice bonus.
▶ Full reviewClosingThe pilgrimage continues
Tachikawa to Nakano, 20 gyms. Even along a single train line, conditions varied completely from one location to the next — a station-front spot could still be spacious, or a floor could stretch across several levels of a building. My assumption going in, that Chuo Line locations would all feel similar, was proven wrong in the best way.
I still haven’t fully covered the Hachioji side. Even so, these 20 visits taught me something. Distance from the station or a building’s age alone don’t decide whether a gym is good. Floor space, layout, and the character of the neighborhood itself — all of it together decides whether I’d come back.
小さな一歩も、旅のうち。NO RUSH. YOUR JOURNEY.
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