Running/Jogging in Tokyo

Hello all (especially in Tokyo area),

I will be staying in Tokyo soon for a period of several months. I also am an avid runner/jogger, a hobby that I would love to keep up. I have a few questions relating:

1. How safe is it? Where I live now I can run by myself (I'm a young woman) early in the morning and not get as much harrassment from passing cars or chased by too many stray dogs. However, Tokyo is a huge city and obviously merits more caution... What do other runners do? I want to be careful, but not paranoid.

2. How common is it? Japan produces a lot of distance runners so I'm hoping that it is not "weird" to see people jogging in public parks (especially women) and so on. In other countries I have visited this has been the case.

3. Favorite/suggested routes? I have found only a few on Google and other resources. I will be living in Shinjuku-ku, and I have heard there is a park around the Imperial Palace where people can run. Anything else? I don't want to have to go too far and ride the subway back home dripping with sweat after a run. I'm not so much into running where there's a thousand other people around and would like to take in some scenery. However, I don't want to sacrifice safety and I know solitude is a tall order in Tokyo...

4. At home, high schools/universities have running tracks open to the public at certain hours. Anyone know if this is true in Japan?

5. Running ettiquette? At home when I pass a walker or slower runner I cough or clear my throat as I approach so I don't scare them, or I say, "on your left," etc. What is the protocol in Japan? Will saying "sumimasen" or something like that suffice?

6. Availability of equipment? Any running shops catering to gaijin (mainly, Western-sized running shoes?) I will bring shoes but I'll be there so long I might need to get a new pair at some point.

I would appreciate any and all info on this subject. Sorry for the rambling post... Thanks!

the loop around the imperial palace is exactly (or very close to) 5 kilometers and makes for a nice, scenic, safe, not entirely flat run.

I think it's generally safe to run by yourself. I've not done much running in Tokyo, but I'm an avid runner in Yokohama and often see women running solo.

Never heard of schools opening their track to the public.

Never heard a runner cough or say anything to another runner. When passing from opposite directions I often give a smile and/or friendly wave which is 1/2 time ignored and 1/2 time acknowledged.

Unless you have HUGE feet, you should have no problem buying running shoes here. I can regularly find 28~29 cm size shoes, no problem.

Hi Ima127,

It really depends on your shoe size, but it's near impossible to get good quality shoes for running if you are over size 25cm (Japanese size). I am about 25.5 (UK 5 1/2-6, US 8)and have looked ALL over Tokyo, Osaka, and other places including all the usual recomendations by other expats, and ended up buying men's shoes. Unfortunately they don't fit in the same way and I'm worried about the damage I'm doing my feet, but they are my only choice until my next visit home. If your feet are small you will have no problem and much more choice. If not, bring an extra pair!!

You're right about the absence of solitude in Tokyo and you'll always be around people, even early in the morning. Yes, you can go to the Imperial Palace grounds or any other big park looking place you can spot on the map. Try Yoyogi park. It's just going to take you a few visits to find just the right place. Schools tend to have fences around them, but some universities might have tracks that you can access. I'm not sure about Shinjuku. You can jog on some less-busy streets, but there are a lot of car fumes and mad cyclists. There will be lots of places you can ask at in Tokyo. I'd try going to a sports store and ask if anyone can recommend a place to run. But you'll eventually find your place, not to worry!

Out here where I live (smaller town) I just clear my throat or cough as I would at home, but at home I can jog for a while before I see anyone!

Best of luck and enjoy Tokyo!

I would be very surprised if you got harassment from people in cars, and stray dogs are a rarity in Tokyo. I jog along a route in a park in the suburbs and have never attracted any attention, and there are plenty of Japanese people, men and women, jogging as well. Generally Tokyo is a safe city for women, as long as you use your common sense as you would anywhere else.

Shinjuku is pretty built up so I would think it's not the best place to run, although I don't know the areas away from the main station well. Inokashira Park near Kichijoji station, about 15 mins train ride from Shinjuku, seems to be another popular place to run, although it can get a bit crowded on weekends. You could also try Yoyogi Park, nearer to Shinjuku, although that gets even more crowded on weekends, it's not too bad on weekdays.

When you say "Western-sized" running shoes, what size do you take? I am a US 8.5 - 9 and have bought shoes in my size from the Nike store. A chain called Oshman's is also good, but the women's shoes tend to stop at about a US 8 (size 25 in Japan). There are no running shops catering specifically to non-Japanese that I am aware of.

If you're not used to running in very hot and humid conditions you might find running in the summer months here draining- most people don't even have to move to break a sweat from early to July to about mid-September, you are likely to drench yourself running at that time of year. This summer so far has been particularly cool, but once the rainy season finishes it should get a lot hotter.

oh yeah, there are also a few Hash House groups in Tokyo, including one that's only women, I believe. Google around - it might be a good place to meet other runners/women/women runners.

Thanks to everyone for the quick replies. I'll pull out my map of Tokyo and search for the places mentioned above. Thanks too for the shoe advice, I guess I spaced on the fact that major athletic brands would have a presence in one of the biggest cities on Earth (smacks forehead).

Also, thanks for the reassurances about safety. Message boards are often just an outlet for people's bad experiences so I was a little nervous after reading so many horror stories about sexual harrassment, staring, etc. Especially glad about the dogs. Man, I hate roaming dogs. People here (in the midwestern US) often let them out with no leash or collar to roam the streets. I've been chased more times than I care to remember, been bitten twice, and once I had to kick a dog to get it to stop snapping at me (a big pit bull, yikes). But I'm rambling again.

I don't expect the humidity to be much of a problem, I live in a similar climate now. Don't like to run in the rain though; I would feel like a sudden contestant in a wet T-shirt contest.

Ah, Hash House. Pump up your lungs and then wreck your liver. Definitely worth a look. : )

Thanks to all!
Thanks again!

yeah, I'm yet to participate in a Hash, but I think it would be good for me as I was told it's a club for "drinkers with a running problem."

Yoyogi Park is good for running as is the area around Jingu Stadium - near Gaien mae.<BR>

My regular hotel is in Shinjuku and they provide a jogging map with a couple of suggested routes for hotel guests, so I would say you can probably find a route to take near where you are staying as well.