Still struggling with the last remains of New Year’s fat? The time to get into shape for summer is now, and the Reebok Fitness Battle Club on Harajuku’s Cat Street is where to find inspiration for your sweaty quest. Open from February 10 to March 27, this multi-storey spot functions as a store and café while also offering classes in everything from yoga to CrossFit. Appearing mildly threatening next to the neighbourhood’s kawaii fashion shops and ice cream cafés, it even puts on weekly ‘battle nights’ where sculpted pros show off their physical prowess.
The classes all require reservations, available through the Battle Club’s official (Japanese-only) website, but nothing stops you from showing up unannounced and checking out the retail and refreshment side of things. On the basement floor, you’ll find a complete lineup of the newest Reebok workout gear, while the ground-floor café serves up healthy protein drinks courtesy of Sunshine Juice. The free-to-watch Friday Battle Nights (7.30-9pm) invite you to see CrossFit, ‘street workout’ and yoga masters fight it out and flex their muscles, hopefully lighting a fitness spark within yourself as well.
In addition to this attention-grabbing pop-up, the Reebok folks are apparently working hard to convert more Tokyoites to the CrossFit faith: having signed a ten-year partnership deal with the California-born fitness programme, the brand now operates four dedicated gyms across the city. If you don’t mind the haters and are looking to take the plunge, check out their official website for all the deets.
The Reebok Fitness Battle Club is open at Harajuku’s Casa Jingumae from February 10 to March 27. Opening hours are noon-9pm from Monday to Friday and 11am-8pm on weekends and holidays. See here for map and transport info, and visit the event’s official Instagram for an idea of what to expect over the month.
