Anytime Fitness in Japan: the company behind its directly operated and franchised gyms

Fast Fitness Japan is the company behind Anytime Fitness’s expansion in Japan, responsible for both directly operated gyms and franchise development. Its announcement dated 21 September 2026 outlines how the US-born brand is managed in Japan and traces its development since the first Japanese gym opened in 2010. For the franchise community, the key questions extend beyond the size of the network to who manages its expansion and what the published figures actually represent.

Japan’s master franchisee manages both directly operated and franchised gyms

Fast Fitness Japan is headquartered in Shinjuku, Tokyo, and led by President and Representative Director Kohei Inoue. Its core business is ANYTIME FITNESS, a gym brand open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. As the master franchisee for Japan, the company operates gyms directly and develops the franchise network nationwide.

The announcement confirms that the company’s role extends beyond running its own gyms. It is responsible for developing the brand in Japan through both directly operated and franchised locations. Distinguishing the brand’s country of origin from the company responsible for its Japanese expansion helps clarify how the local network is structured.

However, the announcement provided does not break down the number of directly operated and franchised gyms. The published total for Japan therefore cannot be treated as a franchise-only figure. Nor does the overall size of the network reveal the support available to individual franchisees or the terms of their agreements.

For prospective franchisees, the starting point is to establish separately how widely the brand has expanded and who is responsible for its development in Japan. They then need to examine the specific terms of the agreement they are considering.

From Japan’s first gym in Chofu to a nationwide network

Anytime Fitness is a US-born fitness gym franchise. Its first Japanese location opened in Chofu, Tokyo, in 2010. According to Fast Fitness Japan’s announcement, the network had reached 1,282 gyms in Japan by the end of July 2026.

The stated location and date of the first opening provide useful context for the brand’s development in Japan. The latest figure reflects not a single opening but the growth of a network that began in Chofu and now spans the country. However, the supplied material does not include annual openings and closures or a regional breakdown, limiting any detailed assessment of the pace of expansion or geographical differences.

The gyms operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and the company presents them as suitable for a wide range of lifestyles. It also describes the brand as a pioneer of 24-hour gyms in Japan, with particular appeal among people in their 20s, 30s and 40s. These statements reflect the company’s positioning of the brand and offer some context for its nationwide customer base.

That national description will not necessarily match the membership profile of every gym. The announcement does not provide site-level age profiles or patterns of use by time of day. Assessing demand at a potential location therefore requires separate research into the local market.

Compare published figures on a consistent basis

Although the announcement is dated 21 September 2026, the figures for gyms and members in Japan relate to the end of July that year. Distinguishing the publication date from the reporting date is essential when comparing these figures with other sources. Presenting the gym count as current on the announcement date would misrepresent the period covered.

The company also announced that membership in Japan had exceeded 1.2 million by the end of July. As an earlier milestone, it cited membership passing one million on 28 May 2025. These figures indicate growth in the national membership base, but they do not show the revenue or profit of individual gyms.

Even a simple average calculated from the membership and gym totals would not, on its own, provide a sound basis for forecasting member acquisition at a new location. The supplied material does not include opening dates, membership numbers, investment costs or operating expenses for individual gyms. Network-wide performance and the viability of a business plan for a particular location must therefore be assessed separately.

When sharing the announcement within the franchise community, clearly identifying the scope as Japan, the reporting date as the end of July 2026, and the measures as gym and membership numbers will help avoid confusion.

Check operating terms separately before joining

This announcement identifies the company responsible for the brand’s development in Japan, confirms its involvement in both directly operated gyms and franchising, and sets out the scale of the national gym and membership network. It does not, however, provide details of initial franchise fees, royalties, start-up funding requirements or the specific support available from the franchisor.

Prospective franchisees should therefore read it as background on the brand’s Japanese operations, rather than as a guide to contractual terms. The next step is to consult the latest franchise prospectus and agreement documents to verify costs, the division of operating responsibilities and the support offered. The practical requirements of running a gym around the clock, every day of the year, also need to be checked for the proposed operation.

Existing gym operators should likewise avoid conflating national announcements with their own performance. Growth in the published membership base provides useful background, but each gym’s position needs to be assessed using its own figures.

The practical takeaway is to examine the Japanese operating company, the reporting date of the figures and the terms of an individual franchise separately. The network’s scale is a starting point; the next stage is a detailed assessment of the operating conditions.