Japan's affordable gyms plan to expand into China and Taiwan

Fitness facilities offer personal care, laundry and games with more to come

20240729 Chocozap in Osaka

An early chocoZAP gym in Osaka in 2022. As of May 2024, the number in Japan had eached 1,500. (Photo by Kosaku Mimura)

TAMAYO MUTO, Nikkei staff writer

TOKYO -- Rizap Group, a Japanese fitness club operator, is expanding its "convenience gym" business to China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, and offers additional services, including nail printing, laundry and even karaoke.

Rizap's chocoZAP is a chain of unattended fitness facilities that offer unlimited use of training machines 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for about 3,000 yen ($19) per month -- considerably cheaper than competitors charging between 7,000 and 14,000 yen.

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