Will gyms go the way of arcades and movie rental stores?

No. The reason being that once one buys a stationary bike or treadmill, it becomes the fastest dust collector in the house after the first couple of weeks. Usually ends up becoming an art object of sorts in the corner of the den.

A gym has the added motivational factor of seeing others nice fit bodies and the contagious energy and hard work being put in by others that motivates yourself to do the same.

Why go to a hot sweaty smelly gym when you have the great outdoors, and it is free too!

Most Japanese people waste their time at the gym; walking on treadmills, reading a magazine while on the reclined bike, doing one rep of an insane weight badly, rolling around on a big, bouncy ball etc., and the “trainers” look like they’ve never lifted a weight in their lives.

There are better/cheaper ways to cycle indoors than a Peloton bike.

The average person would be better off doing aerobics-like exercises or Crossfit. Cycling is not weight bearing, so does nothing for your bones. Indoor cycling is best for cyclists who want to train more but can't get outside due to work/bad weather/darkness etc.

As a long time goer of a "high-end" fancy gym, there is absolutely no way a home gym can replace a proper gym, complete with an 8-lane lap pool.

David BrentToday  09:29 am JST

Most Japanese people waste their time at the gym; walking on treadmills, reading a magazine while on the reclined bike, doing one rep of an insane weight badly, rolling around on a big, bouncy ball etc., and the “trainers” look like they’ve never lifted a weight in their lives.

Exactly true.

I don't go to the gym anymore. But I do once-weekly Pilates, using reformers and other equipment and in the company of others, plus an instructor. No way I want to give that up, or try and replicate it at home. I'll take my chances, and wear a mask when required.

How about hiring someone to work out for you? That would be popular, I think.

Give calisthenics a try. Find a local park with a pullup bar, dips bar and sit up rack and you can get in good shape, just add running/jogging as you like.

If the gyms close where are most of the people who use mine going to use their mobile phones?

They do 10 reps then spend 3 minutes on their phone.. Drives me crazy!

Hopefully, the well-run gyms (i.e. clean and sanitary) run by village park districts will weather the pandemic storm. Especially the ones in areas where the cold weather makes it difficult for folks to work out outdoors in the winter.

Cardio on a bicycle is only part of many folks' workout. The rest consists of: weightlifting, (upper body one day, lower body next), and "core" workout or what some still refer to as "calisthenics".

Gyms that are publicly-funded will probably survive, the others maybe not.

No, Japanese houses are too small for exercise gear, and people mostly go to look at themselves in the mirror, anyway.

very true

how many people really have friends in gyms? or just friends with benefits?