Hi, I'm new to the site and found it looking for forums where I could ask for info about climbing in Tokyo. Could anyone give me a quick rundown of indoor gyms in the area? I've been to a gym called Pump 2 in Nakanoshima but it's a little bit out of my way and so I can't really make it down there as often as I'd like. Am also looking for climbing partners and would be grateful if anyone with a group or bunch of climbing friends out there is willing to take on one more. Cheers! Lola

I've posted this before a number of times on other threads, but I'll post it again.

A few of us climb regularly at the Edogawabashi branch of the T-Wall climbing gym on Tues. and Thurs. evenings, generally starting at around 7:00-7:30 and continuing on until closing at 10:00 or shortly before. We get out on real rock regularly as well. (The group used to be larger, but we've had some folks move home or get transferred recently.)

It's not a formal group or anything, just a bunch of friends and acquaintances who like to climb. Pretty much anybody is welcome to come along and see if they like the company and like climbing with us.

The T-Wall web site (Japanese only but with an access map), is here:

http://www.nona.dti.ne.jp/~t-wall/top/

Click "gym info" at the top of the page, and then in the resulting page click the second orange button in the "contents" box. This'll get you detailed info. on the Edogawabashi branch, including the map. (Be sure to use Exit 4 from Edogawabashi Station, otherwise you won't recognize where you are on the map.)

In addition, it may be worthwhile to check out the International Adventure Club (IAC), which runs various outdoor activities, including some climbing. I'm not a member, but have heard that it's at least partly a social club as well as an outdoor/active one. Nonetheless, probably worth a look. Here's a web site:

http://www.iac-tokyo.org/

If you come to T-Wall, look for a group of foreigners warming up on the top ropes and then down on the lead walls. I'm very short with graying, thinning brown hair. Pretty easy to recognize. Come say hi!

If you can't figure out how to get to the gym the first time on your own, you can e-mail me at tokyobill123 at hotmail dot com and we can arrange to meet and go together, if you like.

Thanks tokyo bill, will be sure to e-mail you when I head down to T-Wall Edogawabashi.

I've also just seen some other threads mentioning a T-Wall in Kinshicho. This might also be convenient for me. Anyone out there climbing more or less regularly in Kinshicho?

Cheers!

Hi Lola and TokyoBill,

I am interested in getting back into climbing and was wondering if either of you were still in Tokyo? I live fairly close to the Edogawabashi gym and would like to start frequenting it and would appreciate it if I could climb routes with you all. Please let me know. Thanks.

Hello taki, sorry for jumping in. Have just joined this site to check out ultimate frisbee but got waylaid by your climbing post. Don't know Lola but I know tokyo bill and I also climb regularly at Edogawabashi. If you can make it Monday or Wednesday in the gym, I'd be happy to climb with you. For awesome hard-core climbing, you should definitely check out climbing with tokyo bill. In any case, hope you find a partner!

Annalisa

Heh, this is getting kind of convoluted.

Hi Taki:

Nice climbing with you yesterday! Hopefully we can work something out for Ogawayama this weekend.

Annalisa is a solid belayer and good company. If you can't make the gym on a Tues. or Thurs. try meeting up with her on a Mon. or Wed.!

Hi Annalisa:

Taki is a nice guy and a STRONG climber. Definitely good company if you two get a chance to climb together.

- Bill

Dear Annalisa,

Sorry for replying so late...but...I plan on climbing tomorrow at the gym in Edogawabashi tomorrow if you're interested.

Taki

Hi Taki, nice to get your note, I'll see you tomorrow then. I'm usually at the gym before 8:00 and I boulder while waiting for my rope partner to show up. I might not be as easy to spot as Bill and the others but, if you look for someone little (I thought that I was five feet tall but learned belatedly that I was not!) and sporting a ponytail, that'll likely be me.

Be seeing you,
Annalisa

Hello all,
Do you guys still climb at T-Wall Edogawabashi? I am planning to climb there about twice a week...really need to get back in shape.

Still contemplating whether I should get the 6-month pass or not. It's quite expensive. :/

What are the rules of lead-climbing at T-Wall (My Japanese ability is still too poor to read the website). Do you have to pass a special belay test and bring your own rope?

Also, have anyone been to the bouldering gym in Ebisu? What do you think?

Cheers
Sheep

Hi Sheep,

Yup, some of us are still climbing regularly at Edogawabashi. The regular crew tends to vary over time as expats drift in and out of the country.

As for leading, you will need your own rope (or to borrow someone's). There is no particular test imposed for leading.

Unless you indicate that you have solid previous experience (and possibly even then) you'll be asked to perform a top rope belay test using a gym-supplied gri-gri when you join the gym. Once you've passed this, you're pretty much on your own. (Needless to say, your partners may want to check out your lead belaying themselves, since they'll be putting their lives in your hands!)

The bouldering gym in Ebisu (can't remember the name exactly - J&S Vertical Zone or something?) is quite small. I used it only during a brief period when Edogawabashi T-wall was under renovation a couple of years ago, but I thought it had quite a bunch of quality problems. Due to small size, it does get crowded. I must admit also that I love route climbing...

If you come to Edogawabashi, come say hi!

- Bill

Looking for a partner for February 2nd in Tokyo. Sport, Trad, or Bouldering. I'll be flying in the night before and flying out that evening, so we'll have to go pretty early I guess. Anybody up for climbing??????? email me at Forrest@jacksonshg.com

Hi all,
I started climbing and I really like it, but I'm still a beginner.
In your Tue/Thu meetings in T-Wall, are there also beginners?
Would like to join some time, but if you are all really advanced climbers, it wouldn't be fun for you.

regards,
joerg

Hi Joerg,

Most of us have some experience at this point, but there are a couple of relative beginners who also come along pretty frequently.

How far along in the learning process are you? If you are willing and able to give a good, safe lead belay, you will always be welcome by most climbers. Perhaps your climbing gym provides a beginners class that would teach this skill?

If not, one of us would probably be willing to help you out with the beginning stages of learning to climb, although it will require some patience on your part, since we'll be trying to get our own climbing done at the same time...

Look for a very short, brownish-grey haired American either warming up on the top ropes or down on the lead walls. That's me - so come say hi.

- Bill

Joerge,

Just by way of warning, I'm planning to be at Pump II this Thurs. (3/27), and so won't be at Edogawabashi.

- Bill

Hi Bill,
sorry for late reply and thanks for the information.
I'll try to come to Edogawabashi tomorrow.
See you, Joerg

Hey all...if anyone is interested, a new bouldering gym just opened up in Iruma-shi. Great news for us in Saitama!

Check it out here:

http://www.rock24.jp/index-e.html

Peace,

Gums

Cool!! Good luck!

Will be in Ogawayama/Mizugaki hopefully ...
I was going to ask you a question about access and gear over there;
1. Can you rent boots/harness close to ogawayama campsite?
2. Is there road access through the mountain from the back of Mizugaki - rather than going all the way round on the road near Yatsugatake. Could then camp NW side of Mizugaki and drive round in the morning - some of our group prefer staying there.
Domo,
Andy (Outdoor Club Japan)

Hey Andy,

I know of no place near Ogawayama where one can rent climbing shoes or harnesses. (In fact, the only rentals I'm aware of in Japan are from gyms, for in-gym use, or from outdoor climbing schools, for use by their students during lessons.)

Have you found an actual rental place that will allow outdoor use of their gear anywhere? If so, I'd love to have the contact info. for future reference.

Sadly, I can't answer your question about a back road out of Mizugaki, either - I almost always just drive straight to Ogawa and so don't know the area at all well. Sorry.

Hopefully someone else, with better info., will chime in.

- Bill

Edited to add: Maybe see you up there this weekend...

Hi Tokyo Bill,

I'm looking for some people to do some lead climbing with and I see from posts here that you and a few others often go down to the Edogawabashi T-Wall on Thursday nights. I'm usually at the Kinshicho T-Wall around the same time but my climbing partner is buried under a pile of study at the moment.

Are you guys climbing this Thursday evening, and, if so, would you mind if i came down and joined you?

I've got my own rope and stuff, and I've been leading for a couple of months now, but I would definitely welcome some pointers from some more experienced climbers.

Take it easy, Jon

Hi Jon,

Yeah, I'll be there this evening, unless something nasty happens at work. You're welcome to join us.

As previously noted, look for a very short American, with short, graying, thinning brown hair. That'll be me.

Most likely we'll be warming up on the top ropes and then down on the leads.

- Bill

Hey Bill,

Thanks very much for the reply!

Unfortunately, I can't make it this evening in the end as something nasty has cropped up with work for me today and I'm having to do a bit of a late one :[

But I will definitely try and get down there next Thursday evening, and thanks for the description, I'll keep an eye out for you. I've got short brown hair and specs by the way, very boring but there you go.

Do you guys climb at all at the weekends, either indoors or outdoors?

- Jon

Hey Jon,

Sorry to hear work got in the way. I was looking around, but ultimately figured you'd been ambushed. Hopefully better luck next week.

As for the weekends, we do manage to get some climbing in, both indoors and out. After you meet some of the folks, I'm sure the opportunity will arise for you to join.

- Bill

Hey Bill,

Just to make sure, but you guys are going to Edogawabashi tomorrow again right?

If so, I will see you there.

Jon

Hey Jon,

Yup, absent anything nasty at work, I'll be there. (Can never be sure exactly who will show up on any given day, but hopefully we'll have some other folks for company, as well.)