Bouldering is a form of free climbing that doesn’t require any special equipment – anyone can do it, whether it’s at the neighbourhood rocks or on dizzyingly high walls. The sport is not all about strength – skill, a sense of balance and strategy are far more important, making it a great form of exercise for people of all ages.
Natural climbing places may be few and far between in the concrete-jungle of Tokyo, but fortunately the city boasts many specialised indoor gyms for honing your skills. Here, we introduce a number of facilities that cater to newcomers (as well as to more advanced climbers, of course). Find a gym near you and start scaling those walls!