Thank you for coming my page!
I'm May, living in Saitama-Japan. My hobby is cars, motorcycles, horse riding and TV game (especially Pokemon!).
I write about my hobbies when I feel... Recently, main topic is almost "horse riding".
Sometimes I wonder, people from all over the world living in Japan wants horse riding.
Suppose, horse riding is more popular in other countries, UK and US, than Japan. But, is there any place in Japan to enjoy horse riding with other language?
Japan is one of the country not being familiar with other language.... Japan consists of some islands, separating from other countries.
Moreover, one of the way of thinking, "Failure is embarrassing", takes deep roots in Japanese people and it keeps us away from new things...
But this foolish common has been gone away little by little recently, like myself :)
Go back to the topic!
I'm in to "horse riding" recently and being member of horse riding club since January,2019.
Before starting, I viewed horse riding was extremely expensive. Now I can be one of member, though I am "normal" people :)
<Costs>
>Initial cost
Initial cost is high, around 150 thousands yen.
This is including entrance fee for 1 year, a couple of monthly fee.
>Goods
We have to get some goods for horse riding. "Rakuten" is one of web shopping site and we can get reasonable goods for horse riding.
riding boots: 5,000 yen
helmet: 1,000 yen
gloves: 4,000 yen
riding pants: 8,000 yen
>Monthly cost
It costs 9,000 yen including tax.
Adding this, we have to buy riding ticket. It is depending on the member rank, weekend/weekday.
High member rank, the monthly costs is high, but ticket is reasonable.
On the other hand, monthly costs of normal rank is low, but ticket is high.
Weekend ticket is highly. Weekday ticket is more reasonable than weekend's.
So, it is depending on your preference, when you ride, how many time you ride per a month.
Besides, I am normal rank's member and riding every 2 week (weekend). In a day, riding in 2 hours (required 2 pcs ticket).
Weekend ticket x 2 pcs (for 2H) = 3,780 yen x 2 =7,560 yen -> 7,560 yen x 2 (every 2 weeks) = 15,120 yen
Monthly fee = 8,640 yen
Total amount in a month =23,760 yen
It is kind of high, but it is not impossible.
Of course, I can not eat out everyday.... but I can do it for horse riding!!
<Conversation in class>
I don't think that there is many people being familiar with English in horse riding staff.
But, it doesn't mean they do "not" speak English. Japanese people "can" speak English.
In horse riding lesson, we can communicate with easy English and body language. I think it is enough.
Meanwhile, in case of admission procedure (before being member), I strongly recommend that you go with some people who's familiar with both Japanese language and your language.
As you may know if you live in Japan, contracting procedure in Japan is complicated. It is also difficult for people living in Japan since birth....
Of course, I can help you if you sign up to the horse riding club as same as I am member :)
I am a member of "Crain" in Sayama, Saitama. I think "Crain" is the biggest horse riding club in Japan.
It takes approx. 1 hour from Ikebukuro, Tokyo to Sayama horse riding place via Seibu-Ikebukuro line.
Also, taking approx. 1 hour from Shinjuku, Tokyo to Sayama horse riding place via Seibu-Shinjuku line.
We can use bus (free of charge), from Inariyama-Kouen station or Sayama-shi station, toward the place.
I hope every people being interested in horse riding can enjoy it!