As we get older, our health becomes a growing concern.
Health has also become a more frequent topic of conversation among friends. Although we worry about not getting enough exercise, it can be hard to get started, and even when we do, we often struggle to keep it up. We may also know that exercise is good for us but not know where to begin.
The “Exercise Classes” hosted by Kurashiki Central Hospital’s Preventive Medicine Plaza are led by experienced and knowledgeable physical therapists and certified health exercise instructors. We also asked them in detail about the classes and tips for making exercise a habit.
The information presented was current when this article was published in August 2025. Please note that it may differ from current information.
Overview of Kurashiki Central Hospital’s Preventive Medicine Plaza
Kurashiki Central Hospital’s Preventive Medicine Plaza (hereafter, “the Preventive Medicine Plaza”) opened in 2019 as a newly built facility replacing the Kurashiki Central Hospital General Health Management Center. It is a specialist facility offering advanced health screenings and comprehensive medical checkups to prevent disease and detect it early.
Around 50,000 people receive screenings at the facility each year. It offers a wide range of tests, including general health screenings and comprehensive medical checkups, PET-CT scans, specialist checkups for the brain, heart, pancreas, and other areas, advanced cancer screenings, women’s health packages, and genetic testing.
The Preventive Medicine Plaza is a stylish, sophisticated building.
Step inside and you’ll find a spacious, airy lobby reminiscent of a resort hotel, sure to lift your spirits.
The first floor also has Miyake Shoten PLAZA and Le Lierre, a healthy-food restaurant (reservations required), where you can enjoy a delicious meal.
About the Plaza Exercise Classes
We were told that, starting in 2014, when the facility was still known as the Kurashiki Central Hospital General Health Management Center, it set aside about 15 minutes for exercise while people waited to hear the results of their health checkups.
With the aim of preventing illness, they then considered opening exercise classes that would encourage more people to visit, and the Plaza Exercise Classes began in May 2022.
As of August 2025, the classes are led by exercise specialists—physical therapists and certified health exercise instructors—and are held as follows:
- Held twice a week (Monday and Friday)
- 45 minutes per class
- Multi-class ticket system (3,000 yen for five classes)
- No reservation required
- Physical therapists lead classes focused on topics such as stiff shoulders, lower back pain, knee pain, weight loss, and Pilates
- Certified health exercise instructors lead health exercises that work the whole body in a balanced way
They are also planning to collaborate with Harmony Kurashiki from October 2025, holding exercise classes at both facilities. As a result, Wednesday will be added to the Monday and Friday schedule, with classes planned to be held three times a week, on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Participant Profiles
Most participants are women in their 60s to 80s. Some come alone, some attend as couples, and others come with a parent, saying, “My mother doesn’t have an exercise routine, so I brought her along.”
There is also medical evidence that people are more likely to stick with exercise when they do it in a group rather than on their own.
Participant’s Story: Exercise Has Become a Habit
We spoke with a woman who has been attending for about two years, since the exercise classes began.
Have you noticed any benefits from attending the exercise classes?
Participant
I feel that exercise has become part of my routine.
Actually, I didn’t exercise regularly before coming to these classes. I usually drive to get around, and I didn’t have any hobbies that involved physical activity.
But I’d seen my parents and relatives grow weaker in their legs and backs as they got older, until walking became difficult, so I felt that I needed to exercise too.
Around that time, I had a health checkup at the Preventive Medicine Plaza and heard about bone density. They told me, “Bone density inevitably decreases. What matters is slowing the rate of decline, and exercise is one way to do that.”
I’d been told that I was prone to osteoporosis, so I decided to try exercising. I started attending the exercise classes they recommended, and I’ve been able to keep it up for two years.
What do you like about the exercise classes?
Participant
The classes are led by exercise specialists.
I also like that I can understand the purpose of each movement as I do it, with explanations like, “This is why this exercise is necessary,” and “This exercise strengthens this muscle.”
I also look forward to chatting with the very friendly instructors each time. I find 45 minutes to be just the right length for a class.
There are various classes on Mondays, including ones for stiff shoulders and lower back pain, and recently there was also a weight-loss class. The tickets come in books of five, so I can go whenever I want, which makes them easy to use.
Who would you recommend the classes to?
Participant
I’d recommend them to people who don’t exercise regularly, or who want to start exercising but aren’t sure where to begin. I think they’re also good for people who have fewer opportunities to go out, such as after retirement.
There are people here who, like me, attend because they want to take care of their health. We sometimes have time to chat with one another, which is fun.
I’d like to keep attending in the future.
We spoke with the Preventive Medicine Plaza’s dedicated physical therapist, Yamamoto Ryo, and certified health exercise instructor Tanaka Ayuko about disease prevention and tips for sticking with exercise.
Plaza Exercise Class Information
| Name | Plaza Exercise Classes |
|---|---|
| Days and times | Monday: 11:00 a.m.–11:45 a.m. Friday: 1:30 p.m.–2:15 p.m. |
| Location | 1-11-11 Tsurugata, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Fee (tax included) | One set of five tickets: 3,000 yen (tax included) Valid for six months from the month of purchase |
| Website | Kurashiki Central Hospital Preventive Medicine Plaza Exercise Classes |
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