Climbing gym · Tokyo, Japan
NOBOROCK Takadanobaba grades, explained
ノボロック 高田馬場店
NOBOROCK Takadanobaba is a bouldering gym of over 100 tsubo (about 330 m²), 4 minutes from the JR Waseda exit of Takadanobaba Station. It has a separate beginner area, and the 4.3 m main wall gets new holds in the first week of each month.
Bouldering grades
Problems use the Japanese kyu/dan scale: the main wall runs from 6級 to 3段 and up, and a climber reports 10級–7級 on the beginner wall. Grades are marked with coloured tape and tracked on a 'colour tape challenge' sheet, but the colour key is not published online. Font equivalents use the kyu/Font table on Japanese Wikipedia, not a gym conversion; climbers rate NOBOROCK's grades as soft.
| Level | Font | ≈ V-scale |
|---|---|---|
| 10級〜9級 (10Q–9Q)Beginner wall only; below the conversion table (8級 = 1+–2) | 1–1+ | VB− |
| 8級 (8Q)V: VB- | 1+–2 | VB−–VB |
| 7級 (7Q)V: VB to VB+ | 2+–3 | VB–VB+ |
| 6級 (6Q)V: V0- to V0 | 3+–4 | VB+–V0+ |
| 5級 (5Q)V: V0+ to V1 | 4+–5 | V0–V3 |
| 4級 (4Q)V: V2 (V3 falls between 4級 and 3級) | 5+–6A | V2–V3 |
| 3級 (3Q)V: about V3 to V4 | 6A+–6B | V3–V4 |
| 2級 (2Q)V: about V4 to V5 | 6B+–6C | V4–V5 |
| 1級 (1Q)V: V6 (V5 falls between 2級 and 1級) | 6C+–7A | V5–V6 |
| 初段 (1D)V: V7 | 7A+–7B | V7–V8 |
| 二段 (2D)V: V9 (V8 falls between 初段 and 二段) | 7B+–7C | V8–V9 |
| 三段以上 (3D+)Open-ended. V: V10 to V11 | ≥ 7C+ | ≥ V10 |
NOBOROCK's gyms appear to share this grading, though NOBOROCK doesn't say so outright. All NOBOROCK gyms and grades
From climbers' descriptions and photos of the gym's grade boards. Gyms reset and regrade often, and grades vary between setters, so treat this as a guide and check the boards when you visit.
Visiting NOBOROCK Takadanobaba
- Address
- 4-9-9 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-0075〒169-0075 東京都新宿区高田馬場4丁目9-9Google MapsApple MapsOpenStreetMap
- Booking
- Walk in: no booking neededNo booking needed; you may have to wait when busy. Register as a member by QR code (photo ID required); all payments are cashless.
- Prices
All prices include tax, as shown on the NOBOROCK price page (same for all stores). Chalk hire is 100 yen. Payment is cashless and online after QR-code registration at the gym.All prices on the gym's siteDay pass · adultmen, weekdays ¥1,890 Day pass · adultwomen, weekdays ¥1,490 Day pass · studentweekdays; valid student ID shown every visit ¥1,390 Day pass · adultmen, weekends and holidays ¥2,190 Day pass · adultwomen, weekends and holidays ¥1,690 Day pass · studentweekends and holidays ¥1,590 Off-peak entry · studentstudents only, weekdays until 18:30; if you stay past 18:30 you pay the difference to the normal day fee ¥890 Monthly · adultNobosuku all-store monthly pass, men; women and students 4,980. Card payment, auto-renewing; 8,000 registration fee, waived if you agree to use it for at least 3 months ¥6,980 Shoe hire ¥300 - Opening hours
Weekdays close at 22:45. No regular closing day. Route-setting days: the gym closes at 17:00 on one day, is closed the next day and reopens at 18:30 the day after (see the gym's calendar). Children: high-school students until 21:00; elementary and junior-high students with a guardian until 19:00 on weekdays and only until 13:00 on weekends and holidays; preschoolers not admitted.Hours on the gym's siteMon–Fri 10:00–22:45 Sat–Sun 10:00–21:00 Public holidays 10:00–21:00 - First visit
- What to know before your first visit
- Phone
- +81 3-5937-6776
- Photos
- Photos on Google Maps
Hours and prices from the gym's own website, checked 3 October 2026. They change, so check before you go.
Is this page accurate and helpful?
Questions
- What Font grade is 10級〜9級 (10Q–9Q) at NOBOROCK Takadanobaba?
- 10級〜9級 (10Q–9Q) at NOBOROCK Takadanobaba is 1–1+, about VB− in V-scale.
- What Font grade is 8級 (8Q) at NOBOROCK Takadanobaba?
- 8級 (8Q) at NOBOROCK Takadanobaba is 1+–2, about VB−–VB in V-scale.
- What Font grade is 7級 (7Q) at NOBOROCK Takadanobaba?
- 7級 (7Q) at NOBOROCK Takadanobaba is 2+–3, about VB–VB+ in V-scale.
- What Font grade is 6級 (6Q) at NOBOROCK Takadanobaba?
- 6級 (6Q) at NOBOROCK Takadanobaba is 3+–4, about VB+–V0+ in V-scale.
- What Font grade is 5級 (5Q) at NOBOROCK Takadanobaba?
- 5級 (5Q) at NOBOROCK Takadanobaba is 4+–5, about V0–V3 in V-scale.
- What Font grade is 4級 (4Q) at NOBOROCK Takadanobaba?
- 4級 (4Q) at NOBOROCK Takadanobaba is 5+–6A, about V2–V3 in V-scale.
Other NOBOROCK gyms
- NOBOROCK Asakusaノボロック 浅草店Tokyo · Bouldering
- NOBOROCK Ikebukuroノボロック 池袋店Tokyo · Bouldering
- NOBOROCK Shibuyaノボロック 渋谷店Tokyo · Bouldering
- NOBOROCK Shinjukuノボロック 新宿店Tokyo · Bouldering
- NOBOROCK Mizonokuchiノボロック 溝ノ口店Kawasaki · Bouldering
- NOBOROCK Machidaノボロック 町田店Machida · Bouldering
More gyms in Japan
- B-PUMP OgikuboB-PUMP 荻窪店Tokyo · Bouldering
- B-PUMP TokyoB-PUMP TOKYO 秋葉原Tokyo · Bouldering
- ROCKY Climbing & Fitness Gym Ryogokuロッキー 両国店Tokyo · Bouldering
- ROCKY Climbing & Fitness Gym Shinagawaロッキー 品川店Tokyo · Bouldering
Sources
- NOBOROCK: Takadanobaba branch page (facilities, address, phone, hours)
- hilinker.hatenablog.com (2023-11): subjective gym grade comparison; NOBOROCK Shibuya easiest, beginner wall 10–7級 (in Japanese)
- Ameba blog: NOBOROCK Shinjuku visit, 9Q warm-ups to 3段, colour tape challenge sheet (in Japanese)
- temitars.com (2018): NOBOROCK Omiya visit; holds colour-coded by difficulty, badge per grade cleared (in Japanese)
- Japanese Wikipedia: ボルダリング, kyu/dan vs Font/V table (source: Dai Koyamada, 2009)
Checked 3 October 2026. Gear Loop isn't affiliated with NOBOROCK Takadanobaba.