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Things Japanese: A collection of short stories (Volume 1)(Paperback)

A collection of short stories that celebrates contemporary writing on things Japanese. These stories will warm your heart, leave you feeling fuzzy and warm, and crave things Japanese. The stories are rooted in direct experience of things Japanese that explore relationships, perceptions, attitudes, culture, identity, and desire. Theses stories confirm that Japan continues to fascinate and touch people on many levels.

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Stefan Chiarantano (Author, Creator, Editor, Introduction, Contributor), T. Graham Westerlund (Creator), Margaret Grant (Contributor), Setsu Nagatoshi (Contributor), Mindy Mejia (Contributor), Colin O'Sullivan (Contributor), Sonia Saikaley (Contributor), Emily Juniper Ward (Contributor), Jodie Schewitz (Designer)

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Home » Japan, Japanese Culture & Customs, Life in Japan, Only in Japan, Travel

Finding zen in a shopping mall onsen

Submitted By: jgy 30 October 2009 511 views 3 Comments

Depending on where we are from, zen can be found in different ways. If you are from the mountains, you may need to travel to the Himalayas. If you grew up by a lake, it may be necessary for you to find a shimmering reflective body of water and take a solitary row. But if you are from the suburbs, an on-sen in a shopping mall might just do the trick.

In Japan, there are on-sen complexes which are the the bathing equivalent of a multi-plex theater, where you can choose from a variety of baths to soak in. These range from whirlpools with various built-in seating arrangements, to rotenburo, outside baths, under palm trees. The tropical style architecture and design create a far-away resort feel.

After trying out all the baths, take your time in a relaxation room where fabrics in patterns from Southeast Asia drape over rattan armchairs and translucent curtains give semi-privacy to small rooms where you can lie down on a massage table and go into a heavenly state.

All this for 490 yen.

Sama Sama onsen in the D-Plaza Mall, Oita

If, like me, you are from the suburbs and prefer not to go too far for your nirvana, check your local listings to see if one of these complexes will be coming soon to a shopping mall near you.

JGY
Aikawarazu Life in Japan