what to do on a hot summer like this?

[ax]

This hot summer just make all my lazybones lazier. Can anyone recommend a good way to get recharged? i am thinking of going to Onsen. At least I am gonna be in tokyo this weekend. Can anyone recommend good and affordable onsen near tokyo area? preferably au naturel...

ax

[misa.j]

How about staying in till late afternoon when it's cooler, go jump in an onsen, and take a nice walk around the neigborhood; there are many night festivals in the summer and the fall in Japan with all kinds of venders.

Azabu Juban onsen is the one came to my mind but seems like there are a few more right in Tokyo.
http://web-japan.org/tokyo/tips/onsen_tour/onsen_print/

[Duo]

summer is a great season. Being lazy in the day and gettin hit by the sun's power is all you need. you just have to use it wisely. I would think going to an onsen would make you even lazier. So sumemer days are just made for chillin, lets admit it, you cant fight it, just try not to be 2 lazy but be lazyyyy, enjoy it, then in summer nights you can be active and what not with all that reserved energy :p

[lexico]

This heat wave, the greatest of which is yet to come, would be the perfect chance to explore the wonderful world of Zen breathing. The initial technique involves two elements: one to sit in the full lotus position while controling your breathing, and two to imagine yourself as a junction of the universe and thru which air, life force, or the chi passes thru.

Things that are different from normal state of being.

1. close your eyes, but only half, so that involuntary sight does not possess your attention==> You may have seen the Buddha images assuming this half-open, half-closed eye lid position in addition to the full or half lotus posture.

2. inhale thru your nose, and exhale thru your mouth, always.

3. take breaths not shallow, short, not full, long, but utilizing only 2/3 to half of your full natural capacity.

4. moderate your breathing so that it becomes even and measured, but never fast as that might cause you to hyperventilate. If you do, you might damage your brain and chemico-neural balance from too much oxygen. Use conscious breathing, but not forced, so that you breathe slower than normal, until your artificially moderated breathing becomes your second nature.

5. if you are performing the breathing drill, you might initially experience certain heat, and sweating accompanying the sense of heat, but gradually that unpleasant sensations will subside, and you will attain a certain coolness at a certain point.

6. If you ever feel nauseaous or uncomfortably painful, then your tendons or breathing variables may not be adequate enough to continue. Stop, stretch the aching parts of your body so that the muscles and tendons are stretched and given enough circulation and rest. Never force yourself beyond what you feel is natural.

7. If you ever fall asleep during your meditative breathing drill, quit for the moment and do something else. In that case you are not in the best physical mental state to practice. The drill is most effective when your body and mind is fresh, so keep the drills short if you are tired either physically or stressed psychologically. Good luck, ax, and happy breathing !

[ax]

Talk about 禅瞑想 I do that every other day in the トイレ I guess. Try to make an escape for I had to much coffee and banana, damn good natural laxative.
:p
ax

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

There are few natural ONSEN near Tokyo.
ONSEN into which it goes in summer which I recommend.
KINOENE ONSEN (TOCHIGI)
Since a hot spring is located in Takayama, it is cool.
Since water temperature is low, it is put in for a long time.
Since Nasu-Kogen is located in near, it is good for summering of summer.

http://www3.ocn.ne.jp/~kashi/
Fukushima Nishishirakawa-gun, Saigo village larger Mafune 1, aza-Teradaira
TEL 0248-36-2301

Other
IKAHO ONSEN (GUNMA)
http://www.town.ikaho.gunma.jp/english/index.htm
SHIMA ONSEN(GUNMA)
http://www.outdoorjapan.com/onsen/onsen-gunma.html

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

Chichibu and Yamanashi in Saitama have many　鉱泉kousen (mineral spring) where temperature is low.

chichibu
http://www.onsen-yado.net/

http://www.pref.saitama.lg.jp/what/what_11.html

http://www.maruyama-kousen.co.jp/
yamanashi
http://search.yamanashi-i.com/special/spa.html

http://www.karasawakousen.com/index.shtml

http://www11.ocn.ne.jp/~kotaki07/index.html.htm

http://www004.upp.so-net.ne.jp/natsuzawa/

http://www11.ocn.ne.jp/~sugiyama/

[Silverpoint]

What to do in a hot summer like this...

Err.. move to Hokkaido ;-)

Hehe, it was a pleasant 27 degrees today in Sapporo with a nice cool breeze. The summer so far has been generally very pleasant.

[Void]

we had about 30 today, for our region it`s almost extremly hot...

but i really got bored today with sharp, cold lines of my refrigerator (almost pissed off :D). After three ours of running under hot sun in a search of fur and two-sided tape, i almost clrawled back home. But there are few good things about this
1) i enjoyed quick cool shower
2) i am enjoying cold milk
3) in a while i`ll be happy to see my fridge nice and fluffy :-)

[ax]

I just came to 東京and stayed in 船橋、to my surprise, ふなばし is really not hot at all. This two days I say here, the weather is almost 涼しい all day. At night, you even need a jacket to go outside to block the cold winds.
I am going to 風呂　in 北千住 with a swedish friend today.
see you guys.

ax

[Silverpoint]

Interesting hybrid language you seem to speak there! :cool: