The zoo that invented the capybara hot spring. In winter you watch resident capybaras soak in an open-air onsen, steam rising, faces set to maximum indifference.
The origin story of every "capybara in a hot spring" photo you have ever seen.
The famous onsen
Izu Shaboten Zoo, on Japan's Izu Peninsula, is where the capybara hot-spring tradition started. In the colder months staff fill an open-air bath and the resident capybaras climb in and soak, steam rising, faces set to maximum indifference – it is exactly as good as every photo makes it look.
This is the origin story behind every "capybara in a hot spring" image you have ever seen. For a lot of fans, seeing it in person is the whole reason to make the trip.
Timing is everything
The onsen is seasonal, running roughly November through April, so come in winter or you miss the main event entirely. Outside that window the bath is simply not running. The zoo itself is open about 9:30 to 16:00.
This is viewing, not a hands-on encounter – the draw is watching, especially the soak, and admission is general entry rather than a paid hand-feeding session. Set expectations accordingly.
They post more than we do
The onsen only runs in winter, so their feed is where the famous capybara bath photos actually live. Off-season it's the rest of the zoo, which is no bad thing.
It is a trip out to the Izu Peninsula from Tokyo, so plan the travel time and make a day of it rather than squeezing it in. Come for the season, go for the soak, and accept that the capybaras will be completely unbothered by your presence.
Good to know
The capybara hot spring is a winter thing – roughly November to April. Off-season, you miss the main event.
It is a viewing experience, not a paid hand-feeding encounter.
It is on the Izu Peninsula, a trip out from Tokyo – plan travel time.
Published on July 10, 2026By Grumpy Capy
FAQ
Can I see the capybaras in the hot spring any time of year?
No. The open-air capybara onsen is seasonal, generally November through April. Outside that window the bath is not running.
Is there a hands-on capybara encounter here?
The draw is watching the capybaras, especially in the onsen. It is a viewing experience rather than a paid hand-feeding session.
Details change – always confirm hours, prices, and booking on the official site before you travel. Animal encounters are subject to each venue's welfare rules.
Keep exploring
More zoos & sanctuaries
Other real-world spots where you can be in the same room as a very calm rodent.
A Texas wildlife park with a quick, cheap, hands-on capybara encounter. Fifteen minutes to feed, pet, and photograph a capybara, bolted onto general admission.
A Michigan zoo with a straightforward, well-priced capybara encounter – feeding, photos, and the honest disclaimer that the capybaras get the final say on whether they show up.
Canada's marquee capybara meet-up. An official, staff-guided Wild Encounter where you get up close and hand-feed capybaras produce – if you can grab a ticket in time.
A 150-acre Pennsylvania wildlife park with capybaras that swim in their own lake. Viewing, not hand-feeding – but a genuinely nice place to watch them do nothing.
Guides worth the screenshot, mildly cursed finds, and the occasional
photo of a capybara in a hot spring. We email at capybara speed -
slow, occasional, unbothered.
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