zoo Ito, Shizuoka
IZU SHABOTEN ZOO
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.
Plan your visit
- Type
- zoo
- Hours
-
Open roughly 9:30-16:00. The famous open-air capybara onsen is seasonal, running about November through April.
- Cost
- General admission (the capybara onsen is a viewing experience, not a paid encounter)
- Best time
- Nov–Apr (onsen)
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.
Treat it as a pilgrimage
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.
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.
