Bathing Japanese Macaques and Capybaras

According to the Saitama Shimbun, the popular "Animal Onsen" hot springs at Chikozan Park Children's Zoo in Sayama City, Saitama Prefecture, is scheduled to close at the end of March 2020. This attraction at the zoo, which gave visitors a unique look at various animals such as Japanese macaques and capybaras as they soaked in tubs of warm water accented with Japanese citrus "yuzu".

The animals are even given a specific schedule for when they're able to use the onsen. Macaques are allowed in the water on odd-numbered dates and the capybaras on even-numbered dates, both of which start from 1pm. On weekends and holidays, the macaques can use the onsen from 11:45am and later swap with the capybaras at 1pm. Watching how the animals are swapped out must be a real treat for visitors to see!

As a fun monthly excursion, the animals are taken to a real onsen. The next trip is scheduled for December 22nd.

The zoo is open from 9:30am and closes at 4:30pm. Please be aware that the zoo is closed every Monday (if a national holiday falls on a Monday, it will shift to Tuesday). The zoo will also be closed during the New Year holidays from December 29 to January 1st.

Admission to the zoo is 200 yen for adults and 50 yen for elementary and junior high students. Preschool children enter for free.

For inquiries, please contact the zoo directly at the following telephone number:
04-2953-9779