Capybara, the world's largest living rodents, are well known for their relaxed disposition, but they also have an adorable fondness for enjoying a dip in hot water during colder seasons. In Japan, this includes onsen, or traditional Japanese hot springs, and there are even zoos in Japan equipped with such baths for Capybara to enjoy. One such place is the Izu Shaboten Zoo in Shizuoka prefecture, where you can watch Capybara relax in their impossibly cute ways in hot yuzu baths.

The Izu Shaboten Zoo has been featuring the “Capybara Yuzuyu” in their onsen-equipped garden every winter solstice since 1996, but the tradition of bathing in onsen with yuzu, a Japanese citrus, dates back to the Edo period as a way to ward off oncoming colds.

The Capybara Yuzuyu will run from December 23rd to January 6th, open from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM and 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM. If you miss out on the Yuzu version, there is a separate open-air bath for the Capybara that runs from November 18th to April 8th.


By - grape Japan editorial staff.