Japan is Nippon 日本語
Rows of round golden barrel cacti and tall cacti inside the Mexico greenhouse at Izu Shaboten Zoo
Photo: nubobo, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Shizuoka · zoo aquarium

Izu Shaboten Zoo

伊豆シャボテン動物公園

The zoo where capybaras first took to hot baths. See cacti from around the world in its greenhouses and get close to animals in the Izu highlands.

Stone-lined outdoor bath pool of the capybara enclosure at Izu Shaboten Zoo
Photo: inunami, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A park of cacti and animals

Izu Shaboten Zoo is a zoo in the Izu Kogen highlands in Ito, Shizuoka Prefecture. Shaboten is an old Japanese word for cactus, and true to its name the zoo grows about 1,500 species of cacti and succulents from around the world. In the greenhouses you will find huge cacti, some said to be more than 170 years old.

There are about 150 species of animals. The zoo puts a lot of effort into close-up experiences, such as feeding giraffes and llamas, and describes itself as an "activity zoo". From the grounds you can also see nearby Mount Omuro.

Where the "capybara hot spring" began

The zoo is best known for its winter "original capybara rotenburo" (outdoor hot bath). Capybaras come from South America, and the first ones arrived at this zoo in 1966.

In 1982, a keeper was cleaning the enclosure with hot water when he noticed the capybaras dipping their feet and bottoms into a pool of it, looking very content. That lucky discovery led to the capybaras' outdoor bath, which is now an annual event known as "a winter tradition of Izu". In Japan people take a yuzu bath (hot water with yuzu citrus fruit floating in it) on toji, the winter solstice and the shortest day of the year, and around the solstice the capybaras here get a yuzu bath too.

For the 2026 season, the outdoor bath is scheduled to run from 21 November 2026 to 4 April 2027.

Getting there

It is about 20 minutes by bus from Izu-Kogen Station on the Izu Kyuko Line, or about 35 minutes by bus from JR Ito Station. Opening hours and admission fees can change, so check the official website.

Tips

  • The capybara outdoor bath only runs in winter, from late November to early April. If you want to see them soaking, plan your visit for this period.
  • The Animal Boat Tours, where you ride a boat around islands to see the animals, were announced as suspended in September 2026. If you want to ride, check the official website for news of a restart before you go.
  • You can also make your own arrangement of potted cacti. It makes a nice souvenir after seeing the greenhouses.

Sources

Updated 29 September 2026. Opening hours and prices change, so check the official site before you go.

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