Izu Shaboten Zoo and Cactus Park

photo by inunami · CC BY 2.0

photo by Flickr user yto (Tatsuo Yamashita) · CC BY 2.0

The capybaras’ hot-spring bath began here in 1982, by chance, and runs from Nov to Apr.

Opened on 22 October 1959 as ‘Izu Shaboten Kōen’ (renamed in 2016), it pairs five themed cactus greenhouses (South America, Africa, Madagascar, Mexico, jungle) with dozens of animal species kept in open spaces rather than cages: capybaras, chimpanzees, kangaroos, lemurs, tapirs. Its most photographed attraction came about by mistake: in the winter of 1982 the staff were washing the capybara enclosure with hot water, and the capybaras began to relax in the pool.

Founded in 1959 on the hills above Ito, the park has combined two collections from the start (cacti and animals) on a terraced slope. The capybara hot-spring bath, a seasonal event from November to early April, has since 1996 also included the traditional yuzu citrus bath around the winter solstice. It received imperial visits in 1970 and 1975.

ℹ️ Park open 9:30–17:00, last entry 16:30. Tel. 0557-51-1111. ⚠️ The capybara hot-spring bath is NOT all year round: only from November to early April, one session on weekdays (13:30–14:30) and two at weekends/public holidays (10:30–11:30 and 13:30–14:30); out of season the capybaras stay in their enclosure but without hot water.

🚉 シャボテン公園 · 8 min walk

Sources: izushaboten.com · izushaboten.com · ja.wikipedia.org

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