When does the Izu Shaboten Zoo capybara onsen run in 2026-27?

From Saturday 21 November 2026 to Sunday 4 April 2027 (Izu Shaboten Zoo official site, checked 2026-09-23).

What time is the capybara bath?

13:30-14:30, once a day, on weekdays. At weekends, on public holidays and during 19 Dec 2026-11 Jan 2027 and 20 Mar-4 Apr 2027 there are two sessions: 10:30-11:30 and 13:30-14:30 (official site, checked 2026-09-23).

When is the capybara yuzu bath?

The yuzu bath is a winter-solstice tradition that began in 1996 and is in its 30th year in 2026, but no 2026-27 date had been published as of 2026-09-23. This page will be updated when the zoo announces it.

Is the bath included in the admission fee?

The official pages say neither that it is included nor that it is charged separately (checked 2026-09-23). Admission is 2,800 yen for adults, 1,400 yen for elementary-school children and 700 yen for children aged 4 and over on weekdays, and 3,000 / 1,500 / 800 yen at weekends, on holidays and during school breaks. Check with the zoo or call +81-557-51-1111.

Does it run in the rain?

The official note reads that the schedule may change or be cancelled depending on the animals' condition and the weather. Check the zoo's site on the day (checked 2026-09-23).

How do I get there from Ito Station?

Take the Tokai Bus "Shaboten Koen" service from stand 5 at Ito Station; buses also run from Izukyu Izu-Kogen Station. Tokai Bus fares change on 1 October 2026, so check times and fares in the official search on the day.

Izu Shaboten Zoo Capybara Onsen 2026-27: Dates & Bath Times

Highlights

The 2026-27 season runs Sat 21 November 2026 to Sun 4 April 2027 (official site, checked 2026-09-23)
Bath time is 13:30-14:30 once a day on weekdays; twice - 10:30-11:30 and 13:30-14:30 - at weekends, on public holidays and during 19 Dec 2026-11 Jan 2027 and 20 Mar-4 Apr 2027
No dates are published for the special "capybara yuzu bath" in 2026-27 (check the official site)
The schedule may change or be cancelled depending on the animals' condition and the weather (official note)
The winter-solstice capybara yuzu bath began in 1996 and turns 30 in 2026 (60 years of capybaras at the zoo). The five-zoo "longest bath" contest is next due as the 15th round; no dates published yet (checked 2026-09-23)
Capybaras may stay in the bath for about an hour, so it is less crowded a little after the start (the zoo's own request)

Background & story

Izu Shaboten Zoo began keeping capybaras in 1966. In the winter of 1982 a keeper cleaning the enclosure with hot water noticed the capybaras relaxing in the warm puddles - the start of what the zoo calls the original capybara open-air bath. The winter-solstice yuzu bath followed in 1996 (official site, checked 2026-09-23).

Dates and bath times for 2026-27 (official, checked 2026-09-23)


Season	Sat 21 November 2026 - Sun 4 April 2027
Weekdays	13:30-14:30 (once a day)
Weekends, public holidays and set periods	1st 10:30-11:30 / 2nd 13:30-14:30
The "set periods"	19 Dec 2026 - 11 Jan 2027, and 20 Mar - 4 Apr 2027
Special baths (the "capybara yuzu bath")	No 2026-27 dates published yet
Origin	Winter 1982; the zoo began keeping capybaras in 1966, and the winter-solstice "capybara yuzu bath" in 1996
2026 milestones	60 years of capybaras at the zoo; 30th year of the yuzu bath (official)
Note	The schedule may change or be cancelled depending on the animals' condition and the weather
Venue	Izu Shaboten Zoo, 1317-13 Futo, Ito, Shizuoka (+81-557-51-1111)
Zoo hours	Vary by day. The headline figure is 8:30-17:30 (last entry 17:00), varying by season; the official fee calendar shows, for example, 9:30-17:00 on September 2026 weekdays and 8:30-17:30 on holiday weekends

The Japanese name is "元祖カピバラの露天風呂" - literally "the original capybara open-air bath".

Viewing tip (from the zoo's own requests): once they get in, the capybaras may stay in the water for about an hour, so it is less crowded a little after the start than right at the start. Keep your voice down, and give up your spot once you have your shot.

Related winter events

Capybara yuzu bath: a winter-solstice tradition since 1996, now in its 30th year. No 2026-27 date published yet
"Longest bath" contest between five zoos: at the 14th round on 10 January 2026, Nagasaki Bio Park's "Prune" won at 1 h 45 min 18 s; Izu Shaboten Zoo's "Truffle" stayed in for 1 h 26 min 57 s (official results). The zoo calls the next one the 15th, with no date yet

Both will be added here once dates are announced.

Admission (checked 2026-09-23)

	Weekdays	Weekends, holidays and school breaks
Adults (junior-high age and over)	2,800 yen	3,000 yen
Elementary-school children	1,400 yen	1,500 yen
Children aged 4 and over	700 yen	800 yen

The official pages do not say whether the bath is included in admission or charged separately. To check, use the official site or call +81-557-51-1111.

Getting there

Take the Tokai Bus "Shaboten Koen" service from stand 5 at Ito Station, or a bus from Izukyu Izu-Kogen Station. Check journey time and fares in Tokai Bus's own search on the day (fares change on 1 October 2026). The zoo is at 1317-13 Futo, Ito, Shizuoka (official site, checked 2026-09-23).

The Ito Tourism Association gives about 35 minutes by Tokai Bus from Ito Station and about 20 minutes by bus (10 by taxi) from Izu-Kogen Station. Its admission figures are the old ones (2,700 yen adult weekday), so use the zoo's own fees above (checked 2026-09-23).

Ito keeps running fireworks and festivals through the bath season. See the date-ordered Ito events & festivals calendar 2026-2027.

Verification

Checked on 2026-09-23 against the official Capybara Outdoor Bath page in English, the Japanese page, and hours and admission. The yuzu-bath and longest-bath contest dates, and whether the bath is included in admission are not stated on any official page, so they are not stated here either. This page will be updated when the zoo announces them.

--- Update log: published 2026-09-23 (season dates and times re-checked; yuzu bath 30th year, longest-bath results and day-by-day zoo hours added)

Good to know for visitors

Getting there: Rough journey times: about 35 min by bus from Ito Station, about 20 min from Izu-Kogen Station (Ito Tourism Association). Tokai Bus "Shaboten Koen" service from stand 5 at Ito Station, or a bus from Izukyu "Izu-Kogen" Station. Check journey time and fares in Tokai Bus's own search on the day (fares change on 1 October 2026). The zoo is at 1317-13 Futo, Ito, Shizuoka (official site, checked 2026-09-23).
Booking & entry: Check tickets and details on the official page (button above).
Paying: The official pages do not list accepted payment methods for admission; carrying cash is the safe assumption (checked 2026-09-23).
Language: Signage in the park is mainly Japanese, but the zoo publishes English and Traditional Chinese pages.
Good for: families, groups of friends, solo-goers

Good to know

The bath only happens in one or two windows a day. Capybaras may stay in for about an hour, so it is quieter a little after the start (the zoo's own request). Zoo hours vary by day (e.g. 9:30-17:00 on September 2026 weekdays, 8:30-17:30 on holiday weekends), so check the official fee calendar for your date (checked 2026-09-23).

Frequently asked questions

When does the Izu Shaboten Zoo capybara onsen run in 2026-27?: From Saturday 21 November 2026 to Sunday 4 April 2027 (Izu Shaboten Zoo official site, checked 2026-09-23).
What time is the capybara bath?: 13:30-14:30, once a day, on weekdays. At weekends, on public holidays and during 19 Dec 2026-11 Jan 2027 and 20 Mar-4 Apr 2027 there are two sessions: 10:30-11:30 and 13:30-14:30 (official site, checked 2026-09-23).
When is the capybara yuzu bath?: The yuzu bath is a winter-solstice tradition that began in 1996 and is in its 30th year in 2026, but no 2026-27 date had been published as of 2026-09-23. This page will be updated when the zoo announces it.
Is the bath included in the admission fee?: The official pages say neither that it is included nor that it is charged separately (checked 2026-09-23). Admission is 2,800 yen for adults, 1,400 yen for elementary-school children and 700 yen for children aged 4 and over on weekdays, and 3,000 / 1,500 / 800 yen at weekends, on holidays and during school breaks. Check with the zoo or call +81-557-51-1111.
Does it run in the rain?: The official note reads that the schedule may change or be cancelled depending on the animals' condition and the weather. Check the zoo's site on the day (checked 2026-09-23).
How do I get there from Ito Station?: Take the Tokai Bus "Shaboten Koen" service from stand 5 at Ito Station; buses also run from Izukyu Izu-Kogen Station. Tokai Bus fares change on 1 October 2026, so check times and fares in the official search on the day.