VILLENT Izu Shaboten Kouen

We came for the capybaras, and they were adorable! I enjoyed the rest of the zoo too, with lots of other animals and food for sale outside nearly every enclosure for about 200 yen. The capybaras in the hot bath can't be fed, but there's a separate feeding area for them. It's near the Mt.Omuro lifts, and parking is paid. You can get tickets at the zoo, though Klook is worth considering for 100 yen off and to skip the line. A fun thing to do in Izu.

The capybaras soak in the onsen from winter through April, then the zoo's waterway is lined with lots of cherry blossom trees. Ducks and peacocks are all over the paths too. Parking costs 1000 yen to enter. The capybaras are cute enough that you'd probably come anyway. If you've visited Mt Omuro, keep your ticket, as it gives you a discount on zoo admission.

The capybaras are the main attraction, with a big outdoor space and a hot spring bath. In winter they really do soak in the onsen, which is ridiculously cute. Even in summer they lounge in the water or eat grass while visitors watch. There are free-roaming peacocks too. One walked alongside me for a good ten minutes, as if it owned the place. This is a small, shady, cozy zoo, easy to enjoy as a relaxed half-day after the Mt. Omuro cable car. It's right across the road from the ride up the grassy volcano. When I visited on a weekday it was nearly empty, with just gravel crunching underfoot and the odd peacock call. The walk-through bird area is another favorite. Flamingos, sacred ibis, ducks, geese, and spoonbills wander close by in a large netted space, so it feels like stepping into their world. The rest of the collection is a classic mix done well: otters, wallabies, antelopes, donkeys, turkeys, parrots, and some lazy sloths in the greenhouse. My one small disappointment was that the shoebill wasn't on display that day. Apparently he sometimes takes “days off” inside. Maybe next time. The grounds feel carefully kept, paths are easy, and there are plenty of shady benches. Add the cable car and the cactus greenhouse next door, the “shaboten” in the name, and it's an easygoing afternoon on the Izu Plateau.

It's easy to stroll around this well-kept zoo, and the mix of animals and hands-on activities makes it enjoyable for all ages. I liked it more than the Ontario or Calgary zoo. Being close to Mount Omuro also makes it easy to pair the two on one visit.