Capybaras in Japan sit in hot baths because zoos run warm baths for them in winter, and the capybaras clearly enjoy it. The tradition began at the Izu Shaboten Zoo in Itō, Shizuoka, in 1982. A keeper cleaning the enclosure with hot water noticed the capybaras huddling together in the warm puddle. Today the zoo prepares a yuzu bath for them in winter and early spring, other zoos have copied it, and videos of the soaking capybaras have millions of views.
How did the capybara hot spring start? #
According to Wikipedia’s Izu Shaboten Zoo entry, the idea came about by accident. In 1982, an employee was cleaning the capybara enclosure with hot water and saw the animals gather in the warm puddle it left behind. The zoo turned that into a regular winter bath. It was the first zoo to do it, and others followed.
Capybaras come from South America, where they live in savannas, forests and wetlands, always near fresh water. Winters in Japan are much colder than what they’re used to, so a warm bath makes sense as winter comfort.
Why is there yuzu in the water? #
The yuzu comes from a Japanese custom that predates the capybaras by centuries. On Tōji, the winter solstice, people traditionally bathe with yuzu floating in the tub. Wikipedia’s yuzu article says the custom “dates to at least the early 18th century.” Whole fruits are floated in the hot water, sometimes in a cloth bag, to release their scent.
The bath is traditionally said to guard against colds, soothe rough skin, warm the body and relax the mind. Those are folk beliefs rather than proven effects, but the fragrance alone explains why people keep doing it.
Yuzu itself is a citrus of Chinese origin. Its flavor is tart and fragrant, a bit like grapefruit with a hint of mandarin orange. Putting it in the capybara bath simply gives the animals the same seasonal treat people get.
Do capybaras really like warm water? #
The zoo’s origin story suggests they do. The capybaras went to the warm puddle by choice. In the bath videos, they sit with their eyes half-closed, barely moving, often for long stretches.
It also fits how capybaras use water in the wild, though for the opposite reason. They’re semi-aquatic and superb swimmers, and Wikipedia describes them spending the hot early afternoon in the water to keep cool. Water is where a capybara goes to regulate its temperature and to feel safe. In a cold Japanese winter, a warm bath does the same job in reverse.
Is it a real onsen? #
Not necessarily. In Japan, “onsen” has a specific meaning. Under the Hot Springs Act, onsen water comes from underground and must meet standards for temperature (25°C or warmer) and mineral content. Japan has about 25,000 hot spring sources and around 3,000 onsen facilities.
A capybara bath at a zoo is often called an onsen informally, and whether a given zoo uses natural spring water or heated water varies. For the capybaras, the point is the warmth.
When and where can you see capybara baths? #
The Izu Shaboten Zoo in Itō, on the Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture, is the original. Its yuzu bath runs in winter and early spring. Other Japanese zoos now offer capybara baths too, and each sets its own season and times. If you’re planning a trip around it, check the zoo’s own website for the current schedule before you go.
Capybaras aren’t the only animals famous for hot springs in Japan. Japanese macaques, often called snow monkeys, bathe in an open-air onsen at Jigokudani Monkey Park in Nagano.
Why did the image stick? #
A large, round, unbothered rodent sitting in steaming water with fruit floating around it is hard to beat as a picture of calm. Capybaras became a big part of meme culture in the 2020s, and their unflappability is a big part of the appeal. Photos of capybaras with a citrus fruit balanced on their heads grew out of these baths, and capybaras are famously unbothered by it.
The baths also match what people already liked about capybaras. They’re social, they’re calm around other animals, and they seem content to sit in water for hours. For more on their everyday life, see what do capybaras eat and how big do capybaras get.
A hot spring in your pocket #
Chill Capy is a virtual pet game built on this exact image. Your capybara lives in an onsen, wears a yuzu on his head, and slides into the water when you tap Soak, which lifts his mood for ten minutes. Each winter, from December 1 to January 7, the game runs a Yuzu Festival event inspired by the real winter citrus bath, with limited items in the shop. You can read how the rest of the game works in our capybara virtual pet game guide.
Frequently asked questions #
Why do capybaras have oranges on their heads? #
The famous photos come from Japanese zoo baths where yuzu, a citrus fruit, floats in the water. A fruit sometimes ends up perched on a capybara’s head, and capybaras are calm enough not to care, which made the pictures go viral.
When did capybaras start taking hot baths? #
In 1982, at the Izu Shaboten Zoo in Itō, Shizuoka, Japan. A keeper noticed the capybaras gathering in warm water left over from cleaning their enclosure, and the zoo turned it into a winter tradition.
What is a yuzu bath? #
A Japanese winter solstice custom of floating whole yuzu fruits in a hot bath, dating to at least the early 18th century. It’s traditionally said to warm the body and relax the mind.
Do wild capybaras use hot springs? #
Hot spring bathing is a zoo tradition, not a known wild behavior. In the wild, capybaras use rivers, lakes and marshes, spending the hottest part of the day in the water to stay cool.