Unique Capybara Hotel in Japan Takes Cute to a New Level

Japan is my favorite country in the world to visit, and I've had the opportunity to stay in all kinds of unique accommodations during my travels there. I've stayed in cheap business hotels in the heart of Tokyo, gotten an earthquake wake-up call at a beachside ryokan in Kamakura, and hiked through a mountain town north of Kyoto to visit a traditional onsen inn.

But clearly, I haven't even scratched the surface when it comes to unique Japanese hotels, and this adorably eccentric resort in Shizuoka has me raring to plan another trip back. While I've stayed at some really cool places in Japan, I've never stayed on a property that's covered in cute capybaras!

Vlogger Megan/ @milktea.meg took the trip to Shizuoka (a coastal city about 50-odd miles southwest of Mt. Fuji ) to stay at the one and only Izu Resort Villa - aka, "The Capybara Hotel." Despite originally hailing from South America, capybaras are very popular in Japan, and this unique hotel is the perfect place for animal lovers to get up close and personal with these gentle giants (well, giant by rodent standards, anyway).

Related: Wildlife Hotel in Sydney, Australia Is Perfect for Travelers with a Wild Side

For around $300 USD split between the two of them, Megan and her companion got a cozy vacation villa all to themselves for the night. The house was clean and spacious, but the main attraction was the backyard, which was full of cute, easy-going capybaras hanging out in the sun. The living room had floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the backyard, along with a round window looking into the capybara's feeding enclosure. However, the backyard was accessible to guests, and Megan got to walk outside and hang out with the cute critters, petting them and feeding them carrot sticks!

Though initially nervous about approaching the capybaras, Megan found that they were very docile and calm and enjoyed being pet - apparently, they feel like coconut husks, which makes so much sense. She also remarked that they weren't really food aggressive and wouldn't crowd you unless you had food for them (unlike the very pushy deer at Nara Park - if you know, you know). Megan had a chill, fun time hanging out with her coconut-furred friends, and as the sun started to sink in the sky, she took a trip to the nearby hot springs to cap off her capybara day!

About Izu Resort Villa

Want to follow in Megan's footsteps? Trust me, I do too. While Shizuoka isn't as big of a tourist destination as Osaka or Tokyo, it's only a couple hours away from Tokyo by train, so it's easily doable for an overnight trip if you're visiting Tokyo.

According to travel blogger The Smart Local , Izu Resort Villa has three 2-story vacation villas that each include a mini-kitchen, toilet, shower, and beds for six people - and of course, all of the villas overlook the capybara yard. In addition to the hot springs Megan mentioned, The Smart Local adds that the property has a cozy and well-stocked Library Cafe (which turns into a bar after 7 pm) and a nearby buffet restaurant with a blend of Western and Japanese fare (or, you can cook your own dinner at one of the property's on-site barbecue pits ). The hotel is also owned by the same people who run the nearby "Izu Animal Kingdom" zoo less than a mile up the road.

Guests can book through the Izu Resort Villa's official website (the original site is in Japanese, but Google Translate handled it well). If I get the opportunity to plan another trip to Japan anytime soon, a visit to this hotel is the first thing on my agenda!

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