Capybaras have become somewhat of a meme in recent months.
With the hashtag accruing 294.7K posts on TikTok and the self-proclaimed #CapybaraTikTok a further 59.1K posts, there’s even a song dedicated to these lovable giant rodents.
Now, a new Capybara Café has opened in Japan as a tribute to this South American animal and it’s putting cat coffee shops across the world to shame.
Titled Café Capyba, this Tokyo establishment is providing the ultimate hang-out for tourists and locals alike.
On its website, the institution labels itself a ‘cosy’ place ‘to provide healing.’
Here, customers can watch the capybaras relaxing while they freely roam, with visitors encouraged to ‘relax while observing their leisurely presence.’
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Treats are also offered for the capys inside the café, giving customers the chance to give them a little snack while enjoying a hot beverage of their own, including tea or coffee.
Want to visit these fluffy memes? There’s an admission fee on top of a price for all capybara treats and drinks.
For the first 30 minutes, expect to pay ￥1,250 (£6.62), which increases to ￥330 (£1.75) for an extra 10 minutes at the end. Not bad.
But there’s a catch. The Café Capyba does not accept reservations, and it warns of a wait of between one and four hours.
Where to see capybaras in their element in the UK
Want to hang out with the capybaras but don’t have the budget for a trip to Japan? There are a few places you can do so in the UK:
- Cotswold Wildlife Park, Oxfordshire
- Shepreth Wildlife Park, Hertfordshire
- Chew Valley Animal Park, Bristol
- Chester Zoo, Cheshire
- Drusillas Park, East Sussex
- Hobbledown Heath, London
- Jimmy’s Farm, Suffolk
- Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Doncaster
- Beale Park, Berkshire
- Dudley Zoo, West Midlands
- Newquay Zoo, Cornwall
- Blackpool Zoo, Lancashire
- Exmoor Zoo, North Devon
- Chessington Zoo, Surrey
- Cumbria Safari Zoo, Cumbria.
And, if it’s particularly busy, it might not be possible to visit at all – so get down early to avoid having your hopes and dreams of meeting the capys dashed.
The hype is spreading to TikTok too, with one creator @countingcountries describing the experience as ‘heaven.’
‘There’s a capybara café in Japan where you can hang out with and feed capybaras,’ he recalled in his video.
‘You can hang out with two of these gorgeous animals. I’m actually in heaven right now – they’re so playful! Feeding them carrots is definitely the best part.’
‘Come with me to experience the best day of my life,’ shared @k8lyn1738.
‘They had two big boys and I had the whole café to myself. They were affectionate, squeaky clean and tranquil.
‘As you can see, I am absolutely mesmerised by their beauty.’
This isn’t the only Japanese establishment offering the full capybara experience.
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Elsewhere in Tokyo, the Capy Neko Café combines two fluffy creatures – capybaras and cats (which is ‘neko’ in Japanese).
Here, resident capybara Tawashi hangs out with his feline friends (of which there are eight or nine).
In fact, many of the cats are actually adoptable, and for ￥2,200 (£11.64), you can socialise with your newfound friends for an hour.
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