Adorable photos of capybara bathing with yuzu deliver the dose of cute that is just what the doctor ordered!
The winter solstice isn’t exactly a huge holiday in the West anymore, but in Japan, seasonal customs still have quite a bit of life left. One commonly practiced tradition is yuzuyu, or bathing with yuzu (citrus), on the night of the winter solstice. The belief is that this will help prevent catching colds, though we’re not sure any clinical studies have tested its effectiveness yet.
But even if a bath with yuzu won’t keep the sniffles at bay, at least it smells nice! And who can say no to a warm, pleasant-smelling bath after a day of work? Not us. And, it turns out, neither can capybara!
▼ Capybara indulging in yuzuyu at Izu Shaboten Park
【冬至ですし】ゆず湯に入るカピバラたちがゆる可愛い…https://t.co/k1fB9SZPmG
— ライブドアニュース (@livedoornews) December 22, 2015
伊豆シャボテン公園でこの時期だけ見られる風景。一緒に温まりたくなりますね！ #今日は何の日 pic.twitter.com/9ttKkUBTH5
In fact, it looks as if all the capybara in all the zoos and parks across Japan got to enjoy a bit of yuzu bathing on Tuesday, at least if Twitter can be trusted. Numerous photos of our favorite giant rodents luxuriating in citrusy baths floated around the social network, and they were just too adorable not to share!
▼ A capybara enjoying yuzuyu at Aquaworld Orai
https://twitter.com/komugin_124/status/679303364807491584▼ We love that they hung up a noren for the bath!
カピバラ温泉 ゆず湯.ver♨️
— むらっちょ (@yukiccho89) December 22, 2015
*#大洗アクアワールド #水族館 #茨城 pic.twitter.com/gczDhvd521
▼ “Excuse me, but that yuzu belongs in the water, not on my head!”
今日のカピバラ「リュウマ」は、何とお姉さんのマッサージつきで「ゆず湯」を満喫中。うらやましすぎます…「カピバラ銭湯・ゆず湯バージョン」はいよいよ明日までです！ pic.twitter.com/yTByKZhbJx
— アクアワールド茨城県大洗水族館 (@aw_oarai) December 21, 2015
With perpetually sleepy and contented eyes and short, cute snouts, capybaras might just be the perfect animal to watch bathing. The looks on their faces absolutely ooze the same relaxed looks we get when soaking in the tub.
▼ They look so contented!
https://twitter.com/SpaceWorld_info/status/679171797510545410
▼ And so do all of the cuties at Suzaka Zoo in Nagano
2015年12月22日(火)は冬至です。須坂市動物園では本日22日午前11時～午前11時30分(終了予定)のカピバラ温泉は毎年恒例「ゆず湯」を開催します！
— 長野県須坂市 (@suzaka_city) December 22, 2015
良い香りのする「ゆず湯」に入るカピバラたちに会いに来てください。 pic.twitter.com/MS8yFeNL5V
人気者のカピバラにゆず湯が用意され、真冬並みの冷え込みのなかで、カピバラたちは温かい湯につかってこの１年の疲れをとりました。 pic.twitter.com/288Opy2zzW
— Lulu__19 (@Lulu__19) December 22, 2014
▼ The capybara at Daisen Tom-Sawyer Pasture know how to have a good time!
本日は冬至です(о´∀`о)
— 大山トム・ソーヤ牧場 (@daisen_tom) December 22, 2015
今日だけ！カピバラさんゆず湯ですよ～♪ pic.twitter.com/HJZhgCcYfs
▼ And here’s our last tweet — another from Suzuka Zoo!
日曜日には冬至の先取りイベントをしましたが、今日が冬至です！
— 須坂市動物園【公式】 (@suzakazoo) December 22, 2015
カピバラたちは今日もゆず湯でいい湯だな♨️
いい香りがします(*'▽'*)♪ pic.twitter.com/0jF40FnfOP
▼ This guy almost looks as if he’s inviting us in!
Well, that settles things: we know what our New Year’s resolution will be! Forget losing weight, studying, or saving money — our goal for next year is to take a yuzu bath with some capybara!
Sources: Hamusoku
Featured image: Twitter/@SpaceWorld_info
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