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
Capybaras celebrate winter in luxurious mikan bath【Photos】
Capybara Onsen Challenge 2019: Which giant rodent can bathe the longest?
A whole bunch of capybara videos to help ease your presidential election stress【Videos】
Japan’s Capybara Long Bath Championship 2022! Upstart powerhouse vs. original dynasty【Video】
Capybaras take shelter from rain the best way they know how: by being adorable
Japan’s craziest burger chain takes menchi katsu to new extreme levels
Japanese restaurant chain serves Dragon Ball donuts and Senzu Beans this spring
Can we be just like Shohei Ohtani on a budget with a Hello Kitty cap?
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino
Japan Extreme Budget Travel! A trip from Tokyo to Izumo for just 30,000 yen [Part 2]
The fish in rural Fukui that rivals Japan’s most auspicious sea bream
Which convenience store onigiri rice balls are the most popular? Survey reveals surprising results
Drift ice in Japan is a disappearing winter miracle you need to see now
Recreate the Ghibli Museum at home in cute miniature form
Tokyo street sweets: The must-snack treats of Nakano’s Refutei
Highest Starbucks in Japan set to open this spring in the Tokyo sky
Tokyo Skytree turns pink for the cherry blossom season
Yakuzen ramen restaurant in Tokyo is very different to a yakuza ramen restaurant
Japan Extreme Budget Travel! A trip from Tokyo to Izumo for just 30,000 yen [Part 1]
Japan has only one airport named after a samurai, so let’s check out Kochi Ryoma【Photos】
Japanese drugstore sells onigiri at pre-stupid era prices, but how do they compare to 7-Eleven?
Burning through cash just to throw things away tops list of headaches when moving house in Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Foreigners accounting for over 80 percent of off-course skiers needing rescue in Japan’s Hokkaido
Super-salty pizza sends six kids to the hospital in Japan, linguistics blamed
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura Frappuccino for cherry blossom season 2026
Foreign tourists in Japan will get free Shinkansen tickets to promote regional tourism
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
Take a trip to Japan’s Dododo Land, the most irritating place on Earth
Naruto and Converse team up for new line of shinobi sneakers[Photos]
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting the lines at a popular Tokyo gyukatsu restaurant?
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Japan’s Capylympics capybara watermelon eating contest brings new challengers and threepeat quest【Pics】
Kapibara-san 10th Anniversary Cafe in Nagoya is full of adorable food, toys, and plump capybaras
Adorable circular capybara formation proves they look cute even when doing something nasty
Capybara hot springs are back: Rodent-friendly onsen now available all over Japan
Video of capybaras enjoying a hot spring is just what you need to stay warm right now 【Video】
2015: The year Japan fell in love with the hamster 【Photos】
The tragic tale of Maruo the Capybara: Zoo’s death announcement sounds like a harrowing drama
KFC cooks up fried chicken bath salts in Japan
Japanese sento bathhouse creates genius system to show how busy the baths are
Man worried girlfriend spending too long in bath goes to check on her, finds something surprising
Udon soup-scented bath salts from Kagawa are flying off the shelves and into bathtubs everywhere
Heavy snowfall gives the people of Japan a chance to show off their secret sculpting skills【Pics】
Onsen in Japan uses the same mysterious hot spring bathing system from Ghibli film Spirited Away
Cleverly designed bath-use glasses that don’t fog up make a splash in Japan