The Capybara Cafe Guide

This guide answers the questions most visitors ask before their first visit: what a capybara cafe is, whether you can pet and feed the animals, how a visit works from booking to goodbye, and which of our two Tokyo locations fits your trip.

What is a capybara cafe?

A capybara cafe is a type of Japanese animal cafe where guests spend time with capybaras (the world’s largest rodent, native to South America) in a calm indoor space. In Japan, the “cafe” in animal cafe does not mean a regular cafe serving coffee and meals. At most animal cafes drinks are a side note, and the point is time with the animals. Unlike a zoo, the experience is up close: you sit with the animals, touch them, and feed them, usually in a small group and for a set session time.

At CAPPINESS, sessions center on three things: interacting with the capybaras in a small group, feeding them, and learning about capybaras themselves. For hygiene reasons, drinks are kept simple: a self-service drink corner in a separate area. This separation also keeps the rooms clean, with almost no animal smell, so guests of any age can feel comfortable.

Can you pet a capybara?

Yes. Our capybaras are very friendly, and petting them is at the heart of the visit. Each capybara has its own personality and its own idea of when it wants attention, so ask our staff how to approach each one; they know the capybaras individually and will show you. If you are lucky, you might even get a handshake, or a belly rub when a capybara flops over for one. Feeding is part of the visit too, and snacks for the capybaras are included with your session.

Are capybaras friendly?

As a species, yes, famously so. In the wild, capybaras live in large social groups and get along with almost every other animal, which is where their reputation for being easygoing comes from. That relaxed, social nature is what makes a capybara cafe possible: close contact is comfortable for them when it happens on their terms. They are also semi-aquatic and love warm water, which is why capybara baths are such a popular sight in Japan. Ours take two baths a day as part of their daily care.

From booking to goodbye: how a visit works

At CAPPINESS, a visit is a reserved 40-minute session in a small group of around 10 guests. The whole visit, step by step:

1. Book online. Reservations open 30 days in advance and are only accepted through our official booking system, not by DM, email, or phone. You register a credit card when you book.
2. Arrive about 5 minutes before your session. Not much earlier, though: our Shinjuku cafe in particular has no waiting space in or around the building. And not later either, since arriving late just means a shorter session.
3. Check in. Just tell the staff your name and how many are in your group. Payment happens here too, automatically: the credit card you registered when booking is charged at check-in, so there is nothing to hand over and nothing to sign.
4. Watch a short intro video in English. Before you meet the capybaras, a short video explains how to approach, pet, and feed them.
5. Enjoy your 40 minutes. Petting, sitting together, photos, and feeding the capybaras their snacks (included with your session). An educational video about capybaras plays during the session, so you can learn about them while you relax. Drinks are self-service; help yourself whenever you like. There is a spot to set down your bags, though it doesn’t lock, so keep valuables with you.
6. Say goodbye. Everything was settled at check-in, so when your time is up, just say goodbye to the capybaras and head out.

Forty minutes may sound short, but it is about as long as the animals (and most guests) comfortably enjoy a session. It also fits neatly into a Tokyo sightseeing day, and since sessions are held indoors it is a safe plan for a rainy day.

Which location should you choose?

CAPPINESS has two cafes in Tokyo. Pick the one that fits your itinerary. There is no food menu at either cafe, so a session slots in nicely before lunch or before dinner, wherever your day takes you.

• CAPPINESS Shinjuku (Takadanobaba) — our first cafe, a gentle Japanese-style space with a spacious balcony. About 5 minutes from Shinjuku or Ikebukuro on the JR Yamanote Line, and about 10 minutes from Shibuya. Ideal if your day is on the west side of the city.
• CAPPINESS Oshiage — our newer second cafe, designed with everything we learned from the first. A 3-minute walk from Tokyo Skytree Station and one stop from Asakusa on the Tobu Skytree Line, so it pairs well with a Skytree or Asakusa day.

For what makes us different from other animal cafes, read Why CAPPINESS and how we approach animal welfare. For prices, age rules, and other details, see the FAQ, or just book a session and come meet the capybaras.