Ban'ya no Yu (Hot spring)

During one of my weekend drives around Ishikari City, I decided to stop by Ban’ya no Yu (番屋の湯), a seaside hot spring known for its beautiful ocean views and relaxing atmosphere. What makes this onsen extra special is its adorable resident capybara that also enjoys soaking in the hot spring. Ban’ya no Yu is located right along the Sea of Japan, offering a stunning panoramic view, especially from the open-air bath (rotenburo). Sitting in the warm water while watching the waves crash against the shore felt incredibly calming. The sea breeze and the gentle sound of the water created a perfect environment to unwind and clear my mind. The facilities were well-maintained and comfortable, with both indoor and outdoor baths, a sauna, and a cold bath. The water was smooth and soothing on the skin, a welcome treat after a long day of travel. Seeing the capybara relaxing in its own little bath nearby made the visit even more memorable. It was fascinating to watch it enjoying the hot spring just like the visitors. After bathing, I stopped by the onsen restaurant, which served tasty local dishes. I tried their seafood set meal, which featured fresh fish caught from nearby waters, and it was both delicious and satisfying. Overall, Ban’ya no Yu is a peaceful retreat where you can experience true relaxation by the sea. The combination of the hot spring, ocean view, and the friendly capybara makes it a unique destination in Ishikari City that’s worth a visit.

I was shocked and deeply saddened to see a single capybara kept in a glass enclosure at this onsen. While some people may think it's cute or a novelty, this setup is anything but humane. Capybaras are social animals—they live in groups in the wild, surrounded by grasslands, water, and freedom. Seeing one isolated, alone, and enclosed in a concrete and glass box with a tiny hot bath is distressing and unnatural. There was no grass, no earth, no enrichment—just cold surfaces and an artificial space clearly designed for display, not for the animal’s wellbeing. Capybaras are intelligent, gentle animals that deserve space, companionship, and a natural environment. This was the opposite. How would you feel being locked in a glass box for life, surrounded by people staring at you, with no way to live as nature intended? It’s not charming. It’s heartbreaking. Keeping a single, social animal in captivity like this for entertainment is cruel and outdated. It’s time to end this kind of treatment and focus on ethical, animal-centered care. Please, free the capybara. This is not what respect for nature looks like.

Went for a day visit to the onsen and had a wonderful time! Tickets can be bought directly through the machine for 750 yen, and there are options to rent towels. I brought my own towels and toiletries, so not sure if they provide shampoo and soap as well. There are multiple baths available, depending on what you prefer. I spent most of my time at the outdoor bath, which felt particularly great in the wintertime. There are also some pretty interesting facilities: a restaurant, a shop selling souvenirs and fresh fruits, and there’s even a capybara that you can watch from 12:00-18:00 (weather providing)

The onsen is very nice and has stunning views. Capybaras are highly social animals that normally live together in packs of 10-20 animals. As far as I could see this female is kept alone. Maybe I am misjudging the situation because I could not read everything that was written (in japanese), but I was rather sad to see this cute animal being all alone.

Animal Cruelty... No problem with the onsen itself, but they keep a single capybara locked in a small glass enclosure, completely alone, with nothing resembling a natural environment. It was heartbreaking to witness. No animal deserves to be treated like this. If you are confident with your service you don't need a capybara for marketing.