Izu Shaboten Zoo Restaurant: 6 Reasons to Love GIBBONTEI
A giant capybara had the window seat. Two colorful bowls sat in front of us, with trees outside and animal illustrations rising behind the food. We were at GIBBONTEI, the Izu Shaboten Zoo restaurant where plush animals join you at the table.
After the teddy bears at Teddy’s Garden, this feels like a natural next stop in Izu. The café dining experience here is cheerful and full of color: red pandas occupy chairs, flamingos hang overhead, and lunch becomes part of the animal outing.
In This Guide
- A table with a capybara or red panda
- Lunch with its own animal story
- Flamingos overhead and tigers in the greenery
- The animals outside
- A souvenir to take home
- An Izu day with Mount Omuro and Teddy’s Garden
1. Your Table Comes with Company
The plush animals are the first thing to catch my attention. A red panda rests its paws on the table as though it is waiting to order. Further along, capybaras lean beside the chairs. Even an empty table looks occupied.
By the windows, the animal-patterned blinds continue the theme in softer colors. The wooden tables and dark green seats are simple, which gives the oversized characters room to stand out. It is easy to imagine children choosing their seats according to the animal beside them. Adults will probably do the same.
2. Lunch Has Its Own Animal Story
Our bowls brought plenty of color to the table: green avocado, orange egg yolks, chopped spring onions, and strips of seaweed. The illustrated holders behind them showed a whole group of animals riding together. With the enormous capybara beside us, the food and the setting fitted into the same photograph.
There are playful choices elsewhere on the menu, too. The Capyburger uses a capybara-shaped bun made by a local bakery, while other dishes take their names and appearance from the zoo’s animals. The official GIBBONTEI menu includes rice bowls, curry, and desserts, so this is a place to plan around lunch.
3. Look Up—There Are Flamingos on the Ceiling
Pink flamingos seem to fly across the ceiling. A tiger stretches out above the greenery, and colorful animal heads decorate the wall. The room keeps drawing your eyes away from the table.
Even the stairwell has been included: trailing leaves frame the steps, with a tiger watching from a ledge. I like these smaller details. The animal story continues through the spaces you would usually walk past without noticing.
4. Meet the Animals at Izu Shaboten Zoo
One of my favorite photographs is of the peacock perched above the restaurant sign. Its deep blue neck stands out against the green lettering, almost as though it belongs in the design.
The wider Izu Shaboten Zoo visit brought a different set of pictures: a giraffe facing the camera, pelicans gathered beside the water, and fennec foxes resting together with their enormous ears still upright. The little group of foxes is especially hard to stop looking at.
This is what makes GIBBONTEI work so well as part of the day. You can sit down for lunch among the plush characters, then carry on exploring the zoo. Allow time for both.
5. Take a Smaller Capybara Home
If lunch leaves you wanting a capybara of your own, the zoo’s Animal Mart is worth a look. Its official selection includes capybara plush toys, original animal goods, and Izu souvenirs. Potted cactus arrangements offer another connection to the park. See the zoo’s shop guide.
My choice would be a small plush capybara: an easy reminder of the oversized companion at our lunch table.
6. Build an Izu Day Around It
Mount Omuro is a convenient nearby addition. Its lift shares the “Shaboten Zoo and Mt. Omuro” bus destination with the zoo. I would choose a clear day for the mountain and check the lift’s operation information before setting out; strong wind and bad weather can interrupt service.
For another café stop, Teddy’s Garden at the Izu Teddy Bear Museum brings back the bears, cakes, and garden setting from my earlier visit. I would give Izu Shaboten Zoo and GIBBONTEI the main part of the day, then choose either the mountain or the museum according to the weather and the time left.
GIBBONTEI provides an indoor lunch break, but the zoo still involves outdoor walking. On a day of persistent rain, I would keep the teddy bear museum and café as the main plan.
Before You Visit Izu Shaboten Zoo
The zoo normally opens 9:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m., with final admission at 4:30 p.m.; its calendar lists seasonal changes. Restaurant last orders are earlier, so eat before completing the whole park. Check the zoo’s current hours and admission alongside the restaurant hours.
For access, the zoo lists approximately 20 minutes by bus or 10 minutes by taxi from Izu-Kogen Station. Allow extra time for traffic. Its main contact number is 0557-51-1111. Official access information.
Izu Shaboten Zoo Restaurant FAQ
Are the animals at the tables real?
The capybaras and red pandas sharing the dining tables are plush toys. The real animals are part of the zoo visit.
Is GIBBONTEI a café or a restaurant?
It is a themed restaurant serving full meals and desserts. It fits naturally into a café dining itinerary, especially if you enjoy character-filled interiors.
Should I include zoo admission in the budget?
Yes. GIBBONTEI is inside the zoo, so plan for the park ticket separately from your meal.
How would you plan lunch during an Izu Shaboten Zoo visit?
I would arrive with enough time to see some animals before lunch, then head to GIBBONTEI while there is still plenty of time before last orders. After eating, I would return to the zoo rather than trying to squeeze every enclosure into the morning. The important detail is that the restaurant finishes taking orders before the park closes. Keep the restaurant hours in your plan from the start, especially if you tend to stop for photographs along the way.
Would you choose GIBBONTEI or Teddy’s Garden?
I would choose GIBBONTEI when Izu Shaboten Zoo is the main outing and we want a proper lunch without leaving the park. Teddy’s Garden suits a day built around the museum and a café break. Both have plush companions, but the settings feel different: this dining room is full of bright colors and zoo characters, while the teddy café has its own garden atmosphere. I would choose the outing first and let the meal fit around it.
What should I order at the Izu Shaboten Zoo restaurant?
The bowls in my photographs give you one idea of the lunch presentation, and the Capyburger is another option to look for on the official menu. I would check the current choices before deciding, particularly if someone in the group wants a full meal and someone else is more interested in dessert. Choose something you want to eat as well as photograph. The plush animals and illustrated food holders already bring plenty of character to the table.
How should I budget for the day?
For an Izu Shaboten Zoo day, I would keep the park ticket, lunch, and transport as separate parts of the budget. Then add a little for the shop if a plush capybara is likely to come home with you. If you also include Mount Omuro or the teddy bear museum, check those costs separately before committing to both. The official ticket and menu links below are the best places to check current amounts for your date and group.
What photographs would you take inside GIBBONTEI?
I would start with the whole table, keeping the food, the plush companion, and a little of the room in the same frame. Then I would take a closer picture of the lunch and another looking up at the flamingos. The red pandas by the windows make a different scene from the bright pink dining room. A few wider photographs help tell the story of the place; you do not need a close-up of every single decoration.
Ken’s Verdict
GIBBONTEI gives lunch a place in the memory of the zoo visit. I will remember the red panda waiting at its table, the flamingos overhead, and that giant capybara beside our bowls. If you enjoyed the company of the bears at Teddy’s Garden, this Izu Shaboten Zoo restaurant is an easy next choice.
For more places to eat and explore, browse my Japan dining journal.
Visitor information checked on 7 September 2026. Menus, prices, and operating hours may change.
GIBBONTEI Business Card
Forest Animal Restaurant GIBBONTEI
森のどうぶつレストラン ギボン亭
- Location
- Inside Izu Shaboten Zoo
1317-13 Futo, Ito, Shizuoka 413-0231 - Lunch hours
- From 11:00 a.m.
Last orders: 3:00 p.m. March–October; 2:30 p.m. November–February - Access & admission
- About 20 minutes by bus from Izu-Kogen Station. Zoo admission is separate from food.
- Contact & planning
- Zoo: 0557-51-1111
Menu & restaurant hours · Official admission · Directions
Book on Klook. Food and drinks are not included; check ticket validity and redemption instructions before booking.
Affiliate disclosure: If you book through this link, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
One Comment