Izu Shaboten Zoo is a mix of a botanical garden and a zoo. Located in Shizuoka prefecture, there's certainly a lot on offer here. Izu Shaboten Zoo translates literally as Izu Cactus Zoo, so you can expect a great many cacti on offer. What you might not have expected were the wide variety of animals around, many of which you can interact with. Of special note are the free roaming squirrel monkeys that you can buy food for, and the Capybaras, which you can pet. There's plenty to see and do, and spending time feeding and interacting with the animals is a surprisingly wholesome experience. As with all animals, it is of importance to that you should not harass them.

Photograph provided by Shizuoka Prefectural Tourism Association