With the pandemic and the new normal, most – if not all – cafés and restaurants are implementing social distancing measures to keep customers and staff safe. If you thought Tokyo’s Social Distancing Cafe had a set-up that looked a bit too serious, Gibbontei might just be the place for you.
This café inside Shizuoka’s Izu Shaboten Zoo does social distancing differently, adding in plushie versions of the zoo’s beloved critters. Instead of a room full of deliberately empty seats, the café is crowded with capybara and red panda plushies – they take up almost half of the seats, ensuring customers can keep their distance without the usual awkwardness. It’s like you’re having lunch with your softest, cutest friends.
Don’t be afraid to cuddle them, either. The plushies, tables and chairs are all disinfected after each customer leaves. Plus, you’ll find hand sanitiser at the entrance, so drop in for a visit and make some new furry friends.
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