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.
![Izu Shaboten Zoo social distancing](https://media.timeout.com/images/105653429/image.jpg)
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.
![Izu Shaboten Zoo social distance](https://media.timeout.com/images/105653428/image.jpg)
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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