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In Brief
Overnight stays in motorhomes at Japanese 'michi-no-eki' parking lots have no clear permission and often fall into a gray zone. An author who lived in a motorhome for 19 months shares rules, while authorities warn of conflicts due to confusion between rest and camping.
Overnight stays in motorhomes at Japanese roadside station (michi-no-eki) parking lots have no clear permission and often fall into a gray zone. An author who lived in a motorhome for 19 months shares rules he followed to avoid inconveniencing other visitors.
According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, as of April 2024 there are 1,221 such stations nationwide, where only short-term sleep to prevent traffic accidents is permitted, not living. Conflicts have increased at Michi-no-Eki stations and roadside service areas (SA/PA) due to overnight car stays, despite their status as 24-hour free rest facilities. The key issue is confusion between 'car sleeping' for rest during travel and 'camping' with cooking and entertainment, which is not allowed in public spaces.
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Overnight stays in motorhomes at Japanese roadside stations (michi-no-eki) are not explicitly permitted and often fall into a gray area. The author, w...
Overnight stays in motorhomes at Japanese roadside stations (michi-no-eki) are not explicitly permitted and often fall into a gray area. The author, who lived in a motorhome for 19 months, shares the rules he followed to avoid inconveniencing other visitors.
Despite being free 24-hour rest facilities, Japan's roadside stations (Michinoeki) and service/parking areas are experiencing ongoing issues due to so...
Despite being free 24-hour rest facilities, Japan's roadside stations (Michinoeki) and service/parking areas are experiencing ongoing issues due to some users treating them as overnight camping sites. The core problem is a widespread misunderstanding: users are confusing 'car camping' for leisure with the permitted act of taking a short nap for driver safety. Authorities clarify that while short naps are acceptable, using these public spaces for overnight stays, cooking, or recreational activities is discouraged.
Updated: 11.07.2026
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