April camper ranking: kei campers top searches, Robinson cab-overs lead rentals

A new roadside station 'Noda Paapuru' in Noda, Iwate Prefecture, features an RV campsite and is part of the Japan Camping Car Rally 2025.

FamilyMart opened a flagship store in Tokyo with fitting rooms and a 300-item clothing line. Lawson is rolling out overnight parking rentals for car camping at 2500 yen per night, aiming for 3000 locations. Seven-Eleven has added powder rooms for makeup and hair styling. The innovations come as store visits fell 0.5% last year.

Toy-Factory is reviving the ZARA camper based on the Toyota HiAce Wide Middle Body. The model will debut on July 11–12, 2026 at the Tokyo Camping Car Show, with sales starting immediately. It features a factory-installed DC air conditioner from ALPINE, sleeping capacity for 2–4 people, and a clesana X1 waterless toilet. Dimensions: length 4840 mm, width 1880 mm, height 2105 mm, allowing parking in multi-storey car parks with a 2.3 m height limit.

Japanese company Vantec has introduced a new version of its Astrale Trias 480 motorhome, built on the Isuzu Travio chassis. The vehicle measures 4900 mm in length, 1960 mm in width, and 2700 mm in height. It is powered by a 1.9-liter diesel engine producing 120 hp, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. Standard equipment includes collision avoidance, blind-spot monitoring, and other driver-assistance systems. Pricing in Japan starts at 10,670,000 yen.

Nissan offers two camper versions of its Caravan van: Myroom and Multibed. Myroom focuses on comfort and interior ambiance, while Multibed prioritizes cargo capacity for outdoor gear. Prices start at 5,765,100 yen for Myroom and 3,939,100 yen for Multibed.

Direct Cars has announced the launch of an electric camper based on the Kia PV5 passenger. The model, the first in the DC EVLIFE series, will be presented at the Tokyo Camping Car Show 2026 on July 11–12 at Tokyo Big Sight.