NTB GeoRoam: Japanese 4x4 motorhome with natural wood interior

The author, traveling in a DIY-converted Toyota Lite Ace, spent 400 nights sleeping in his vehicle over two years, 300 of them at roadside stations. He selected five top stations in the Tohoku region, judging them on toilet cleanliness, flat parking, and quietness. The article is published in partnership with DRIMO magazine.

In Japan, the use of motorhomes to accommodate medical and other teams heading to the Kumamoto earthquake zone is expanding. Industry associations and local governments are stepping up cooperation to provide mobile housing for personnel working in affected areas.

Hamamatsu Zoo in Chuo Ward has installed three trailer-type rest facilities with air conditioning to help visitors cope with the intense heat. The units were unveiled on August 10.

Japanese YouTuber Chomoka, who runs the channel 'chomocamp' about solo camping and car sleeping, shared her style of traveling in a used car purchased for 380,000 yen. She started posting videos in 2019, and in 2020, after appearing on a BS TV Tokyo program, her channel gained popularity, surpassing 50,000 subscribers. Chomoka noted that camping became a popular leisure activity during the pandemic, and her style involves fitting personal preferences into a small space.

An outdoor field opened on October 10 at the Akasuna Park complex 'Suwa no Wa' in Shimosuwa, on the shore of Lake Suwa. The facility includes 7 campsites and 4 barbecue booths. Pets are allowed.

In Hikawa town, Kumamoto Prefecture, the Noguchi family continues to sleep in a car parked in their yard following a magnitude 7 earthquake on July 28. Although their house remained standing, walls have peeled off, and the children are afraid to sleep indoors. Mother Tomoka Noguchi (42) said the children choose the car because they witnessed nearby houses collapsing.