Toyota Sienta Juno 2026: Seven-Seat MPV Turns into Camper from 800,000 Yen

A journalist from DRIMO spent six months living in a standard kei car, a Daihatsu Move 2016, without any modifications. He slept in the car parked at a campsite, used a laundromat weekly, and cooked with a portable electric rice cooker. Despite the limited space (interior length 2080 mm, height 1280 mm, width 1320 mm), he says it is manageable, but notes that super height wagons like the Daihatsu Tanto or Honda N-BOX are more suitable for long-term living.

The author, who has 15 years of experience sleeping in cars, chose the 'Yadocarry' camper based on a light truck because its removable living module can be transferred to a new truck. The interior height is about 180 cm, the bed width is 90 cm, and power is supplied by a portable battery of around 2000 Wh, which can be charged while driving or via solar panels.

The Japan RV Association has certified a new RV park, 'RV Park Unnan Michi-no-Eki Sakura no Sato Kisuki Green Park', in Unnan, Shimane Prefecture. Located near the roadside station 'Sakura no Sato Kisuki' and the Hii River embankment, a famous cherry blossom spot, the park offers 4 parking spaces at 3,500 yen per night. Facilities include 24-hour toilets, free electricity, water, and trash disposal. It serves as a convenient base for visiting Izumo Taisha shrine and Matsue city.

Saitama Governor Motohiro Ono visited Japan Special Body's factory in Koshigaya to inspect the production of Phase-Free certified campers. The visit included discussions on using these vehicles for daily leisure and disaster response, referencing their deployment after the Kumamoto earthquake.

In Oarai, Ibaraki Prefecture, the unmanned trailer hotel CUBE6, operated by the day-use hot spring facility Shiosai-no-Yu, has opened. Each of the six rooms features Simmons mattresses, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, and amenities. Guests receive free entry to the hot spring and sauna, which overlook the Pacific Ocean. Rates are 8,000 yen per person and 13,000 yen for two per night.

Japanese company Annex has launched series production of the compact Liberty 52 REi camper on a Toyota Camroad chassis. At 5.23 meters in length, the motorhome accommodates up to eight passengers and five berths, including a U-shaped lounge and a pull-out bed above the cab. It features a kitchen with an 85-liter refrigerator, solar panels up to 590 W, and battery options up to 9.6 kWh. Prices in Japan start at 16 million yen.