🇯🇵 Japan — OpenVan.camp

The article lists restaurants in Himi, Toyama Prefecture, where winter yellowtail can be eaten for up to 3,000 yen during the season from November to February. The author, who lived in a camper for 19 months in the region, notes that in good catch years dishes cost less than 3,000 yen, citing a set meal with rice and sashimi at the Himi fishing port market canteen. It also provides nearby overnight parking spots for camper vans and local supermarkets where the fish can be bought at a discount.

The organizing committee of the Japan Camping Car Show has announced that the event will take place at Makuhari Messe (halls 1–6, total area 40,500 sq m) from February 5 to 8, 2027. More than 400 campers from domestic builders are expected. Advance tickets are on sale: adult one-day pass at 1,200 yen, two-day pass at 2,000 yen, pet ticket at 300 yen per animal per day. Children of junior high school age and younger enter free. According to the Japan RV Association, the domestic camper fleet grew by 8,000 units in 2025 to 173,000.

Direct Cars, based in Suzuka, Mie Prefecture, presented a special-edition camper at the Yokohama Camping Car Show 2026 to mark the 60th anniversary of the Japanese broadcast of Thunderbirds. The model is based on the company's compact cab-over camper PLAT and features four-wheel drive, a dark green body with a large '2' on the roof, six auxiliary lights, and red quilted seats. The interior includes a DC cooler, refrigerator, TV, AC100V outlet, USB ports, and a bunk bed over the cab. Production is limited to 6 units, with an estimated price of 7,390,000 yen including tax.

The Kaeru campsite in Kitahiroshima, about a 40-minute drive from Sapporo, has been operating for four years. It offers a sauna and dining facilities, and dogs are allowed off-leash.

At a former ranch at 1,444 m elevation, a couple operates a campsite and coworking space, Tsumagoi Ranch Work&Camp, through a single dashboard. The nearest homes are within a 7 km radius, so the reception cannot be permanently staffed. Reservations, payments, Wi-Fi, sensors, and cameras are consolidated into one system: every event—a booking, a payment, a drop in water tank level, a person at the entrance—becomes a database row and appears on the dashboard and Discord. Water level is measured by a homemade ESP32 sensor with an ultrasonic probe every minute; after a false warning caused by an impossible reading of 512.7 cm, the system now ignores impossible values and sudden jumps. Across 4,829 records, the real change was at most 7.4 cm per minute. Temperature, wind, and rain are measured by a weather station, while indoor temperature, humidity, and CO2 are tracked by nine sensors.

Car camping in a standard vehicle often requires modifications such as a flat sleeping surface, insulation, blackout shades, and power and ventilation systems. Installing auxiliary batteries, inverters, and structural changes like seat removal demands professional knowledge and compliance with vehicle inspection rules. Car Shop 777 in Yanagawa, Fukuoka, offers customization services for campers.

Financial planner Shinobu Morohashi, a graduate of the 28th class of Prefectural Beppu Tsurumigaoka High School, took over the dog-run-equipped auto campsite Hideaway Namuya in Namuya, Tomiura-cho, Minamiboso City, Chiba Prefecture, in August last year after the previous owner died. The campsite covers about 6,600 square meters, has 10 pitches, and operates on weekends. During the September holidays all pitches were booked, but heavy rain from Typhoon No. 25 caused many cancellations; the campsite itself was undamaged, while surrounding roads and transport links suffered significant damage. Weekend occupancy remains strong, and the year-end and New Year period is fully booked. Due to the recent pet boom, regular visitors come mainly from Tokyo, Chiba, Kanagawa, Ibaraki, and Shizuoka. Morohashi works as a financial planner on weekdays and manages the campsite on weekends. Cottage stays are available even without dogs.

MOBY, citing the web magazine DRIMO, published a writer's account of an overnight stay in a motorhome at Miyahama Onsen RV Park in Hiroshima Prefecture. The park is located about 15 minutes by car from the World Heritage site Miyajima and about 30 minutes from Kintai Bridge. The trip was made in a JP STAR Happy 1+ motorhome.

Auto One Camper presented the «Giden-kun POPUP Roof» camper based on the Suzuki Every JOIN Turbo at the Yokohama Camping Car Show 2026 in Yokohama. The vehicle features a pop-up roof that creates a 1850×1100 mm sleeping area and a lower bed, allowing four adults to sleep. It includes a microwave and rice cooker, and an external 100V outlet enables outdoor use of appliances. The power system comprises a 30W solar panel, engine charging, and a 100Ah auxiliary battery. The base price is 3,175,200 yen, with the optioned version at 4,260,630 yen.

Autowan Camper (Auto One Camper) showcased the Kyuden-kun POPUP Roof camper based on Suzuki Every at Yokohama Camping Car Show 2026. Price starts at 3,175,200 yen.

A travel blogger documents the fourth day of a campervan journey through Aomori Prefecture, visiting Mount Osore and Tanohata Coast. Mount Osore, one of Japan's three sacred mountains, impressed the author with its volcanic landscape of sulfur vents and barren rock, contrasting with the emerald-green Lake Usori, which is described as a 'paradise' after the 'hell' area. Tanohata Coast is noted for its natural grass extending to the water's edge. The author also collected Pokéfuta (Pokémon manhole covers) in Iwate Prefecture, noting their large number makes complete collection impractical. The night was spent at a roadside station in Noda.

JAF Mate Online has published a selection of three RV parks in the Ise-Shima region of Mie Prefecture, Japan, intended for autumn overnight stays in vehicles. All facilities are located within a 15–40 minute drive of Ise Jingu shrine. RV Park VISON has 60 pitches and charges from 3,500 to 12,000 yen per night; RV Park COZY FIELD Kōshirahama offers 7 pitches from 3,300 to 6,600 yen; RV Park Ise-Shima has 12 pitches at 2,500 yen without electricity or 1,000 yen for a power hookup. The article also notes that from October the region enters its season for seafood, including Ise lobster, natural «anori fugu» pufferfish and oysters.

Japanese car dealerships offer sleep-in-car models based on the Toyota Sienta, Nissan NV200 Vanette, and Mitsubishi Delica D:5. These vehicles are equipped only with beds and furniture, lacking full camper electrical and water systems, which simplifies maintenance and reduces cost. Prices: Toyota Sienta Juno from 3,713,600 yen, Nissan NV200 Vanette MyRoom from 4,843,300 yen, and Mitsubishi Delica D:5 D:Pop from 5,940,000 yen.

The SORA to DAICHI campsite in the Minamirokushi area of Ono, certified as a "Starry Sky Reserve," will be used for vehicle-based evacuation during disasters. On the 7th, Okuechizen Park Consortium and Ono City signed an agreement for accepting evacuees. Upon city request, the campsite can accommodate up to 60 vehicles and about 300 people, and provide toilets and water.

MOBY, citing the web magazine DRIMO, published an article on five problems encountered by travellers sleeping in their vehicles in autumn. These include typhoons, flooding and significant temperature differences. It notes that even without a no-parking sign, parking can be deemed a violation, with a fine of 15,000 yen.

The third Yatsugatake Workation Days will be held from October 8 to 10 in Yatsugatake. The event takes place at Yatsukuru Base and three other coworking spaces in Hokuto, Yamanashi Prefecture; all venues have power and Wi-Fi. On October 9, a game meat BBQ and lightning talk session is scheduled. Car camping is permitted at the coworking spaces.

At the Yokohama Camping Car Show 2026, Morning One unveiled the Camper Just based on the Suzuki Carry. Price is 4,180,000 yen with tax, height is 1970 mm, and it sleeps four.

Nissan P's Field Craft presented the OASIS camper based on Nissan Caravan at Pacifico Yokohama. Base price starts at 5,757,400 yen; the show unit is valued at 8,396,882 yen.

An author who spent 19 months living in a Daihatsu Move in the Noto region described five main difficulties of autumn car camping. These include sharp day-night temperature differences, activity of large horseflies, hornets, bears and wild boars, typhoons and linear rain bands causing flooding, condensation inside the vehicle, and overcrowded popular campsites during the tourist season. Recommended measures include carrying extra warm clothing, changing location when dangerous animals appear, cancelling trips when severe weather is forecast, using air conditioning to remove moisture, and preparing multiple backup parking spots.

Office Amuz, the camper rental business run by TV personality Akiko Matsumoto, reported revenue of 4.23 million yen for fiscal 2025, down from 5 million yen the previous year. Annual expenses totaled 3.65 million yen, including office rent of 858,000 yen, parking of 1.44 million yen and insurance of 500,000 yen; labor costs are zero. To cover depreciation, the minimum rate for a 24-hour rental of The Bug Tra will rise from 3,773 yen to 4,620 yen, a 22% increase. The company aims to return to profit in fiscal 2026.