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In Brief
During Golden Week, camper van rentals in Japan doubled as hotel prices soared. However, sleeping overnight at roadside stations and public lots is often illegal, sparking disputes.
Japan is seeing a surge in car-camping travel. According to CarLife Japan, camper van rentals doubled during Golden Week compared to last year, driven by rising hotel costs.
But this trend is causing friction. Overnight stays at public parking lots, including "Michi-no-Eki" roadside stations, are prohibited—they are meant for rest, not accommodation. The Japan RV Association reported 165,000 registered camper vans in 2024, and many stations now ban long-term parking.
For safe overnight parking, travelers are advised to use paid RV parks, campsites, or experimental services like designated areas at Lawson convenience store lots.
Aggregated by OpenVan.camp from the public sources listed below, with AI-assisted translation and summary. We always link to the original source. Machine translation may differ from the original -- check the source for important details. Images and content remain the property of their respective owners. Copyright information
Demand for motorhome rentals in Japan has doubled due to rising hotel prices, according to CarLife Japan. However, illegal overnight parking at rest a...
Demand for motorhome rentals in Japan has doubled due to rising hotel prices, according to CarLife Japan. However, illegal overnight parking at rest areas has also increased, prompting government warnings.
During Golden Week in Japan, more travelers are opting for car camping. Camper van rentals have doubled compared to last year. However, using public p...
During Golden Week in Japan, more travelers are opting for car camping. Camper van rentals have doubled compared to last year. However, using public parking areas for overnight stays is prohibited.
The popularity of overnight stays in vehicles and motorhome use is increasing in Japan, leading to conflicts at 'Michi-no-Eki' roadside stations. Acco...
The popularity of overnight stays in vehicles and motorhome use is increasing in Japan, leading to conflicts at 'Michi-no-Eki' roadside stations. According to a report by the Japan RV Association, 165,000 motorhomes were registered in the country in 2024. Many stations prohibit long-term parking or overnight stays as they are designed for rest, not accommodation. For safe overnight stays, it is recommended to use paid RV parks, campgrounds, or experimental services like dedicated parking areas at Lawson convenience stores.
Updated: 20.06.2026
Diesel
$0.95 /l
JPY152.74 · €0.83/l
16 of 132
cheaper than 89% of countries
Petrol
$1.02 /l
JPY164.25 · €0.89/l
26 of 134
cheaper than 81% of countries
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