Report a problem

What is the problem?

Could not attach a screenshot — send without it

Filters

60-Year-Old Japanese Man Spent ¥3 Million on a Campervan, but His Dream Trip Lasted Only a Week

27.04.2026 15:48 1 min 1 source РУС
ec.ltn.com.tw ENG
60-Year-Old Japanese Man Spent ¥3 Million on a Campervan, but His Dream Trip Lasted Only a Week
Original source: 自由時報電子報

A 60-year-old Japanese man spent ¥3 million (about $20,000) converting a van into a camper for a retirement road trip across Japan. However, due to back pain, cold nights, and noise, he ended the journey after just one week and three prefectures. The story highlights the gap between idealized vanlife and the physical realities of aging.

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

Story sources

60-Year-Old Japanese Man Spent ¥3 Million on a Campervan, but His Dream Trip Lasted Only a Week

27.04.2026 ec.ltn.com.tw ENG Original source

JP Japan — fuel prices

Updated: 05.09.2026

Regular

$1.10 /l

JPY169.02 · €0.95/l

40 of 167

cheaper than 77% of countries

High-octane

$1.17 /l

JPY179.77 · €1.01/l

19 of 102

cheaper than 82% of countries

Diesel

$1.03 /l

JPY157.83 · €0.88/l

24 of 166

cheaper than 86% of countries

Popular route

Distance

Fuel cost

~

Est. time

~

Visas and vehicle on this route

Working out the rules for this route…

No passport set — showing the common ones. Tap yours to count by it alone.

Count the days by trip dates

Reference data, not legal advice. Rules change without notice — check with the consulate or at the border.

Quiz: test yourself
Guess the vanlife lingo — 3 quick questions
1 / 3
Q1 When is a hardstanding pitch especially useful?

Best regions in the coming days

Hokkaidō +21°·30 km/h
92
Aomori Prefecture +22°·27 km/h
86
Iwate Prefecture +23°·31 km/h
83
Akita Prefecture +22°·23 km/h
83
Nagano Prefecture +21°·24 km/h
80
Avoid now
Okinawa Prefecture +30°·23 km/h
40
Kagoshima Prefecture +28°·19 km/h
51

You May Be Interested

All News
JP Japan 4

A Japanese couple in their 50s, who left corporate careers after failed fertility treatment, have been traveling in a Toyota HiAce since 2023. Pressure over views and subscribers turned their relationship from marital to 'boss-subordinate,' causing frequent arguments.

CN China

Motorhome and caravan living is gaining popularity in China as a practical solution to high urban rents and long commutes, while also enabling flexible travel. Domestic sales of self-propelled RVs reached 9,803 units in Q3 2025, a 6.7% year-on-year increase, with new energy vehicle sales surging 234%. The trend reflects a shift towards mobile lifestyles, though users must manage practical challenges like limited utilities and space.

News from Japan

All News
JP Japan

Blaze's Next Camper conversion kit for kei vans has been adopted as a gift for Nagoya's hometown tax donation program. The announcement was made on August 31, ahead of Disaster Prevention Day on September 1. The kit includes a 2000W inverter, sub-battery, four AC100V outlets and USB ports. Kit prices are 3.1 million yen for Premium, 2.7 million yen for Limited and 1.9 million yen for Active; the vehicle itself is not included. Supported vehicles include Suzuki Every Van, Daihatsu Hijet Cargo and Atrai, plus OEM models Toyota Pixis Van, Nissan Clipper Van and Subaru Sambar Van; the 5-number Atrai is excluded.

The latest episode of the "Camping Car Mania" series features a 2021 Mercedes-Benz V-Class Marco Polo. The vehicle has a pop-up roof with a sleeping area and a kitchen, while its overall height is about 2 meters, making it suitable for everyday parking. The owner from Kanagawa Prefecture previously used a Toyota FJ Cruiser for seven years and switched to the Marco Polo for family trips.

Annex RV has unveiled the Liberty 52SPi motorhome based on a Toyota Camroad chassis. It measures 5.20 m long, 2.07 m wide and 2.88 m high. It can carry eight people and sleep five. Power comes from a 3.0-litre 144 hp diesel with automatic transmission and optional all-wheel drive. The interior includes a kitchen with two gas burners, sink and 85-litre fridge, a bathroom with shower and cassette toilet, and underfloor heating. Electrical equipment comprises up to 9.6 kWh batteries, a 3,000 W inverter and 420 W solar panels. In Japan, prices start at 15.96 million yen (around 89,000 euros).

Suggest news or event

Sent to "Submissions" for moderation

All suggestions go through automated checks and moderation. We publish excerpts and a link to the original source. By submitting you agree to Copyright Holders, Terms, Privacy Policy and Cookies.

Install OpenVan.camp

Get quick access and offline reading.

→ Glossary