Camper Roundup: From Minivan to Electric Tricycle

The Nakatorya Music Festival, an acoustic music event, will take place on September 26, 2026, at the Nakatorya Campground on the shores of Lake Toya in Sobetsu, Hokkaido. Performers include Takeshi Nariyama (sleepy.ab), the band ueru, Riku Nakanishi, the Sobetsu Junior High School brass band, and singer-songwriters from Hakodate. Every ticket includes admission to the campground's natural hot spring. Children under 12 enter free, and each ticket covers one parking space. Doors open at 9:00, performances run from 12:00 to 18:00.

Convenience store chain Lawson has launched an overnight parking service for campervans at its stores in Saitama Prefecture since July. The service costs 2,500–3,000 yen per night and includes access to electricity. An Asahi Shimbun reporter tested the service and highlighted the sense of security provided by 24-hour operation and restroom availability.

Nobeoka City in Miyazaki Prefecture, which anticipates large-scale disasters such as the Nankai Trough megathrust earthquake, has been selected for a national pilot project to establish a safe system for 'car sleeping' evacuation. On August 28, one month after the Kumamoto earthquake, more than 2,000 people remain in shelters, while others continue to live in their vehicles. At the first meeting on August 24, advisor Yamazaki Mikio from Sansui Disaster Prevention Research Institute noted that car sleeping offers privacy but carries a risk of economy-class syndrome, and recommended dividing parking lots into dedicated and general areas, with spaces between vehicles to prevent infection and ensure privacy, while considering the needs of single women, pet owners, and those requiring assistance. The city plans to hold about three meetings by February next year, create a manual for selecting model evacuation sites and operational methods, and conduct practical drills and public lectures.

The OUTFIELD BREEZE BOX (PA-F85A) portable air conditioner, priced at 59,800 yen, was tested in a camper van based on the Toyota Town Ace. Over two hours, the interior temperature dropped from 31°C to 24.6°C with an outside temperature of 26.6°C, while humidity rose from 45% to 53%. The unit consumes 180–200 W; after two hours, a 1000 Wh portable power station retained 69% charge. Limitations include heat radiation near the unit and reduced efficiency in a hot vehicle; pre-cooling and ventilation are recommended.

A month after the magnitude-7 earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture, authorities say they still cannot fully assess the situation of evacuees living in their vehicles. Some municipalities have set up dedicated parking areas for car camping, but the exact number of people staying outside official shelters remains unclear. Building a support system for these 'invisible evacuees' continues to be a challenge.

Motor Fan magazine tested the Breeze Box portable air conditioner, priced at 59,800 yen, in a Toyota Town Ace-based camper conversion. During the test, the interior temperature dropped from 31.0°C to 24.6°C, while humidity rose from 45% to 53%. After two hours of use, a 1000Wh portable power station retained 69% charge.