20 gear items for combined car camping and tent camping

Japanese couple Komusume and Ruipachi travel around Japan in a converted Toyota HiAce and run the YouTube channel "Vanlife Crazy" with over 230,000 subscribers. They met when Komusume was 7 years old: Ruipachi had previously dated her older sister, and they reconnected years later via Instagram. The couple left their apartment to live in a van after Ruipachi experienced a life-threatening illness at age 30. The vehicle was bought for just under 3 million yen, with about 1 million yen spent on DIY upgrades (battery, kitchen, bed); monthly living costs for two are 150,000–200,000 yen.

The Fukuoka Camping Car Show 2026 will take place on November 14 and 15 at Marine Messe Fukuoka (Hakata Ward, Fukuoka City). This year the event is expanded to use Hall A (8,000 sq m) and Hall B (5,000 sq m), with over 180 vehicles on display, including the latest motorhomes and caravans; used models will be shown in an outdoor area. Under the theme “Creating New Camping Car Users,” children’s attractions and food corners have been moved indoors so families can enjoy the event regardless of weather. Admission: adults (high school and above) 800 yen in advance, 1,000 yen for same-day electronic tickets, 1,200 yen for same-day paper tickets; junior high school students and younger free, and free for one companion with a disability certificate holder. There are also benefits for Kuruma Tabi Club members. Opening hours are 10:00–17:00 on both days.

Direct Cars is preparing to show the new DN-75 camper based on the Toyota Camroad at the Yokohama Camping Car Show 2026. The premiere will take place on September 26, with sales in Japan starting immediately after. The motorhome measures 4860 mm long, 1870 mm wide and 2760 mm high. Equipment includes a 3.0-litre diesel engine, all-wheel drive, a 400 Ah lithium-ion battery, air conditioning, a 32-inch TV, two refrigerators, a gas stove and a sink. Pricing starts at 13.98 million yen.

Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) does not set a nationwide time limit for resting in a vehicle at roadside stations (michi-no-eki). The ministry permits short naps for driver fatigue but advises against overnight stays in public spaces. Specific rules are left to each station's management. In July 2025, KOKO Kurobe station in Toyama Prefecture prohibited long stays and overnight use, yet by October 2025, incidents of barbecuing, overnight parking, and littering were reported, prompting complaints. The Japan RV Association urges minimal rest and discourages camping behavior. For organized stays, the number of certified RV Park facilities reached 686 nationwide as of late August 2026.

RV Park BEACH FRONT SAKAI has opened in Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture, providing paid overnight parking for motorhomes and camper vans. The rate starts at 1,500 yen per vehicle per night, with a total capacity of 7 sites. The facility offers 24-hour toilets, paid 100V power, free non-potable well water, and paid waste disposal. A hot spring, Sakai Onsen Yumotokan, is within walking distance. Reservations can be made by phone or online up to two days before arrival.

The first NATURE BEAT JAM 2026 in F VILLAGE will take place on September 26–27, 2026, in Kitahiroshima, Hokkaido. The event will feature 11 brands, including Subaru, Nissan Prince Sapporo, Netz Toyota Sapporo, Renault Sapporo, and manufacturers of campers and trailers. A one-day ticket costs 900 yen in advance or 1,100 yen on the day, free for elementary school children and younger, with parking at 1,000 yen.