Japan sees surge in popularity of trailer hotels

Recvee has announced the presentation of a motorhome based on the Nissan Caravan minivan, scheduled for July at the Tokyo camper show. The vehicle accommodates six passengers and four sleeping berths, with a width increased to 1880 mm. The company will offer around 270 layout and interior configurations, along with three trim levels featuring equipment such as a refrigerator, solar panels, and air conditioning. Technical specifications likely include a 2.0-liter turbodiesel engine; pricing has not been disclosed.

The Korean electric van Kia PV5 in Passenger and Cargo versions will be showcased on June 27–28 at Minamimachida Grandberry Park. Built on a PBV platform with a low floor and modular design, the PV5 won the International Van of the Year 2026 award, and the Cargo variant set a Guinness record for range (693.38 km on a single charge with full payload). In Q1 2026, 8,113 units were sold globally, capturing 9% of the European light commercial EV segment.

JR East announced a one-time run of the special train 'Tokai Lumiere Express' on the Tokyo–Osaka route. Departure on August 8 at 10:00 PM, arrival on August 9. The train stops at Gifu-Hashima station from midnight to 6:00 AM, allowing passengers to stay onboard. Ticket price is 15,000 yen per person. Tickets are sold exclusively via the JR East Tours website starting July 3.

Japanese coachbuilder RecVee has unveiled the Plus LIV'N Wide motorhome based on the Nissan Caravan Wide Body. The body width is increased to 1880 mm (from 1695 mm on the previous version), overall length is 5230 mm. The new model features a bunk bed, allowing transport of up to 6 people and sleeping 4. A total of 270 combinations of layouts, trims, and equipment packages are available. The public debut will take place on July 11–12 at the Tokyo Camping Car Show 2026 at Tokyo Big Sight. Pricing will be announced at the show.

INNO has introduced the Low Down Rack roof rack for the Nissan Caravan (E26), keeping total vehicle height under 2.1 m and allowing access to multi-story parking lots

The author, who does car photography and night shooting, tested two types of mosquito coils and a combined sunscreen and insect repellent stick. The testing took place during camping and night photography in Japan. Both coils were effective, with choice depending on scent preference. The combined stick was convenient and non-greasy.