Camper vans gain popularity for city trips and events in Japan

NTB opened a permanent camper exhibition at the Lots INOUTDOOR complex in Tokyo on June 26, 2026. The display includes models co-created with a well-known YouTuber. The new venue aims to attract outdoor enthusiasts.

Amakazari Kogen Campground in Nagano Prefecture, located within Myoko-Togakushi Renzan National Park, will host a three-day event from July 18 to 20, 2026, celebrating its 30th anniversary. The program includes a campfire lecture by master Masaya Ino, a guided climb of Mount Amakazari, a woodworking workshop, and bingo. The site also serves as a local emergency response hub.

Beverly Glamping opened in Kakegawa, Shizuoka Prefecture, on July 4, 2024. Guests stay in authentic American travel trailers from the 1950s–1960s, still bearing California license plates. The site features a whole-meat barbecue and a Western-style cafe-bar under construction, all designed by a former Los Angeles-based auto interior specialist.

The German motorhome Carthago chic e-line I 61 XL LE was showcased at the Japan Camping Car Show 2025. The vehicle measures 8.8 m in length, 3.1 m in height, and weighs over 4 tons. It is based on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, featuring a 2.0-liter diesel turbo engine and a 9-speed automatic transmission. The price in Japan is 46.1 million yen (approximately $310,000).

YouTuber Tatsuo traveled from Chiba Prefecture to Tsushima Island (Nagasaki Prefecture) in a self-built camper based on a kei truck. The total journey took 42 hours and covered 1108 km. The route included two ferries: a 21-hour crossing from Yokosuka to Shinmoji (cost with vehicle: 43,000 yen) and a 5-hour ferry from Hakata to Tsushima. The video highlights ferry amenities (karaoke, bathhouse, laundry) and an overnight stay in the camper at a service area.

Okinawa Electric Group, KTX, and Park Homes Okinawa have jointly developed a caravan designed for remote islands. The structure is built to withstand typhoons and can serve as temporary housing or infrastructure during disasters.