The exact origin of the Japanese term 'sha-chu-haku' (sleeping in a car) is unknown, with Wikipedia stating 'first appearance unknown'. As of September 2026, Japan has 1,234 'Michi-no-Eki' roadside rest areas, where the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism permits only short naps, not overnight stays. The number of paid 'RV Park' sites certified by the Japan RV Association grew from over 500 at the end of June 2025 to 676 by the end of July 2026; requirements include a 4x7 m parking space, 24-hour toilet, 100V power, and a bathing facility within 15 minutes by car. The association, founded in March 1994, has dispatched campers to disaster areas since 2011; after the January 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake, about 60 vehicles were sent to Ishikawa Prefecture, leading to the recognition of campers as 'disaster response vehicles' and the signing of the first agreement between a ministry and the association in November 2024 to provide campers during disasters.
