A sharp rise in hotel accommodation costs in Japan has boosted demand for night trains and camper rentals, which combine transport and lodging. According to Nippon TV, JR West offers the night train West Express Ginga from Kyoto to Shingu for 8670 yen for a 12-hour trip. JR East is developing a new night route Shinagawa–Aomori lasting 12.5–15 hours, and JR Central plans a special night Shinkansen on the Tokyo–Shin-Osaka section.
The average price of a double room in central Tokyo has risen 70% in seven years. Renting a camper for 24 hours for four people costs about 38,000 yen, making it an affordable alternative. One camper rental company reported a 3.3-fold increase in bookings compared to last year.