September car camping: Why I don't switch gear all at once

In Taketa, Oita Prefecture, Grand Park Nagayu RV Park offers overnight parking for motorhomes with a 24-hour free-flowing bicarbonate spring. The rate is 3000 yen per pitch for up to four adults, plus a 1000 yen per-person facility fee. Paid sauna and indoor camping spaces are also available. Nearby, the Kua Park Nagayu thermal facility, designed by architect Shigeru Ban, provides bicarbonate spring baths and does not supply chemical detergents or shampoo to maximise the water's effects.

Ogusho has unveiled the ES Tough Spec Concept based on the Nissan Caravan. The vehicle features bolt-on interior components that can be installed by the owner without modifying the body. It uses high-durability Cordura materials for seat covers, bed mats and the center console. The layout allows carrying a 125cc motorcycle while maintaining a sleeping area. The bed mat height is set at 42 cm, with a three-section left mat and a fold-up right bed. The model is designed for both daily use and outdoor leisure.

The Japan RV Association has certified a park in Mie Prefecture for overnight stays in vehicles. Iseji Auto Camp & RV Park provides 24-hour toilets and power supply, with hot springs nearby. Such sites are presented as a solution to safety concerns associated with sleeping in cars.

The article presents three mattresses for car camping, selected by an author with over 15 years of experience. They include the Cainz "5-layer long floor cushion resistant to sagging" priced at 3980 yen (tax included), the OnlyStyle "Car camping exclusive mattress" with an inflator system that self-inflates and allows firmness adjustment, and the Futon Factory "Car camping exclusive shikibuton (flat)" made by the long-established bedding manufacturer Shikoku Sen'i Hanbai in Kagawa Prefecture, available in widths from 60 to 170 cm. The publication aims to help choose a mattress matching a specific vehicle sleeping setup.

The ROAM RV-LIFE FEST 2026 will take place on October 24–25 at Tsumagoi Resort in Kakegawa, Shizuoka Prefecture, from 10:00 to 16:00. The event will feature an exhibition of motorhomes and other recreational vehicles, outdoor equipment, pet products and a food area. After 16:00, the main area will be reserved for registered camping and overnight vehicle participants. The FIELD SAUNA VILLAGE in Tsumagoi, organised with the Shizuoka Sauna Association, will include a bus sauna, barrel sauna, containers and tents; use requires advance reservation and costs ¥4,000, separate from the festival ticket. Advance tickets cost ¥1,000, while on-site admission is ¥1,100; children of elementary school age and younger enter free. The festival will proceed in rain but may be cancelled in severe weather. Dog owners must check rules in advance, including compliance with rabies vaccination and infectious disease prevention requirements; organisers may request proof of vaccination or antibody tests.

Japanese convenience store chain Lawson is expanding its RV Park programme, which allows overnight stays in vehicles at store parking lots. On 9 October 2026, the service will launch for the first time in Gifu Prefecture (4 stores) and Mie Prefecture (5 stores), bringing the total to 37 locations. Further openings are planned for late October in Oita, Saga and Nagasaki, and in November in Tokyo, Kanagawa, Kagawa, Tokushima, Ehime, Kochi and Miyagi. The company aims to operate around 70 such sites by the end of fiscal 2026. A pitch costs between 2500 and 3000 yen per night, with check-in from 15:00 to 22:00 and check-out by 10:00 the next day. Each booking includes two parking spaces, a loan of an electric cable reel and free disposal of one bag of food waste.