Hakone: Ichinoyu resumes car sleeping plan for beginners

Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is strengthening measures against overloading of trailers and other special vehicles. Data shows 140,000–150,000 overload violations annually from 2021 to 2023, with about 5,000 out of 9,000 offending operators lacking permits. The ministry plans to revise regulations: issue warnings after a first violation for unlicensed vehicles, lower the threshold for administrative guidance from 20 violations in 3 months to 20 in 2 years, and facilitate criminal prosecution when road infrastructure is damaged.

Japanese company JP Star has introduced the Happy1 motorhome based on the Daihatsu Hijet. The vehicle is 3.78 meters long, 1.7 meters wide, and about 2.5 meters high. It includes a kitchen with sink, refrigerator, microwave, heating, and air conditioning. There are four berths: a main bed from a convertible dinette and an additional bed above the cab. No toilet or shower is installed; a portable chemical toilet and external shower are used. Prices in Japan range from €20,000 to €30,000 depending on trim.

BougeRV has introduced the F02, a rechargeable fan for RVs and caravans. It features a removable 72 Wh battery, LED display and light, delivers an airflow of 21.38 m³/h, and runs up to 8 hours on low speed.

In Japan, a Toyota HiAce owner installed an audio system with 5 amplifiers and a subwoofer, along with a foldable bed, in the cargo area. The project was completed at AV Kansai Sakai. The U-shaped frame serves as both a bed base and mounting platform for audio components. Acrylic panels and lighting were used for finishing.

The town of Nanbu announced plans to reopen the closed Fureai Hiroba Ryokusuiko auto campsite by the autumn peak season. The previous designated manager, Smile Cube, had its contract canceled. The municipality now intends to operate the site directly.

ALFLEX has announced a new variant of its popular ELEMENT series of camper vans. The model will debut on June 6, 2026 at the Kansai Camping Car Festival 2026 in Kobe, followed by a showing on June 13 at Motor Camp Expo 2026 in Osaka. Key features include a 1.7×1.6 m bunk bed, a pull-out kitchen with a two-burner stove and sink, and a modular system of trim and accessories that lets buyers choose colors and equipment. The MOBIFRAME seats meet international safety standards, include ISOFIX child seat anchors, and convert into a bed in about 20 seconds.