Hakone's Ichinoyu revives car-sleeping plan for beginners

The Ehime Camping Car Fair 2026 will take place at the Emifull MASAKI shopping center in Masaki, Iyo District, Ehime Prefecture, on September 26–27, 2026. Organized by Aisin Jidosha, a dealer of new camping cars in Ehime Prefecture, this is the fourth edition of the event. Various types of camping cars will be on display, from light campers to full-size cab-over and van conversions. Okay Motors from Kagawa Prefecture and Camping Car Hiroshima from Hiroshima Prefecture are also scheduled to participate. Visitors will be able to see the vehicles in person; ready-to-deliver models and gifts upon contract signing will be offered.

Japanese company Nuts RV has unveiled the compact Toyota Camroad Aletta Evolution Type X motorhome based on a Toyota Camroad truck chassis. Measuring 4.85 metres long, about 2 metres wide and 2.8 metres high, it accommodates up to six passengers and provides five berths, including a transformable alcove bed of approximately 180×180 cm. The living area features two opposing benches with a mobile table, a kitchen unit with a 70-litre fridge, a sink and a microwave, plus a transverse bed of about 126×180 cm. The base version has rear-wheel drive, a 132 hp petrol engine and an automatic transmission. Pricing starts from 10.05 million yen or 5.3 million Russian rubles.

In autumn 2022, the author visited four campsites in Okayama, Hyogo and Tottori prefectures. In Okayama, these were Nishiyama Kogen Campground at 450 m elevation and Takebe no Mori Park Auto Campground, in Hyogo — MOUNT LAKE on Awaji Island, in Tottori — Hojo Auto Campground, open year-round with no regular holidays. The latter offers electric hookups and water taps at every site, and visitors receive an original sticker. The trips were made in a Mitsubishi Delica D:5.

On the first day of Silver Week, the author and their partner set up a DOD tarp and tent at the Chinaihama Auto Campground in Takashima, Shiga Prefecture, on the shore of Lake Biwa. They secured a site in the middle of Kitahama, adjusting the tarp after finding it too close to the neighboring plot. After multiple attempts, they pitched the tent, struggled with the high poles, and finally laid out the inner sheet and inflatable mat. The author noted it was their first camping experience and suggested visiting once a month.

A family undertook their first Hokkaido trip by car with overnight stays, skipping difficult mountain climbs due to restrictions. The route started at Otaru port after a ferry from Niigata and ended in Wakkanai, where they arrived in time for sunset at Cape Noshappu. They stayed overnight at Wakkanai Nature Park parking, which lacks mobile signal and has dark toilets, according to the account.

Ogusho has introduced a model based on the Nissan Caravan Grand Premium GX featuring a 60% matte black paint finish that provides a semi-gloss surface. The vehicle includes a dark brown woodgrain interior, a convertible bed system, herringbone-pattern flooring, and Ohlins DFV shock absorbers. The five-seat layout is retained.