Lawson expands RV parks for overnight stays in vehicles

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 couple Komusume and Ruipachi travel around Japan in a converted Toyota HiAce and run the YouTube channel "Vanlife Crazy" with over 230,000 subscribers. They met when Komusume was 7 years old: Ruipachi had previously dated her older sister, and they reconnected years later via Instagram. The couple left their apartment to live in a van after Ruipachi experienced a life-threatening illness at age 30. The vehicle was bought for just under 3 million yen, with about 1 million yen spent on DIY upgrades (battery, kitchen, bed); monthly living costs for two are 150,000–200,000 yen.

Two people completed an 11-day trip across the Kyushu and Shikoku regions with overnight stays in their vehicle and published the actual expenses. The trip included both car camping and stays at hotels and ryokan, as well as fishing, local cuisine, and souvenir purchases. The article also notes that parking without a no-parking sign can still be a violation, with fines of 15,000 yen in some cases.

Suzuki has introduced the J Limited version based on the Every JOIN Turbo, a kei van measuring 3.395 m long that can be fitted with a sleeping area for two. In Japan, it is priced at 1,978,900 yen (about €11,000) with 2WD and 2,132,900 yen (about €11,800) with 4WD; an optional two-level bed kit costs around 196,000 yen (approximately €1,100). The model features a 658 cc turbocharged engine producing 64 hp and 95 Nm, a CVT, and an optional part-time 4WD system with 2WD, 4WD AUTO and 4WD LOCK modes. WLTC fuel consumption is 15.1 l/100 km. The model is not officially sold in Spain; importing one would require shipping, customs, taxes and homologation, significantly increasing the final cost.