Dream Drive NICO: camper van with permanent double bed based on Nissan Caravan

DRIMO magazine has published a selection of six roadside stations (michi-no-eki) in northern Hokkaido where overnight stays in vehicles are permitted. The stations are located in Sarufutsu, Nakatonbetsu, Shosanbetsu, Tomamae, and Bifuka. All facilities have public baths, parking, and 24-hour restrooms. Bath fees range from 150 to 450 yen. Overnight parking is allowed only for short rest periods; open flames and setting up tables or chairs are prohibited.

Tsushima City in Nagasaki Prefecture has completed a new management building for the campground at Aso Bay Park. The previous building, in use since 1994, had deteriorated, prompting the construction of a new two-story wooden structure with a total floor area of about 475 square meters. It includes heated shower rooms, sinks with hot water, a laundry room, and a multipurpose room. The project cost about 350 million yen. The campground, located on Aso Bay, offers 12 drive-in sites and 8 free tent sites. It attracts around 1,500 visitors annually, including international tourists.

A nine-space RV park, JUBILATIONS×Agro Garden Kobe, will open on September 4 on the rooftop of the Agro Garden Kobe Komagabayashi commercial facility in Nagata Ward, Kobe. Reservations opened on August 27. The fee is 4,400 yen per space per night, including tax, with stays up to six nights and seven days. All spaces have power outlets, and facilities include toilets, an outdoor sink, and waste disposal. The site also features a natural hot spring and a pet hotel, making it a convenient base for urban road trips.

RV Park Nakagawa Green Hill is located in Nakagawa Town, Tochigi Prefecture, within Yachio Prefectural Natural Park, offering 11 parking spaces for motorhomes. The fee is from 3,000 yen per night, with amenities including 24-hour toilets, 100V power, water, and waste disposal. The park is near Bato hot spring area and provides panoramic views of the Nakagawa River and Nasu Highlands. It operates year-round except for the New Year holidays.

In December 2025, the RV park Takinomiya opened in Mori, Shizuoka Prefecture, on the grounds of the Okuni Shrine. The park has 38 sites, divided into large (7.8×11 m) and small (7.8×6 m), with fees from 6,000 to 7,000 yen per night. Payment is online or via QR code, as the park is unattended. The same operator also runs the Enshu Mori RV Park, with sites from 3,000 to 5,000 yen.

One month after the Kumamoto earthquake of magnitude 7, 2,442 people remain in shelters, not counting those living in cars. Experts warn that without fuel a car becomes dangerous and advise stocking water, food, and communication tools.