Xiaomi enters the camper market with the SkyNomad brand · VanLife Weekly #28
Xiaomi launches the SkyNomad brand and enters the camper market. Plus new models at the Tokyo Camping Car Show and 80% of Turkey's caravan makers closing.
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Town · Saitama Prefecture, Japan
VanSky index for Ogawamachi, Japan — 38 out of 100 (Challenging). Decide in seconds: temperature, precipitation, wind and solar output. Data refreshed several times a day from real weather observations.
The main score is weekly (7-day average). The “Today” toggle shows the current day, and the region page compares cities “by area”.
Ogawamachi, Japan — VanSky 38 out of 100. Difficult — consider alternatives. Ranked #533 of 1486 cities in the country (as of 16 July 2026). Temperature 31°C, wind 8 km/h. Solar panels yield 1.9 kWh/day at 400 W — enough for full autonomy.
A weather comfort index for travel: a 0–100 score. Recalculated daily from live weather data — temperature, rainfall, wind and sun.
How it's calculated:
Data: Open-Meteo · Updated several times a day
Ogawamachi ranks 1281 of 1486 cities. Country average VanSky — 32.
Updated: 11.07.2026
Regular
$1.03 /l
JPY166.21 · €0.90/l
30 of 133
cheaper than 78% of countries
High-octane
$1.09 /l
JPY176.46 · €0.95/l
15 of 92
cheaper than 85% of countries
軽油
$0.96 /l
JPY155.14 · €0.84/l
21 of 134
cheaper than 85% of countries
The owner of the trailer music bar 'La Peña' (Spanish for 'club') announced a relocation due to the inability to continue operations at the current site after late autumn 2026. The move requires 500,000 yen for trailer transport, 1,200,000 yen for water supply work at two locations, and 300,000 yen for land lease. After relocation, the bar plans to extend opening hours and rent out the space as a daytime rental.
Hairdresser Mika launched a crowdfunding campaign for a trip around Japan in a mini motorhome with her cat Ten-chan. The goal is to raise 10 million yen for vehicle purchase, equipment (car air conditioner, portable power supply) and contingencies. During the trip, she plans to provide haircut services on-site, after obtaining permits from local health authorities. The start is scheduled for November-December 2026.
The town of Hokuei has installed a multi-purpose cottage at the Hojo Auto Campground in Kunisaka, which can be used as temporary housing during disasters. The structure is a relocatable mobile building (container house) and was unveiled to stakeholders on the 14th. It is set to open on the 17th.
Starting July 15, 2026, JAPAN C.R.C. offers a 5% discount on RV-Park.jp bookings for camper renters and a 30% discount on Happy1 Premium kei camper rentals.
Lawson has started renting out parking spaces at its stores for overnight camper stays at 2,500 yen per night. Following a pilot in Chiba Prefecture, the service is expanding to about 70 locations in the Tokyo metropolitan area and tourist destinations like Saitama, Shizuoka, and Kanagawa. Each spot covers two parking bays, with 24-hour restroom access and garbage collection included. Idling is prohibited, making it uncomfortable for non-electric vehicles in extreme temperatures.
A review of 14 fans designed for sleeping in a car has been published. Models powered by battery, USB, and cigarette lighter socket are covered. Selection criteria include power type, mounting method, noise level (recommended ≤30 dB), and battery capacity (e.g., 4000 mAh provides 6–8 hours on low speed). Tips are given for combining a fan with sunshades, window opening, and cooling packs to improve effectiveness.
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