Germany checks motorhomes on A31 and A30 · VanLife Weekly #29
On 27 July Germany checks motorhomes and trailers on the A31 and A30. Also: a diesel tax in Finland has left motorhomes parked up for most of the year.
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Urban district · Tokyo, Japan
VanSky index for Sasazuka, Japan — 33 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”.
Sasazuka, Japan — VanSky 33 out of 100. Difficult — consider alternatives. Ranked #990 of 1486 cities in the country (as of 26 July 2026). Temperature 34°C, wind 14 km/h. Solar panels yield 2.1 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
Sasazuka ranks 1014 of 1486 cities. Country average VanSky — 39.
Updated: 25.07.2026
Regular
$1.03 /l
JPY169.21 · €0.91/l
28 of 140
cheaper than 81% of countries
High-octane
$1.07 /l
JPY175.40 · €0.94/l
12 of 94
cheaper than 88% of countries
軽油
$0.93 /l
JPY152.96 · €0.82/l
19 of 141
cheaper than 87% of countries
Japanese company Camper Atsugi has introduced the Grand Puppy Atlas SG camper based on the Nissan Atlas truck. The rear-wheel-drive version costs about $78,700, while the all-wheel-drive version is $81,800. The vehicle is 4,970 mm long and 1,740 mm wide. The interior offers seven seats and six berths: a lower bed measuring 1,830x1,640 mm for three people and an overhead sleeping area 1,900 mm long. At the rear, there is a kitchen unit with a sink, a 65-litre refrigerator, and storage compartments. Standard equipment includes three auxiliary batteries, an independent heater, air conditioning, an inverter, and a charging system while driving. The vehicle is powered by a 1.9-litre turbo diesel engine with a six-speed automatic transmission, available in rear-wheel drive or part-time all-wheel drive. The all-wheel-drive option costs about $3,100.
Aomori City will conduct a pilot program allowing overnight vehicle parking at Aomori Ekimae Beach from August 1 to 7 to alleviate accommodation shortages during the Nebuta Festival. Up to five vehicles per night can park at rates ranging from 35,000 to 70,000 yen per night depending on fireworks displays. The program is organized by local comedian Masunobu Ono and construction company Shida Umi. Each vehicle can accommodate up to four people, with access to toilets and power. Participants will be surveyed to consider establishing a permanent overnight parking site.
Lawson, a Japanese convenience store chain, has introduced an overnight parking service at select locations. The fee is 2,500–3,000 yen per night, including electricity, restroom access, and trash bags. About 80% of users are retired couples aged 50 and above, and 30% bring pets. Cooking and tent setup are prohibited, which has prevented complaints from residents.
In Japan, convenience store parking lots are emerging as new spots for 'chabak' (car camping). 80% of users are retired couples aged 50 and over, choosing free overnight stays instead of hotels. Observers are watching whether this trend will spread to South Korea.
Japanese company MYS Mystic has introduced the second-generation compact motorhome Registro Owl, based on the Toyota TownAce Van. The vehicle measures 4700 mm in length, 1920 mm in width, and 2700 mm in height, with interior height increased by 150 mm to 1920 mm. It is powered by a 1.5-liter petrol engine with a 4-speed automatic transmission, available in rear-wheel or four-wheel drive. The Registro Owl II seats six and sleeps five, with a starting price of 5.88 million yen in Japan. Standard equipment includes a microwave, a 49-liter refrigerator, and 100 V and 12 V outlets. Optional features include a roof-mounted air conditioner and a sodium-ion traction battery.
On July 24, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department appointed two members of the idol group 'Nearly Equal Joy' — Ayumi Ichihara and Reone Ezumi — as cybersecurity ambassadors. An event was held in Tokyo to raise awareness about preventing cybercrime.
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