Explore Tokachi's nature spots by campervan

There is a different way to see Japan, not from bullet trains or ryokans, but in a campervan, winding past mountains, lakes and reliable michi-noeki roadside stops.

- Stephanie Zheng

In the last six years, campervan travel has been on the rise across Japan, driven by travellers seeking slower, more flexible ways to explore the countryside.

The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated the shift, as domestic and international visitors turned to self-contained travel and a growing network of recreational vehicle (RV) parks, rest stops and designated camping facilities that now make Japan one of Asia's more campervan-friendly destinations.

The numbers bear this out. Japan's RV market is projected to grow at a compound annual rate of 7.6 per cent to reach US$698 million (S$901 million) by 2030, according to US-based market research firm Grand View Research.

Japan's compact van conversion segment the type most popular with short-term visitors - grew by more than 55 per cent between 2023 and 2025, according to industry analysts.

Regions such as Kamishihoro Town in central Hokkaido are taking that momentum further.

The town is developing the Tokachi Golden Trekking Route, a circuit launched in November 2025, designed to draw visitors to its nature spots on campervan journeys around the Tokachi subprefecture of Hokkaido.

The circuit is so new, there is minimal information available online, and is part of a broader push Town, located by rural towns to decentralise tourism and draw visitors beyond the usual hot spots.

Kamishihoro around three to four hours by road from Hokkaido's capital Sapporo, was known for agriculture in the early to mid-20th century, and is today positioning itself as a vanlife base.

It is a convenient start to the Tokachi Golden Trekking Route which connects Lake Shikaribetsu, Mount Hakuunzan, Naitai Highland Farm, the Higashi Daisetsu Nature Center and seasonal landmarks such as the Taushubetsu Bridge, all accessible by road with campervan parks and rest stops along the way.