Carstay Projects Record-High Golden Week Reservations for Campervans and Overnight Parking Spots
Carstay's Golden Week reservations are up 1.5 times year-over-year, reaching record highs driven by increasing domestic travel demand.
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- 📰 Published: March 28, 2026 at 16:44
- 🔍 Collected: March 28, 2026 at 21:59 (5h 14m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 15, 2026 at 07:48 (417h 49m after Collected)
Carstay Inc. (Headquarters: Yokohama, Kanagawa; CEO: Koki Miyashita), a leading platform for van-life services including campervan sharing, overnight parking, and vehicle manufacturing/renovation, announces that reservations for its campervan sharing and overnight parking services during the Golden Week period (April 25 to May 6) have reached approximately 120 bookings as of today. The Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) is approximately 7 million yen, both representing a 1.5-fold increase compared to the same period last year, marking a record high. By the end of the period (May 6), the company expects to reach approximately 690 bookings and a GMV of 22 million yen, which would be 1.5 to 2 times the figures from the previous year.
Furthermore, reservations and GMV for the summer holiday period (up to nine consecutive days from August 8 to 16) are already trending at double the level of last year.
This growth is driven by rising domestic travel demand, fueled by soaring accommodation costs, increased travel expenses due to the weak yen and rising fuel prices, and a general trend of avoiding overseas travel due to international instability.
Notably, this year's Golden Week has seen a significant increase in campervan usage with pets, which has risen to approximately 2.5 times that of last year. This is attributed to a desire among pet owners to spend time with their dogs in the same space without restrictions, whereas traditional accommodations often impose limitations on pets. Consequently, usage of Carstay, which offers a wide selection of pet-friendly vehicles, is increasing.
Unlike traditional hotel stays, campervans offer a cost-effective travel solution that combines transportation and lodging. They are gaining popularity among families, couples, and pet owners for their ability to keep costs down while providing a free and unique travel experience.
Additionally, with a persistent shortage of base vehicles for campervans in Japan and rising prices making ownership more difficult, domestic production is on a downward trend. This has led to an expansion in demand for campervan sharing and rentals. Against this backdrop, Carstay, which boasts one of the largest fleets in the country with a wide range of vehicle sizes, is seeing increased service utilization.