Carstay Projects Record-High Reservations for Campervans and Overnight Parking Spots During Golden Week

Carstay Inc. (Headquarters: Yokohama, Kanagawa; CEO: Koki Miyashita), a leading Japanese van-life platform operator providing campervan sharing, overnight parking spot booking, and vehicle manufacturing/renovation services, announced today that reservations for its campervan sharing and overnight parking services during the Golden Week period (April 25–May 6) have reached approximately 120 bookings, with a Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) of about 7 million yen. Both figures represent 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 previous year's figures.

Additionally, reservations and GMV for the summer holiday period (up to nine consecutive days from August 8–16) are already trending at double the levels seen last year.

This growth is driven by rising demand for domestic travel, fueled by the recent surge in domestic 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 the previous year's level. This is attributed to a desire among pet owners to spend time in the same space as their dogs without the use of enclosures, whereas traditional accommodations often impose restrictions on pets. Consequently, Carstay, which offers a wide range of pet-friendly vehicles, is seeing increased utilization.

Unlike traditional hotel stays, campervans offer a cost-effective travel solution that integrates transportation and lodging. They are gaining popularity among families, couples, and pet owners for their ability to keep costs down while providing a free, extraordinary, and immersive travel experience.

Furthermore, as the domestic supply of base vehicles for campervans remains constrained and interest in foreign-made vehicles grows, rising prices are making ownership more difficult. With domestic campervan production trending downward, demand for campervan sharing and rentals is expanding. Against this backdrop, Carstay—which boasts one of the largest fleets in Japan with a diverse range of models from compact to large—is seeing a steady increase in service usage.