Michi-no-Eki Transforms from 'Rest Stop' to 'Stay'. Kyushu's First Car Overnight Parking Zone Built from the Ground Up: 'RV Park smart' Opens at 'Michi-no-Eki Wellness Arao' on June 5, 2026

The Kyushu Touring Tourism Revitalization Consortium (representative organization: Trust Park Co., Ltd., headquartered in Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture, CEO: Tadayoshi Otsu) will launch a car overnight parking (kurumahaku) service at 'Michi-no-Eki Wellness Arao', which opens on June 5, 2026. At this facility, a dedicated car overnight parking zone was planned from the development stage of the Michi-no-Eki, and 3 spaces of 'RV Park smart' will be installed. This is the first initiative in Kyushu to develop a dedicated car overnight parking space from the opening stage, positioning it as a new model that integrates car parking into public facilities from the outset, a step beyond the conventional 'sharing model' that utilizes unused parking spaces. Kyushu's First: Dedicated Car Overnight Parking Zone Developed from the Design Phase of a Michi-no-Eki Background and Social Issues ○ 'Increase in Car Overnight Parking Demand' and 'Lack of Reception Capacity' In recent years, interest in car overnight parking travel has been growing due to the rise in demand for camper vans and road trips, soaring accommodation costs, an increase in inbound tourism, and the need for highly flexible touring. On the other hand, there are issues such as a lack of safe places to stay, problems with etiquette, and insufficient reception systems on the local side, making the 'development of appropriate car overnight parking environments' a national theme. Features of This Initiative ○ Achieving Both 'Implementation from the Opening Stage' and 'Unmanned, Contactless Operation' The biggest feature of this initiative is that the car overnight parking spaces are integrated from the design phase of the Michi-no-Eki, rather than being added later. Previous car overnight parking services have mainly been models that utilize parking spaces during their idle hours from evening to the next morning. In contrast, 'Michi-no-Eki Wellness Arao' will have dedicated zones, traffic flow for car camping, and usage environments prepared from the opening. This aims to transform the Michi-no-Eki from a mere rest stop into a new stay base that welcomes travelers arriving by car. Furthermore, 'RV Park smart' supports online reservations, advance payment, and QR code check-in, allowing for unmanned, cashless, and contactless operation. Facility operators can provide a safe environment for users while reducing the burden of reception and fee collection. This system is easy to introduce in regional facilities facing labor shortages. Moreover, this facility is expected to serve as a stay base for tourists during normal times and as a reception base for temporary evacuation and support activities using vehicles during disasters. In particular, it has the potential to be used as a temporary stay location for volunteers and相关人员 visiting from outside the prefecture for support. As the 10th anniversary of the Kumamoto Earthquake approaches, this initiative is also positioned as an example of facility development incorporating the 'Phase-Free' concept, enabling both daily and emergency use. [Car Overnight Parking Service Overview] Facility Name: RV Park smart Michi-no-Eki Wellness Arao Number of Spaces: 3 spaces Usage Fee: 3,500 yen (tax included) Usage Hours: 14:00 to 11:00 the next day Usage Method: Online reservation and payment https://rvparksmart.jp/rv-smart/wellness.arao.html Opening 'RV Park smart' within 'Michi-no-Eki Wellness Arao' in Arao City, Kumamoto Prefecture on June 5, 2026 'Michi-no-Eki Wellness Arao' is a place where you can enjoy the view of the Ariake Sea and the charm of Arao's food and agricultural products. The sunset view is particularly beautiful, and we hope you will spend a relaxing time during your journey. As the first Michi-no-Eki in Arao City, we aim to be a hub of interaction loved by both tourists and local residents. To ensure a comfortable stay for those using the car overnight parking service, we have prepared spacious toilets, powder rooms, and dedicated washbasins that can be used at night. We look forward to welcoming many visitors to a place where they can stop by with peace of mind and experience the charm of Arao. View of the Ariake Sea and comfortable, well-equipped facilities Spacious toilets, powder room, baby room Expected Effects on the Region ○ From 'Passing Through' to 'Staying' Car overnight parking users tend to stay in the area from evening to morning, and they have a high affinity for nighttime consumption such as dining, bathing, shopping, and exploring the local area. Through this initiative, we aim to strengthen the function of the Michi-no-Eki from a mere rest stop to a 'stay and touring base'. Michi-no-Eki Wellness Arao is being developed as a hub for wide-area exchange utilizing the Ariake Sea Coastal Road. Arao City, while also considering its role as a disaster prevention base, aims to promote collaboration with other Michi-no-Eki and tourism/industrial hubs along the Ariake Sea coast, leading to touring tourism and the distribution of local products. The introduction of this car overnight parking service is expected to extend the stay time of travelers, leading to increased consumption in dining, shopping, and tourism in the area. We hope that Michi-no-Eki Wellness Arao will become a hub for revitalizing the local economy and expanding the population of exchange. ○ Future Development This initiative is a new model that evolves the Michi-no-Eki from a mere rest stop into a stay base that connects tourism, local consumption, and disaster prevention. With 'RV Park smart', which can be operated unmanned, cashlessly, and contactlessly, it is easy to introduce even in regional facilities facing labor shortages, and we aim for this to be a reference case for future Michi-no-Eki development and public facility utilization. We have entered an era where local communities need to develop environments where people can stay safely, rather than debating whether to 'prohibit or permit' car overnight parking. Through this initiative, we will promote the development of appropriate car overnight parking environments in public facilities and encourage stays and touring in the region. ・Gunma Prefecture: Michi-no-Eki Yoshioka Onsen ・Fukuoka Prefecture: Michi-no-Eki Oki ・Kumamoto Prefecture: Michi-no-Eki Kikusui, Michi-no-Eki Mizube Plaza Kamoto, Michi-no-Eki Aso no Sato Kugino, Michi-no-Eki Komoriuta no Sato Itsuki, Michi-no-Eki Nishiki, Michi-no-Eki Toyo Seseragi, Michi-no-Eki Ariake Ripple Land, Michi-no-Eki Miyadake Kakashi no Sato *Regarding 'Kyushu's First': This initiative is based on the company's own research (June 2026). This is the first case in Kyushu where a dedicated car overnight parking zone has been developed from the opening stage of a Michi-no-Eki and put into service as 'RV Park smart'. 'Kurumahaku' and 'RV Park smart' are sharing-based, destination-oriented tourism DX services that enable people to stay in their cars, targeting touring tourists and those who have difficulty securing accommodation (Awarded the 5th Japan Service Grand Prize, Excellence Award). *Regarding 'Phase-Free': This is a concept of making facilities, equipment, and services used during normal times available during disasters. It aims to create a system that enhances daily comfort and convenience while also being useful for evacuation and support during emergencies. ■ The 'Kurumahaku' service has been certified as 'Japan's Service Innovation 2025' https://service-safari.jp/case_a/3034/ ■ Official website for the car overnight parking service 'RV Park smart' https://rvparksmart.jp/ ■ For inquiries or interviews regarding this release, please contact: Trust Park Co., Ltd. Solution Department: Nishioka, Tanoue, Yamaguchi, Yamazaki Special Sales Department: Tokuhara