## Choosing Your Overnight Stop When planning your Kyushu road trip, you have three main options for overnight parking: Michi-no-Eki (Roadside Stations), RV Parks (often called "RV Parks" in Japanese as well), and Auto-Campgrounds. Understanding the difference is crucial for a comfortable trip. ## Michi-no-Eki (Roadside Stations) - **Cost:** Free. - **Facilities:** 24-hour pristine toilets, vending machines, and daytime local markets. - **Pros:** Abundant (over 1,000 nationwide), free, and usually located on major scenic routes. - **Cons:** No power hookups, no dumping stations, and strictly no outdoor living (no chairs or cooking outside). It can also be noisy if located on a major trucking highway. ## RV Parks (Japan RV Tourism Association) - **Cost:** 1,500 to 3,500 JPY per night. - **Facilities:** Dedicated, reserved parking spots for campervans. Usually associated with a hot spring (Onsen) facility or hotel. - **Pros:** Guaranteed spot, power hookups (100V) to charge your van’s batteries, trash disposal services, and immediate access to hot spring baths. - **Cons:** Still essentially a parking lot. Like Michi-no-Eki, full outdoor camping (tents/BBQs) is usually prohibited. ## Auto-Campgrounds - **Cost:** 3,000 to 8,000 JPY per night. - **Facilities:** Full nature campsites with individual plots for your van. - **Pros:** You can pull out your awning, set up chairs, build a campfire, and BBQ. Great for families and "slow travel." - **Cons:** Expensive, often located deep in the mountains requiring detours, and heavily booked during Japanese summer holidays. **The VanTripJapan Recommendation:** For a 7-day trip, we recommend a hybrid approach. Sleep at free Michi-no-Eki for 4 nights to save money, and book an RV Park with power hookups for 2 nights to recharge your batteries and easily dispose of trash.