広がる「車中泊」コスパ最強？ホテル代高騰で人気拡大　ローソンも店舗拡大（2026年07月08日）

"Today's Useful Information" brings you information that can slightly improve your life. A family is enjoying breakfast at a roadside station parking lot in Chiba Prefecture, with a table and chairs set up. The Miyagawa family, who came from Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture, said, "We're sightseeing and car camping. This is our first time car camping since we bought a new car," and they stayed overnight at this roadside station. The number of cars that can be used for sleeping inside has increased 3.5 times compared to 20 years ago. The number of parking lots with facilities for car camping is also increasing by about 100 per year, and the number of people enjoying car camping is increasing. Amidst this trend, Lawson, a major convenience store chain that started a car camping service in its store parking lots, announced a significant expansion of participating stores on the 6th. They are considering increasing the number to 70 stores by fiscal year 2026. In addition to being able to use toilets and power outlets, they also offer a service where you can dispose of one bag of trash generated during your car camping trip, provided at check-in. The rates start at 2,500 yen per night, and the facility is reportedly doing well, with occupancy rates exceeding 90% during major holidays. These kinds of facilities where you can stay overnight in your car are increasing rapidly, and they're even popping up in unexpected places.