A road trip in a campervan, where you can travel freely without deciding where to stay for the night. Haven't many of you dreamed of trying it? With the added tailwind of being able to enjoy an outdoor feel without being too affected by the weather, and being perfect for the post-COVID travel scene, the demand for rental campervans and the number of users have been soaring lately.

Amidst this trend, we heard that a paid parking space exclusively for overnight stays in vehicles, an "RV Park," has opened in Muroran, the "City of Iron." It's not just for campervans and trailers; you can even stay in a regular car. We decided to check it out!

"RV Park Muroran ZEKKEI BASE CAMP" opened in April 2022. We asked its representative, Yuko Ishii, about its best features!

"The best feature, without a doubt, is the view! There's a seaside park right in front of the RV park, and while it's beautiful during the day, the magic hour in the evening is breathtakingly beautiful, even for locals. Of course, it depends on the weather, but the contrast between the bright red sunset and the silhouette of Daikoku Island (an uninhabited island in Muroran Port) is truly moving. I really want more people to know about it."

I never knew that island was uninhabited! It's kind of cute! And I agree, if I saw a sunset like that, I'd be completely captivated...

"A convenience store and a gas station are about a 5-minute drive away, but since we're located between 'Michi-no-Eki Mitara Muroran' and 'Muroran Onsen Yurara,' I think it's a pretty convenient spot for small shopping trips and bathing. We're also considering a collaboration project with the nearby 'Shukutsu Shopping Street Association,' so please check our official booking site for the latest information!"

Here are the facilities you're curious about!

■Number of Sites/Total 6 sites (4 sites with power supply: ¥3,300, 2 sites without power supply: ¥2,750)
■Site Size/7m x 7m each
■Check-in/From 14:00, Check-out/By 10:00
■Other/Water supply and trash bins are available for all sites to share

Amazingly, open flames are allowed at this RV park. If you have a shichirin (charcoal grill) or a portable stove, you can even have a BBQ with fresh seafood from the port town while gazing at the sea. This is a unique charm of this RV park that you can't easily experience when staying at a roadside station or in a public parking lot!

...Wait a minute. I don't see a reception desk. That's because this RV park handles everything from booking to payment online. On the day of your stay, there's no check-in process and no check-out or payment to worry about! How convenient is that!

There are no staff on-site, but you can access electricity, water, and trash facilities using a key from a key box with a combination lock. The combination and an emergency contact number are provided only to guests. This way, you don't have to rush your drive even if you check in late (laughs)♪

According to Ms. Ishii, they had about 30 groups stay just during the Golden Week period after opening on April 29.

"We had a bit of a rushed start and honestly didn't have much time to focus on PR, so I was surprised that so many people came. We've been receiving bookings from all over the country for the summer as well, so I hope many people will get to see the spectacular scenery of Muroran!"

The park is scheduled to be open until the end of October this year. Bookings can be made through the official booking site, as well as via a site called "Kuruma Tabi," which is popular among campervan users.

You can book up to three months in advance on the booking site, so why not add this RV park with its spectacular views to your list of options for this summer's getaway?

RV Park Muroran ZEKKEI BASE CAMP

■Location: 4-chome, Etomo-cho, Muroran-shi
■Hours: Online booking available 24 hours
■Fee: Site without electricity ¥2,750, Site with electricity ¥3,300
See more details about "RV Park Muroran ZEKKEI BASE CAMP" on Domingo