RV Rental in High Gear Ahead of Japan Rugby World Cup

Tokyo, Aug. 20 (Jiji Press)--Demand for rental recreational vehicles is spiking from foreign travelers planning to visit Japan for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, which kicks off in a month. According to RV rental company Fuji Cars Japan Co., the number of RV reservations at outlets around Tokyo has reached three to four times that of the average year between mid-September and the end of October. The World Cup will run from Sept. 20 to Nov. 2. "I've realized again how intense the rugby fever is around the world" amid a raft of inquiries from overseas fans from a year ago, a company official said. Japan Campingcar Rental Center, another rental service, said that RV reservations of 15 to 20 days have been made from countries such as France and Australia. "Japanese users often book from Friday night to midday Sunday, and average Western guests book for about 10 days," said Toshiaki Itaya, 44, an RV business official at the center. "International customers this year are booking overwhelmingly more days." RVs are especially popular because the World Cup matches take place in 12 cities nationwide over the course of 44 days. "Europe is the birthplace of the RV," Itaya said. "Accommodations near the venues are hard to book. An RV allows you to move around without holding luggage." Meanwhile, a lack of parking spaces for the large vehicles may become a problem. A car camping site in Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture, a Rugby World Cup host city, will be closed to the general public as it will be used for events related to the tournament. The northeastern Japan city government will introduce alternative facilities in surrounding areas if contacted, an official said. RV rental companies say that they receive inquiries about parking spaces from foreign customers, even though there are about 130 RV parks certified by the Japan Recreational Vehicle Association. "It may be because little information is available online about (RV) parking areas in Japan," an industry official said. END