Connecting through cars, dogs, and travel! A report on the "VAN WAN LIFE" event held in Hannō City, Saitama Prefecture.

VAN WAN LIFE strongly expresses the desire to not just be an event for markets or cars, but to weave stories into it. It is an event that I want to pay attention to, alongside the new values of happy days with dogs and the interaction among dog lovers.

Sharing travel memories with friends, a way to enjoy "VAN WAN LIFE"

From March 14th to 15th, a two-day event called "VAN WAN LIFE" was held at the "Metsä RV Park" in Hannō City, Saitama Prefecture, an event for enjoying van life with dogs. It was an event not only for participants who camped in their vehicles with their beloved dogs but also for easily browsing tents featuring shops and workshops.

Celebrating its fourth year since its inaugural event in Ogaki City, Gifu Prefecture in 2022, it has become an event where dog lovers, car enthusiasts, and people who actually camp in their vehicles gather from all over the country. The talk by the representative, Takehiro Hirose, who has nurtured this event, was also very interesting.

Takehiro Hirose, the representative of VAN WAN LIFE. His vehicle is a Toyota Land Cruiser 78 Prado.

— Takehiro Hirose, who created the coined term "VAN WAN LIFE" by adding a dog (WAN) to VAN LIFE, what thoughts have you had in creating this event?

Hirose: "I have always strongly wanted this to be more than just a market or a car event; I want to give it a story. I want it to be a place where everyone can share their experiences of traveling and camping with their dogs, saying things like 'I had this kind of experience!' This is not just about people connecting with each other, but also about creating a psychological pathway to facilitate interactions between the dogs."

"It's not just about people buying things and going home; it's about finding ways to create new experiences and share memories of journeys at this event. I discuss these ideas with my friends every time."

The scene of the market area where vendors' cars are lined up.

"It sounds fun to be able to share the journey with everyone who came. How do we share it?"

Hirose-san: "For example, this 'VANWAN Travel Map.' The Osezaki Lighthouse and Noto Island written here are places I went with my family. This map is specifically for places I visited with my dog, so you can easily see where you can go with a dog."

The newly introduced "VANWAN Travel Map" at this event was filled with many entries on the second day.

- Taking a photo of this map and bringing it home might be helpful for planning the next trip.

Mr. Hirose: "We don't just like cars or camping; we love to travel with our dog, who is part of our family. That's why I want to share our travel logs with our dog on this map."

The DIY face-in-the-hole panel is perfect for commemorative photos with dogs!

— This event seems to attract many people who camp in their RVs, but is it just about gathering and staying overnight?

Mr. Hirose: "At night, we will have a 'Janken Tournament with Prizes' together with everyone who is camping in their vehicles. We will mainly give out souvenirs we bought from the places we've traveled to over the past year. The point is that they're 'souvenirs from our travels' rather than just prizes."

— It sounds fun to have conversations about travel inspired by the souvenirs.

Mr. Hirose: "Dogs are creatures that originally live in packs, and I wanted to give this project a narrative by paralleling their pack behavior with travel."

Check out Mr. Hirose's car camping setup, the Toyota Land Cruiser 78 Prado

The interior space has been made into a full bed setup. Inside is Mr. Hirose's beloved dog Kogomi-chan. She is the official mascot of VAN WAN LIFE!

― Since the interview at the 2024 VAN WAN LIFE event, you've been gradually changing the interior, right?

ランドクルーザー×愛犬と車中泊で旅する「VAN WAN LIFE」とは | MADURO ONLINE（マデュロオンライン）

6月に埼玉県飯能市の「メッツァ RV パーク」で開催された、愛犬と楽しむ車中泊イベント「VAN WAN LIFE」（バンワンライフ）。同イベントの代表であり、VAN WAN LIFE実践者である廣瀬武さんにお話をうかがいました。

Mr. Hirose: "Yes. First, the bed has changed. Previously, there was a bed that could also be used as a table, where my wife would sleep on top and I would sleep below. We converted it into a full (flat) bed. Last New Year, we traveled to Oma in Aomori Prefecture, and we found that with separate beds, we would end up freezing each other out (laughs). We changed to a unified bed to share body heat in the cold car."

"Also, when going to cold places like Oma, the temperature difference between the inside of the car and the outside air increases significantly, leading to condensation. With two adults and one dog, it becomes even more pronounced, but this ventilation fan (hang vent) has resolved the condensation issue. I love the all-stainless steel and mechanical design; it feels masculine."

Murakoshi's ventilation fan "Hangvent." One side is the intake, and the other side is the exhaust, so it can circulate with just this one unit.

Hirose: "With this ventilation fan, I think the air conditioning will work better in the hot summer season as it can circulate both intake and exhaust. It’s important to create a comfortable and safe in-car space for our dogs. After all, it’s all about putting the dogs first."

- Hirose's beloved dog, Kogomi, is happy to travel various places together. I felt that VAN WAN LIFE is a concept that brings happiness not only to people but also to dogs.

Hirose: "It is said that conscious skinship and gentle hugs are important for children's attachment formation. I believe the same goes for dogs. Dogs are non-verbal communicators; they are beings without words. Therefore, spending time in a confined car, touching each other, may have a positive impact on dogs' attachment formation."

- There is value in not only traveling with dogs in the car but also in spending time closely together in a small car. Such practices are the charm of VAN WAN LIFE.

The market area that resonates with VAN WAN LIFE is attractive everywhere

The daytime market was held at Nordic Square, where the lawn spreads out against the backdrop of the lake. Since visitors who did not stay overnight in their cars could casually participate in the event while enjoying leisurely walks with their dogs, it was a delightful scene.

The logo for VAN WAN LIFE was created by "Uchi-Curi." It seems they originally drew illustrations of dogs, but they started illustrating cars as a result of working with VAN WAN LIFE. They create a single piece of art that combines beloved pets and cars.

This is "Authentic Product Service," a dog lifestyle brand based in Osaka. They balance functionality that allows dogs to spend time comfortably in everyday life with simple designs, offering dog clothes, café mats, beds, and toys. Visitors enjoyed trying on outfits with their dogs to choose their favorite piece.

The ventilation fan used by Hirose-san is "Hang Vent," from the machine tool manufacturer "Murakoshi Koki" located in Tokyo. It operates for about 20 hours on a portable battery. It is said to be easy to remove by opening the window just a few centimeters. With precise design unique to Japanese machinery manufacturers and handmade products, there was a display of the actual device at VAN WAN LIFE.

Okamidori Shouten, which specializes in the production and sale of assist grips, keychains, and straps using paracord for vans. At the event, they also sold dog leads made from paracord as a special offering. The assist grip is a wonderful tool that supports getting in and out of the van. It also adds an accent to the car's interior.

By installing the assist grip, you can reduce the strain on your wrist and easily lean your weight on it. It was a convenient item for getting in and out of van-type vehicles with a high seat.

The Parking Odd, which offers original patches, stickers, and keychains. At the event, they held a workshop for making plush toys in the shape of cars called "Vangurumi." By putting on your favorite patch, you can create a one-of-a-kind car plush!

Cute patches that you’ll want to stick on your dog's items as a small accent.

A stylish photography studio called "SOMEWHERE." The theme of the photo booth is "A traveling flower shop." They take incredibly cute photos of your dog against a backdrop that looks just like Scandinavia, with a lake in view.

In addition to this, a variety of vendors gathered, and the market area was bustling with people and dogs. At night, participants in the RV park gathered to share their respective VAN WAN LIFE experiences. It was a warm and friendly VAN WAN LIFE event filled with lively discussions about travel and dogs.