No one knows great small-space design like the Japanese. That’s doubly true when it comes to RVs, as some of the world’s best compact campervans were (are) born in Japan. Case in point: The Kayoibako-K.
This fresh “microvan” concept from Daihatsu (a subdivision of Toyota) takes minimalist mobile living to a whole new level. The renderings depict essential overlanding-friendly features like rugged off-road tires, a large awning, a tailgate gear rack, and a two-person rooftop tent that takes up every bit of usable space up top. A cargo rack atop the tent could potentially serve as storage for all your favorite outdoor toys, including kayaks, bikes, and stand-up paddleboards.
Daihatsu also envisions the micro-campervan to be semi-autonomous or self-driving, at least in part. That opens the door to clever uses for hikers, mountain bikers, and kayakers: Imagine driving yourself to a trailhead or put-in point, then programming the van to drive itself to pick you up at the finish line.
Toyota debuted the original Kayoibako in 2023 as a showpiece to demonstrate the potential of an ultra-modular microvan. It was heavily inspired by the reconfigurable interiors of Japanese shipping containers that require maximum versatility to stow and organize cargo. While the entire line-up of Kayoibako is still focused on business and commercial use, it’s clear that the same design features that make it great for those purposes also make it an incredibly versatile overlanding microcamper too.
Sadly, the Kayoibako-K debuted at the recent Japan Mobility Show with no official announcement as to when, or if, it’ll ever come to market. For now, we can only daydream.
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