If you don't do a lot of highway driving a Subaru Sambar van is awesome and they're dirt cheap to import. Next year the 1999 models will be available and they're very improved for safety features compared to the 1998 ones.

When the Kei Vans were first made they made being able to fold the seats down flat into a bed a big priority because of how high rent was in the 80s and 90s in Japan.

Edit: I should mention that the improved safety features is that a front crumple zone exists at all, it's still not safe, but it is a lot better than the older ones.