Following Conan: A 1-Day Trip to Hokuei, Tottori, Hometown of Gosho Aoyama

If you're young at heart and still believe there is only one truth, this trip will take you on a full day of "following Conan" in Hokuei, Tottori Prefecture, the hometown of Gosho Aoyama, creator of "Detective Conan," the legendary detective manga that holds a place in so many hearts.

From the train station covered in Conan artwork and the adorable manga-themed street lined with character statues, to the museum that houses his original artwork, the whole town feels like it stepped straight out of the manga.

Get your camera ready, put on your detective hat, and set off to solve the mystery of a full day in Conan Town!

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1 Day Trip: Visiting Hokuei, Conan Town

★ 9:00 - 9:40 Breakfast at Sunaba Coffee

Stop by this famous local coffee shop in Tottori Prefecture, known for both its ingredients and its unique brewing method. The warm atmosphere inside makes it a great place to rest before continuing your trip. The signature item to try is "Sunayaki Coffee," coffee roasted using sand from the Tottori sand dunes, which spreads heat evenly to produce a rich yet smooth flavor with a distinctive aroma.

There are also popular dishes like the "Kani Hot Sandwich," a hot sandwich made with the region's famous crab meat, and "Daisen Herb Chicken Curry," a herb chicken curry from Mount Daisen with a well-balanced flavor that's easy to eat, perfect for breakfast or lunch.

・How to get there: Located in front of JR Tottori Station

・Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 - 16:00 / Saturday-Sunday 8:00 - 19:00

・Food prices: ¥500 - 1,700

・MAP: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Q2UJpZhmFJefrNyT6

★ 10:00 - 10:20 Rent a Car at Nippon Rent-A-Car

For this Conan-following trip, we'll get around by renting a car and driving ourselves, which makes it easy to visit several spots in a single day and saves travel time. This rental car company offers a wide range of vehicles, from small cars for two people to family-sized cars, all with reliable safety standards.

The documents needed on pickup day are an international driving permit valid in Japan, a passport, and the renter's credit card. The car is handed over with a full tank of fuel, and the renter must also fill the tank before returning the car.

・How to get there: 11-minute walk from Sunaba Coffee to Nippon Rent-A-Car (about 750 meters)

・Hours: Open daily 9:00 - 18:00

・Cost: Starting price for a small car is about ¥7,000 - 9,000 per day

・MAP: https://maps.app.goo.gl/LDWT8LLYvx28m4Pi6

★ 10:20 - 11:10 Drive to Hokuei Town

Hokuei, Tottori Prefecture, is the hometown of Gosho Aoyama sensei, creator of the famous manga "Detective Conan." Because of this, the whole town has been developed into "Conan Town," a place fans from around the world want to experience at least once.

A must-see highlight is Yura Station, known to many as Conan Station. From your very first step, you'll find Conan-themed designs and photo spots everywhere. From there, continue along Conan Street, the main street lined with statues of characters from Conan, including Conan, Haibara, Dr. Agasa, and other characters fans know well.

Another key spot is the Gosho Aoyama Manga Factory museum, which houses a full collection of original artwork, drawings, a recreated studio, and Conan souvenirs. The atmosphere around town is packed with Conan spirit, and visiting fans are sure to be thrilled.

For this trip, we'll park the car near the museum and then walk around to take in the atmosphere, hunting for Conan and taking photos at various spots around town all day long.

・How to get there: 50-minute drive from Tottori City to Hokuei (about 45 kilometers)

・Parking: Free parking lot available (near Gosho Aoyama Manga Factory)

・MAP: https://maps.app.goo.gl/YXCtpRDpLi3V7pu26

★ 11:30 - 11:50 Stroll Around Conan Train Station, or Yura Station

We arrive at the first stop of the trip, "Yura Station," a small JR train station that, despite its quiet atmosphere, is a hugely popular destination for manga fans from around the world, because it's nicknamed "Conan Station."

Since Hokuei is the hometown of Gosho Aoyama sensei, creator of "Detective Conan," the station area is fully decorated with a Conan theme, from the station sign reading "Conan Station" and character statues out front, to small details hidden inside the station in almost every corner. Just stepping off the train feels like entering the world of Detective Conan.

Yura Station is also the starting point of "Conan Street," a Conan-themed street stretching about 1.4 kilometers to the Gosho Aoyama Manga Factory museum. Along the way, you'll find character statues, photo spots, and cute little details that Conan fans absolutely shouldn't miss.

・How to get there: 20-minute walk from the parking lot to Yura Station (about 1.4 kilometers)

・MAP: https://maps.app.goo.gl/2cpkNTsx3L41qJnk9

★ 12:00 - 13:00 Shopping and Visiting Conan's House

Go ahead and ring the doorbell at Conan's house! This spot is located in the Beika Shopping Street area, designed to look exactly like the Kudo family house from the manga. The atmosphere really feels like stepping into the world of Detective Conan.

The key highlight is the doorbell with a nameplate reading "Kudo" (工藤). Just press the doorbell and you'll hear the voice of Shinichi, Ran, or Conan responding, giving you the feeling of really standing in front of Shinichi's house — enough to make many Conan fans want to try it for themselves.

The area also connects to a Conan-themed shopping and café zone, great for a leisurely stroll with photo spots, souvenirs, and small details that manga fans are sure to love. In front of the house, there are also statues of Shinichi and Ran in their school uniforms for photos — another check-in spot not to be missed when visiting Conan Town.

・How to get there: 9-minute walk from Yura Station to Conan's House (about 650 meters)

・Hours: Open daily 10:00 - 18:00

・MAP: https://maps.app.goo.gl/YWF4vPn6uMSVoBKR6

★ 13:10 - 14:10 Lunch at Café Poirot

Take a break to recharge at "Café Poirot," the real-world version of the café where Toru Amuro works in Detective Conan. The interior is decorated to make fans feel like they've really stepped into the anime, from the café's name down to a menu recreated exactly from the manga.

One dish many people come specifically to try is the "Amuro-style Ham Sandwich," with soft bread, a generous filling, and a well-balanced sauce — easy to eat but with a flavor that exceeds expectations. There's also Napolitan spaghetti served on a Conan-patterned plate, cute character-themed drinks, and a rich curry that will leave you full and satisfied.

Many reviews agree that this café isn't just cute for photos — the food genuinely tastes good too. While eating, you can also enjoy browsing the collectibles, autographs, and other details around the shop. It's another spot where Conan fans can fill up their stomachs and their hearts at the same time.

・How to get there: Located in the same area as Conan's House

・Hours: Open daily 10:00 - 16:30

・Food prices: ¥1,000 - 2,000

・MAP: https://maps.app.goo.gl/J48Wy9dVejwxhSDN6

★ 14:20 - 16:20 Visit the Conan Museum, Gosho Aoyama Manga Factory

We arrive at the final stop of the trip, the "Conan Museum," or Gosho Aoyama Manga Factory, an important landmark of Hokuei that Detective Conan fans absolutely cannot miss. This museum was built to fully convey the life story and works of Gosho Aoyama sensei, from the beginning of his career as a manga artist to his legendary work, Conan.

Inside, the museum displays original artwork, sketches, and the process behind creating each chapter, as well as a recreated version of the sensei's studio where fans can get an up-close look at his working environment. There's also an activity zone where visitors can try out various items from the story, plus photo spots with popular characters hidden throughout the museum.

Another highlight is the souvenir shop, filled with limited-edition Conan merchandise available only here, from plush toys and stationery to clothing and other collectibles. It's a place that gives fans a full chance to get close to the world of Detective Conan, rounding off the Conan-following trip perfectly.

・How to get there: 10-minute walk from Café Poirot to the Conan Museum (about 700 meters)

・Hours: Open daily 9:30 - 17:30 (check holidays on the official website)

・Admission: Adults ¥700 / Middle and high school students ¥500 / Elementary school students ¥300

・MAP: https://maps.app.goo.gl/J44Wb898zjGULrU49

★ 17:20 - 17:30 Return the Car at Nippon Rent-A-Car

・How to get there: 45-minute drive from Hokuei to Nippon Rent-A-Car (about 45 kilometers)

・Hours: Open daily 9:00 - 18:00

・MAP: https://maps.app.goo.gl/LDWT8LLYvx28m4Pi6

★ 17:40 - 19:00 Dinner at Tottori Daizen

Wrap up the day at a well-known izakaya in Tottori. The atmosphere is great, prices are reasonable, and the menu is full of local ingredients. With hundreds of dishes to choose from, it's a great place to relax after a full day of sightseeing — order several small dishes to share and enjoy until you're full.

The interior has a nostalgic, old-Japan feel that's warm and welcoming, with both a counter area and traditional izakaya wooden tables. In the evening, locals gather here and the place gets lively, giving it a truly authentic Japanese atmosphere.

A widely recommended dish is "Saba Curry," Tottori's famous mackerel curry, rich in flavor and fragrant with spices — once you start, you can't stop. Seafood lovers should try the "Kaisendon," a bowl of assorted sashimi from the seas around Japan, fresh, sweet, and generously piled on.

If you like chicken dishes, there's "Daisen Herb Chicken," available as karaage or grilled, with firm, juicy meat and a distinctive herb aroma. Sometimes there are also Tottori beef dishes or game meat dishes to try. It's a great place to experience the full range of Tottori's local flavors.

The restaurant is also conveniently located near Tottori Station, making it easy to head back to your hotel or continue exploring at night.

・How to get there: 10-minute walk from Nippon Rent-A-Car to Tottori Daizen (about 700 meters)

・Hours: 11:00 - 2:30 (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays)

・Food prices: ¥1,000 - 3,000

・MAP: https://maps.app.goo.gl/oL9aaYjfs3s31wnz7

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Cost Summary (approximate per person)

Food cost: ¥6,700

Transportation cost: ¥9,000 (excluding fuel)

Admission cost: ¥700

Total: ¥16,400