Who doesn’t love Detective Conan? The mega-hit manga-turned-anime series has entertained international fans for many decades. I grew up watching Conan’s adventures in the Arabic language, as have many from my generation. But did you know that Conan has an entire airport dedicated to him? Or that you can visit Cafe Poirot to get a taste of Amuro’s food? Let’s go explore the land of Conan in the hometown of its author, Mr. Gosho Aoyama!
Beika Shopping Street, Conan’s House
The Conan Town, located in Yura Hokuei, is easily accessible from Tottori City. As you drive up and reach the area, a statue of the protagonist Shinichi Kudo and his childhood friend Ran Mouri welcome visitors to the area.
The main area of the Conan Town is known as "Beika Shopping Street, Conan's House". The titular character lives in Tokyo's Beika ward, based off of Sherlock Holme's Baker Street.
Two popular cafes offer food themed after the series, but do note that most of the dishes contain pork. The staff were exceptionally kind, when I informed them of my dietary needs they adjusted one of the dishes, removing the pork for me. I was extremely happy that I was able to still enjoy the Conan-themed dishes!
When ordering a drink, you can also pick a coaster to go with it. For me, I went with the popular thief Kaito Kid.
The interior of the two cafes were completely Conan-themed, which was great for taking photographs. Eating while surrounded by original artwork was also a treat!
Close to the cafes is a Detective Conan merchandise shop. It was extremely busy, and for a good reason: almost all the merchandise sold here was limited edition to the area! This was clearly reflected in the products, as most had the label of “Conan Town” on it, indicating their limited nature. Fans of Detective Conan will be proud to own these items, and they make a perfect souvenir of the area.
By the Conan store is a gelato shop, a perfect treat in any season. Depending on the time you go, fans can also receive limited postcards featuring artwork from Mr. Aoyama!
Access Information Beika Shopping Street, Conan’s House Address: Yurashuku, Hokuei, Tōhaku District, Tottori 689-2221, Japan Opening Hours: 10 AM - 6 PM Website: https://conan-town.jp/free/beika/ |
Gosho Aoyama Manga Factory
A short 10 minute walk from the center of Conan Town leads you to… the Gosho Aoyama Manga Factory, a museum dedicated to Detective Conan! Is that Professor Agasa's car in front? And are those the little detective squad?
On the other side, a Kaito Kid and Conan statue welcome you to the museum!
The Detective Conan Museum is a dream for any fans of the series. There are many dioramas, interactive exhibits, and even areas recreating the office of the detective Kogor.
Personally, my favorite part of the museum was a section housing the original color illustrations for the manga. This part did not allow any photography, most likely aiming to preserve the integrity of the original work. As a result, I unfortunately cannot share any pictures of those original artworks here, but it does entice any fan to make their way to the museum and see them for themselves!
There were also original cel artworks from the anime on display. In the past, anime was created in a completely traditional manner, and these cels were preserved since that time.
The museum also had a souvenir shop. A lot of the products are the same ones available in Conan Town, but there are also many merchandise limited to the museum, so do check them out.
Access Information Gosho Aoyama Manga Factory Address: 1414 Yurashuku, Hokuei, Tōhaku District, Tottori 689-2221, Japan Opening Hours: 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM Website: https://www.gamf.jp/ |
The Detective Conan Airport
Detective Conan remains one of the most watched series worldwide, and the series’ popularity is evident when you know that there is a Detective Conan Airport, known as the Tottori Sand Dunes Conan Airport!
The airport is not just an airport by name, but is a fully functional terminal with both domestic and international flights. Voices of Conan and other characters greet you and make announcements, which is an absolute treat to any fan. Can you imagine Conan himself telling you to head to your gate for departure?
Not only that, various dioramas and series memorabilia can be found around the airport. There are photo spots straight from the anime, so you can take photographs with popular characters like Amuro, Akai, and Kogoro.
In the series, most of the gadgets Conan makes use of when solving cases are developed by his next door neighbor Professor Agasa. These gadgets are recreated and displayed in the airport, including his famous voice-changing bowtie and levitating skateboard. These replicas are life-sized as well, really lending to their authentic feel.
Another photo spot in the airport features trick art of Conan riding a camel. As someone from the Middle East, famous for its deserts, this hit home. The reason behind this display is Tottori’s famous sand dunes, which are said to be the only ones in Japan. You can even ride camels there, as if you are experiencing the Middle East in Japan!
If you forgot to pick up some souvenirs in Conan Town, rest assured, the Conan Airport has you covered. Here, you can find many other limited merchandise for the series. What surprised me is that even the most niche side character has some form of merchandise here, meaning that any fan can find something for them.
Access Information Tottori Sand Dunes Conan Airport Address: 4 Chome-110-5 Koyamachonishi, Tottori, 680-0947, Japan Opening Hours: 24 Hrs Website: https://www.ttj-ap-bld.co.jp/ |
Tottori City and Dinner
After arriving back to Tottori City from Conan Town, there are many things to see here as well. A lot of the stores sell local handmade products. Keeping up with the spirit of Tottori, many such crafts feature camels, alluding to the sand dunes. These make the perfect gift for someone back home in the Middle East!
For dinner options, Tottori is famous for its Shabu Shabu, a hotpot dish. Some of these shabu shabu can be pork, but the one we had in Tottori is beef, so Halal options are definitely available. Most shabu shabu also tend to be vegetable based. Despite the generous amount, it is quite filling without being overbearing, a perfect end to a long journey.
Closing Thoughts
Tottori hits home for Arab travelers. Many of us have grown up with Detective Conan, and camels are closely tied with our culture. In a way, visiting Conan Town and this side of Tottori made me feel at home. If you are a fan of Detective Conan, make sure to include Tottori in your list of travel plans!
Comments