Introduction
Picking up where we left off in Part 1 of our journey, we had settled into Mansuirou in Tottori on the evening of Day 2. Waking up on Day 3, we were greeted by an unexpected sight: the window revealed nothing but persistent grey skies and a steady drizzle ☔.
Our highly anticipated visit to the Tottori Sand Dunes had to be, with a heavy heart, abandoned (who wants to play while soaking wet?). But surrender isn’t in a traveler’s dictionary! We immediately revised our plans and instead plunged into the world of detectives, heading straight for “Conan Town”!
You can also watch the video directly!
Day 3: Conan Town → Tottori Nijisseiki Pear Museum → Yakiniku Gyu-Oh
If you’re traveling by train, you can take a leisurely stroll from Yura Station all the way to the Gosho Aoyama Manga Factory, enjoying the “Conan Town” atmosphere along the way. However, since we were driving, we simply parked directly at the Manga Factory’s parking lot and walked backward through the town. For any Detective Conan fan, this “Conan Town”—or rather, Death God Town (just kidding!)—is definitely worth a full day of exploration.
Admission: It’s incredibly budget-friendly! Converted to Taiwanese dollars, it’s just over 100 NTD.
Highlights: The museum perfectly recreates Gosho Aoyama’s studio and features a vast collection of precious original manuscripts and character models. Although the exhibition hall isn’t huge (you could rush through it in about half an hour), as fans, we spent nearly two hours just studying the details and taking photos! (A small reminder: Photography is prohibited in some original manuscript areas!)
Currently, in my opinion, the top Detective Conan movie masterpiece is: The Phantom of Baker Street.
There’s also the latest movie poster：Detective Conan: One-Eyed Flashback
Walking from the Gosho Aoyama Manga Factory towards the station is like a treasure hunt the whole way! With statues of Conan characters, mural walls painted with manga scenes, and road markers etched with comic book covers, every corner holds a surprise. Your camera’s shutter simply won’t stop!
When we pressed the doorbell at the Kudo residence, guess who answered? (Hint: There are four voice options: Shinichi, Ran, Conan, and Subaru Okiya!)
After all that exploring, we were absolutely starving, so we dove right into “Conan’s Kitchen” to find some grub.
After our meal, we couldn’t miss Conan Department Store right next door. Besides loading up on merchandise, they also had a display of Gosho Aoyama’s autograph!
Continuing our walk towards the station, the photo opportunities just kept coming! Even the statues along the Conan Bridge each had their own unique design.
We finally arrived at “Yura Station,” which now boasts an even more resounding name: Conan Station! This humble, unmanned station has drawn fans from all over the world, all thanks to Detective Conan.
The Ran Mouri statue is quite a bit further than the others; it took us about 10-15 minutes to walk there from the station.
Just like on the internet, this Conan statue at Michi-no-Eki Daiei was our final check-in point.
Leaving Conan Town, we made a quick stop at the Tottori Nijisseiki Pear Museum. Upon entering, a real-life drama of joy and sorrow immediately unfolded.
Bad news: The free pear samples were all gone… 😭
Good news: Admission was free today! 🎉
After exploring, it was time for dinner again. We found Yakiniku Gyu-Oh Kurayoshi. It’s conveniently located right by Kurayoshi Station, so if you’re taking the train after visiting Conan Town, this is a great spot for yakiniku. The quality of their Wagyu and Manyo beef is superb, and the seating areas are separated by curtains, offering excellent privacy. The portions are refined, meaning you get to enjoy high-quality cuts and still feel satisfied. I highly recommend it for travelers looking to treat themselves!
After our satisfying meal, we took our three days’ worth of clothes to a nearby self-service laundry shop. Washing and drying took roughly two hours. During that time, we wandered over to a nearby supermarket to browse and buy some snacks. Once the laundry was done, we headed back to Mansuirou.
Day 4: Tottori Sand Dunes → Tottori Karon Port Fresh Fish Market → Conan Airport → Hakuto Shrine → Machiya Shimizu-an
On the morning of Day 4, the sun finally made an appearance! We immediately rushed to the highlight of this trip: the Tottori Sand Dunes!
Quick Knowledge Nugget 🤓 Sand dunes ≠ desert! Sand dunes are accumulations of sand piled up by wind, where it can rain and plants can grow; a desert, on the other hand, is an extremely arid region.
Stepping onto the sand barefoot, I was relieved there was no mud, and the sand itself was incredibly fine and soft to the touch. If you prefer not to go barefoot or get sand in your shoes, you can rent boots or sandals at the Sand Dune Center.
You absolutely must walk to Uma-no-se (horse’s back). This sand dune, shaped like a horse’s spine, requires an effortful climb up its nearly 15-story height. From the top, the view of the Japan Sea on the other side is so incredibly vast and magnificent that it will leave you speechless.
Because of the rain a few days prior, small puddles had formed, creating an oasis-like scene amidst what felt like a desert.
At the sand dunes, you can also enjoy a camel ride, a unique experience that makes you feel as if you’ve been transported to an exotic land.
After walking around the sand dunes, we returned to the entrance area where there’s a foot-washing station to rinse off all the sand. Afterward, we walked to a nearby spot to eat Totto PURIN.
The caramelized sugar sprinkled on top was super cute, perfectly mirroring the sand of the dunes!
After conquering the sand dunes, our energy levels were completely drained! We headed to the Karon Port Fresh Fish Market to refuel. The market was absolutely packed with fresh seafood.
But in the end… we were pulled in by a ramen shop! 🍜
After satisfying our hunger, we made our way to one of only two airports in the world named after a manga: Tottori Sand Dunes Conan Airport.
Right at the entrance, there’s a map introducing all the Conan elements found on each floor.
I can only post a few photos for now; otherwise, I’d be uploading way too many pictures!
You can likely finish exploring and taking photos at the airport in about an hour. Afterward, we’ll head to Hakuto Shrine, a place steeped in mythology. The “Hare of Inaba” myth tells the story of a bullied white rabbit eventually helped by a deity. The Hakuto God is believed to bring happiness, good fortune, and help in overcoming difficulties. The shrine is also renowned as a god of matchmaking, credited with bringing Ōkuninushi-no-Mikoto and Yagamihime together, earning it the designation of a “Lover’s Sanctuary.”
There weren’t any actual rabbits at the shrine, but we did encounter several lazy and adorable white cats instead.
On the other side, at Hakuto Coast, some people were out surfing, despite a light drizzle and the temperature being in the low teens (Celsius).
As evening approached, we made our way to Machiya Shimizu-an, a restaurant located near the Kurayoshi Shirakabe Dozogun (White Wall Storehouses), to enjoy their 12-color mochi shabu-shabu.
After a satisfying meal, we took a leisurely stroll along the charming, old-fashioned streets. Then, we returned to Mansuirou, putting a perfect cap on this Tottori trip that beautifully blended anime, mythology, and breathtaking scenery.
PART 3 to be continued…