Midsummer in Japan: Ride the GeGeGe no Kitaro Train to the Kingdom of Manga

Attention die-hard fans of Japanese manga—the second annual Manga Expo — held in the manga kingdom of Tottori Prefecture, Japan — will kick off on July 13th during summer vacation. Over the nearly one-and-a-half-month event, visitors can enjoy themed exhibitions by Mizuki Shigeru (author of GeGeGe no Kitaro), Takumi Nagayasu (author of A Distant Neighborhood), and Gosho Aoyama (author of Detective Conan), as well as visit the Mizuki Shigeru Memorial Museum and the Gosho Aoyama’s Hometown Museum to immerse themselves in the supernatural world of Kitaro and the skateboard gadgets of Conan. Additionally, travelers planning to visit Tottori can hop aboard the Sakaiminato Kitaro Train and the Detective Conan Train, both featuring exteriors and interior designs inspired by their respective manga themes—offering a dreamlike experience rivaling that of Disney-themed trains.

The Tottori Prefecture Manga Expo, taking place from July 13th to August 25th, features the “Mizuki Shigeru: War and News Reporting” exhibition at the Kurayoshi Museum, the “Gosho Aoyama’s World Exhibition” at the Tottori Cultural Hall, and has transformed the Shirakabe Dohyō Cluster in Kurayoshi City into a real-life setting from A Distant Neighborhood, making fans feel as though they’ve stepped into the pages of a manga. Moreover, the Kurayoshi Future Center will host a special exhibition titled “50 Years of Television Animation” (Television Anime 50 Years) from July 13th to August 18th, showcasing the historical development and future possibilities of Japanese animation over the past 50 years.

The Mizuki Shigeru Memorial Museum, a must-visit for GeGeGe no Kitaro fans, is located in Sakaiminato, Tottori. To boost tourism in Sakaiminato, the local government and Mizuki Sensei began planning in 1989 to integrate the characters from his manga into the town, and in 2003, the museum was established. In addition to displaying Mizuki’s original manga works, the museum also features various rooms themed around yokai (monsters), with even the garden serving as their domain—so be careful not to step into another world while exploring. On the way from Sakaiminato Station to the museum lies the Mizuki Shigeru Road, lined with statues, signs, and even a yokai shrine featuring characters of all sizes. If you’re lucky, you might even run into Kitaro or Nezumi Otoko (Rat Man).

Detective Conan fans on a quest for the ultimate truth won’t want to miss the Gosho Aoyama’s Hometown Museum in Kitagawa, Tottori—also known as the official Conan Museum. Kitagawa is famous for Detective Conan and is also the hometown of Gosho Aoyama. The museum displays reproductions of original artwork from Aoyama’s various works, Detective Conan books from around the world, and even offers a peek into the author’s studio. There is also a dedicated area for experiencing the skateboard gadgets featured in the series, and the museum provides costumes for role-playing as Conan and Kaitou Kid. Additionally, visitors can take part in a quiz challenge—answers can all be found within the museum—with successful participants earning a beginner-level certificate. This can be used to unlock more advanced challenges, with the ultimate goal of obtaining the PREMIUM certificate.

For manga fans aiming to ride unique themed trains, both the Sakaiminato Kitaro Train and the Detective Conan Train operate within Tottori Prefecture. The Kitaro Train runs on the JR Sakai Line between Yonago Station and Sakaiminato Station—Yonago Station is nicknamed Nezumi Otoko Station, and Sakaiminato Station is called Kitaro Station. The train includes themed cars for Kitaro, Nezumi Otoko, Neko Musume, Medama Oyaji, and the Kitaro Family. Riding the Kitaro Train to Sakaiminato Station allows you to walk to the Mizuki Shigeru Memorial Museum via Mizuki Shigeru Road. Meanwhile, the Detective Conan Train operates on the JR San’in Main Line between Tottori Station and Yonago Station, featuring 35 characters from the series, including Conan, Ran, and the Junior Detective League. Riders can get off at Yura Station to visit the Gosho Aoyama’s Hometown Museum.