Midsummer Japan Trip: 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 Kingdom of Manga—Tottori Prefecture, Japan—will kick off on July 13 during summer vacation. During this nearly one-and-a-half-month event, you can enjoy themed exhibitions by Mizuki Shigeru, creator of GeGeGe no Kitaro, Jiro Taniguchi, author of A Distant Neighborhood, and Gosho Aoyama, creator of Detective Conan. You can also visit the Mizuki Shigeru Memorial Museum and the Gosho Aoyama Native Place Museum to immerse yourself in the supernatural world of Kitaro and the skateboard gadgets of Conan. In addition, visitors planning to go to Tottori can ride the Sakaiminato Kitaro Train and the Detective Conan Train. Both trains feature exteriors and interior designs inspired by their respective manga, offering a dreamlike experience rivaling that of Disney.

The Tottori Prefecture Manga Expo, taking place from July 13 to August 25, features the “Mizuki Shigeru: War and Newspaper Reports” exhibition at the Kurayoshi Museum, the “Gosho Aoyama’s World Exhibition” at the Tottori Cultural Hall, and the transformation of the white-walled earthen wall district in Kurayoshi City into a real-life setting from A Distant Neighborhood, allowing manga fans to feel as if they’ve stepped inside the pages of their favorite comics. Additionally, the Kurayoshi Future Center will host a special exhibition titled “50 Years of Television Animation” (テレビアニメ50年) from July 13 to August 18, showcasing the history and future potential 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, local government and Mr. Mizuki began planning to integrate characters from his manga into the town in 1989, and in 2003, the Mizuki Shigeru Memorial Museum was established here. In addition to displaying Mizuki’s manga creations, the museum features various rooms themed around yokai (Japanese monsters), with even the garden becoming a realm of these creatures. Visitors should 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 and signs of various-sized characters, and even a yokai shrine. With some luck, you might even encounter Kitaro or Nezumi Otoko (Rat Man).

For Conan fans on a quest for the one true answer, the Gosho Aoyama Native Place Museum in Higashikawa, Tottori—also known as the official Conan Museum—is not to be missed. Higashikawa is famous for Detective Conan and is also the hometown of Gosho Aoyama. The museum displays replica original drawings from Aoyama’s various works, Detective Conan books from around the world, and offers a look into the author’s studio. There’s also a dedicated experience area for Conan’s skateboard gadget, and the museum provides costumes of Conan and Kaitou Kid (Kaitou KID) for cosplay. Moreover, visitors can take part in a quiz challenge; all answers can be found within the museum. Successful challengers receive a beginner-level certificate, which can be used to unlock more advanced questions, with the ultimate goal of earning a PREMIUM certificate.

For manga fans aiming to ride unique themed trains, both the Sakaiminato Kitaro Train and the Detective Conan Train operate in Tottori Prefecture. The Kitaro Train runs on the JR Sakai Line between Yonago Station and Sakaiminato Station. Yonago Station is nicknamed Nezumi Otoko Station, while Sakaiminato Station is called Kitaro Station. The train includes themed cars such as Kitaro, Nezumi Otoko, Neko Musume (Cat Girl), Medama Oyaji (Eyeball Dad), 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. The Detective Conan Train runs on the JR San’in Main Line between Tottori Station and Yonago Station, featuring 35 manga characters including Conan, Ran, and the Junior Detective League. Taking the train to Yura Station will bring you closer to the Gosho Aoyama Native Place Museum.