Gosho Aoyama Manga Factory

Gosho Aoyama Manga Factory (Aoyama Gosho Furusato-kan) is located in Hokuei Town, Tottori Prefecture. It is an anime and manga museum dedicated to Gosho Aoyama, a renowned manga artist born in the area. Established and operated by the Hokuei Town Office, the museum showcases Aoyama’s manuscripts, his personal history, and materials related to his creative works. Since his most famous work is Detective Conan, the museum also features a large number of exhibits connected to the series, earning it the popular nickname “Conan Museum.”

To promote tourism, Hokuei Town developed the approximately 1.4 km road between Yura Station and the Gosho Aoyama Manga Factory into “Conan Street.” Along the route, visitors can find numerous Detective Conan-themed facilities and landmarks, including Conan Station, Conan Avenue, Conan Bridge, Conan’s House, Beika Shopping Street, and the Giant Conan Maze, filling the entire area with an anime atmosphere.

Historical Background

Gosho Aoyama was born in 1963 in the former town of Daiei (now Hokuei). He attended Daiei Elementary School, Daiei Junior High School, and Yura Eikyo High School before leaving his hometown after graduation. In 1999, with Aoyama’s consent, the Daiei Town Office named the town’s main road “Conan Avenue” and the bridge crossing the Yura River “Conan Bridge.” Aoyama himself attended the opening ceremony of the bridge.

In 2003, the Japanese government launched the “Visit Japan Campaign” to stimulate local economies through tourism. As part of this initiative, Tottori Prefecture developed a tourism plan centered on Detective Conan, envisioning the creation of a “Conan Village” to attract visitors. After the 2005 merger of Daiei Town and Hōjō Town into Hokuei Town, this vision was further realized when the “Daiei Town History and Culture Learning Hall” was converted into the “Gosho Aoyama Manga Factory.” The museum officially opened in 2007 and has since become the core tourist attraction of Hokuei.

Since 2007, the annual “Watermelon & Yam Health Marathon,” held every July, has also been endorsed by Detective Conan, combining the promotion of anime with the town’s local agricultural products.