An older model of the Detective Conan-themed train that goes to the Tottori Prefecture. The recently launched model sees the interior also decorated in Conan artwork. — TZU-HSUN HSU/Wikimedia Commons
A special express train decorated with characters from the famous manga Detective Conan departed from Kurayoshi Station in Japan’s manga hub Tottori Prefecture recently as the region looked to attract tourists from home and abroad.
Both the exterior and interior of the Detective Conan-themed Super Hakuto train, bound for Kyoto, feature depictions of the various iconic characters in the manga so that passengers can immerse themselves in the Conan world.
The launch of the themed train service has attracted Conan fans from other parts of Japan.
“I am so excited to see the decorated train carriages and really look forward to the tour,” said a passenger who took an overnight bus from Tokyo for the train ride.
The Super Hakuto Limited Express, jointly operated by Chizu Express and the West Japan Railway Company, connects Tottori Prefecture, the hometown of Detective Conan’s creator Gosho Aoyama, with Japan’s Keihanshin area including the cities of Kobe, Osaka and Kyoto.
As the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka approaches, Tottori anticipates a surge in visitors, with the special train service.
Detective Conan, also known as Case Closed, is a highly popular Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Aoyama. The manga has been serialised in a weekly magazine since 1994 and has been adapted into animated series, videogames and live-action television specials.
The manga’s worldwide popularity has inspired real-world detective cafes, themed train services as well as the Gosho Aoyama Manga Factory in Tottori, which has become a major tourist attraction in the region. – Xinhua
