Day 10 : Finding "My Neverland" - Conan Town (Gosho Aoyama Manga Factory)

Conan Town

A small town wrapped in Conan Edogawa rhapsody. Fill in with so many Conan creatures in harmony. Train station, statue, bridge and the big one, Gosho Aoyama Manga Factory; a museum granted by local government to Aoyama Gosho (mangaka of Meitantei Conan).

How to get here?
From Tottori station take JR Lines (San-In Line) to Yura Station, this station currently famous as Conan Station. It takes around 1 hour and cost only JPY 820 (one way).

As a small station in a small town, Yura station was derived under simplicity. Small ticketing counter, waiting room plus minimum station officer. Under minimal circumstances, this station being transformed into nice configuration of Conan hometown. Even, best for Conanholic like me.

Waiting room fill in with a semi-plastic chair embedded with different conan figure. Many Conan painting have located inside with a huge board saying "Welcome to Conan Station". Even, the entrance door and window were designed using transparent Conan figures under the glasses. Even more, Conan were used as an icon of Yura Station.



Yura Station, by: Abang






Conan Town, Hokuei - Tottori Prefecture

 

Don't forget to pick Conan Town Map available near ticketing machine located inside the station hall. Conan Town ready to be our next leisure. Out of the station, there's 12 Conan Statue spreading around the town, waiting to be found and picked as a background on photo session. Don't forget about around 26 different frame of book cover that used for marking the town road. This marking will lead us to the main destination such as Conan Bridge and Gosho Aoyama Manga Factory (GAMF). There's no public transportation in this small town, hence what you need to do is just walk...yeay, its the best way to enjoy this town.

GAMF it selves form into small building in a "factory" appearance. This museum framed up into an exhibition area that offering mini treasure and experience that spread in both o first and second floor.  Upfront, they have prototype of all Conan statue that have located at the town. Not only that, Gosho Aoyama's biography, first and other creatures also taken part of this exhibition.

At the entrance, we will received an exam paper. Yups, an exam. This paper contain several question in relation with both Gosho Aoyama and his creatures. What you need to do is just figure out the answer while you were sightseeing inside. You'll answer will be checked by the Counter Officer once you finish your visit. The correct one will get a GAMF member card. Heheheh..this is sound silly, but this membership only given to the one who ever being here. Its proved it. #JustforConanHolic

Dont forget to take a "stamp" form around 1st floor. This form has 4 blank "round" that can be stamped with 4 different figures of Conan and Yaiba. Those stamps are spread in the 1st and 2nd floor. #GAMFonly

At the 1st floor, other than prototype and writer's biography, there's also replica of Aoyama work desk, Detective Conan collection in various language and map of Conan distribution in the world, Skateboard, vow tie machine replica and many exhibition of Conan T-shirt and merchandise ever.

2nd floor have a mini jigsaw of Detective Conan Character, Giant-board of Conan anime characters, Aoyama Gosho mini toys theatre, and some display of trick used by Conan during resolving some cases.

Near to the exit door, there's Conan souvenir shop. Many souvenir such as pin, magnet, t-shirt, toys, tissue, booklet, tumbler, clear holder, bag, jigsaw, anime figures, and many..many more. This shop made me overreacting by picking so many items to buy ^^

In our way back to Yura station, i came by to the anime store located near Conan Bridge. This store have many souvenir for some famous Japanese anime such us One Piece, Naruto, Bleach, Conan and many more. Since it's not specifically tribute to one theme (anime), Conan collection at this store are limited. But, it has some oldish stuff that sold in affordable price (cheaper than normal price at GAMF). I've bought some Conan towel, tumbler, booklet, lighter, and some miniature.
 


Conan Town - most of the main roads marked with Conan Book Figures from vol 1 - 26

  Have a short walk around this city brief me another view of Japan, especially Japanese. Passing through each traditional houses and crossing both of the road and Conan Bridge that almost empty. None hanging around, even there's no silly sound nor television inside the house. Did they taken by zombie? But, we have changed our thought once we passing a small department store embedded with some staffs that being busy on arranging items on to the shelves. In addition, in our last journey to the Gosho Aoyama's elementary school, we noticed that there's many students were studying in the classes.

As i told you before, i ever has a dream come true. Yes, it is. After experiencing Backstreet Boys live concert in Jakarta, visiting Conan town give me more. Thanks to Allah for the blessing, for Mom and Dad who give me permission to do "such" a thing (some people thought that its silly thing to spend your money), and for Abang, my best companion.


"If you have a dream, wake up!!!! nothin' will be real if you just fall asleep."

Notes:
JR (Japan Railpass) Tottori - Yura = JPY 820 (one way)
Entrance fee GAMF (Adult) = JPY 700 per person
For the details GAMF, see my notes at:  http://sunteaedogawa.blogspot.com/2011/08/gosho-aoyama-manga-factory-tottori.html