Detective Conan Pilgrimage & Events 2026: 30th Anniversary Guide

Last updated: April 2026.

Detective Conan is running more events in 2026 than any other anime IP in Japan — and it’s not close. The 30th TV anime anniversary has triggered a nationwide exhibition tour (12 cities), the 29th movie “Highway’s Fallen Angel” opens April 10, the annual Conan Cafe is serving themed food across 6 cities, Sunshine City Ikebukuro is hosting its 8th Conan collaboration event through June 7, and USJ’s Detective Conan World runs through June 30. If you’re visiting Japan between April and August 2026, you can hit multiple Conan events in a single trip without even trying.

Conan also has one of the deepest pilgrimage networks of any anime: real-world locations in Tokyo, Yokohama (the new movie’s setting), Osaka, and Tottori Prefecture (creator Gosho Aoyama’s hometown, complete with a renamed “Conan Station” and a full Conan-themed town). This guide covers every current event, the key pilgrimage locations, and how to plan an efficient Conan-focused itinerary across Japan.

Table of Contents

• What Conan Events Are Happening in 2026?
• Where Are the Best Conan Pilgrimage Spots in Tokyo?
• How Do You Get Tickets for the Sunshine City Conan Event?
• Is the Conan Cafe Worth It?
• How Do You Visit Conan Town in Tottori?
• What About USJ’s Detective Conan World in Osaka?
• Frequently Asked Questions

What Conan Events Are Happening in 2026?

Here’s everything running or confirmed as of April 2026:

The 29th Movie: Highway’s Fallen Angel (ハイウェイの堕天使)

Opening April 10, the 29th Conan theatrical film features Hagiwara Chihaya — nicknamed the “Wind Goddess” — in her big-screen debut. The setting is Yokohama Minato Mirai, built around a motorcycle festival that turns into a high-speed chase through the city. For pilgrimage fans, this means Yokohama gets a fresh batch of Conan-related real-world locations to visit. The movie’s Yokohama connections overlap with existing attractions like the Cup Noodles Museum and Cosmo Clock 21 Ferris wheel — all within the Minato Mirai waterfront area.

30th Anniversary TV Anime Exhibition

The biggest Conan event of 2026. This touring exhibition covers the entire production process — from manga to animation to theme songs — with famous scene recreations, production materials, and a special screening theater. The Tokyo run at Tokyo Dome City Prism Hall ended in March, but the tour continues:

Tickets are available through Lawson Ticket (l-tike.com) and Seven Ticket (7ticket.jp). The Osaka run (Jul 11 – Aug 16) overlaps with peak summer travel season and could be combined with USJ if the Conan World event gets extended.

Where Are the Best Conan Pilgrimage Spots in Tokyo?

Detective Conan is set in the fictional Beika City (米花町), but the Tokyo landmarks that appear throughout the series are very real:

Tokyo Tower: Appears as “Toto Tower” (東都タワー) in the series and features in multiple cases and movie climaxes. The observation deck at 150m costs ¥1,200 for adults. It’s most atmospheric at night — the tower’s orange illumination matches the series’ dramatic evening scenes.

Tokyo Skytree: Modeled as “Bell Tree Tower” in the anime. The Tembo Deck (350m) costs ¥2,100 and the Tembo Galleria (450m) is an additional ¥1,000. The surrounding Solamachi shopping complex occasionally hosts Conan merchandise pop-ups.

Shibuya Scramble Crossing: Featured in several major cases, including movie scenes where the crossing becomes a crime scene. Free to visit — just walk through it. The Shibuya Sky observation deck (¥2,000) gives you the overhead view that matches several anime frames.

Sunshine City, Ikebukuro: Currently hosting the 8th Conan collaboration event (through June 7, 2026). The observation deck “Tenbo Park” at the top of Sunshine 60 and the Sunshine Aquarium are both participating venues. Mystery-solving rally events run in two phases with different storylines. A Detective Conan Plaza pop-up store sells exclusive merchandise on the observation deck floor.

How Do You Get Tickets for the Sunshine City Conan Event?

The Sunshine City collaboration (April 8 – June 7, 2026) is one of the most accessible Conan events for international visitors because most of it is free:

Free elements: Walking around the Conan-decorated Sunshine City complex, visiting the Detective Conan Plaza pop-up store, and seeing the character displays in common areas.

Paid elements: The mystery-solving rally (requires purchase of a rally kit, typically ¥1,000-1,500), Sunshine 60 Tenbo Park observation deck admission (¥700-1,200), and Sunshine Aquarium admission (¥2,600 adults). The aquarium features exclusive Conan-collaboration merchandise and a special sea lion performance during the event period.

Special dates: Character photo sessions run during Golden Week (May 1-5) — expect longer queues during these days.

No advance reservation is needed for the general event. The observation deck and aquarium sell tickets at the door or online through their respective websites. For the mystery rally, buy the kit on-site at the designated counter. The rally runs in two phases (Phase 1 and Phase 2 have different stories), so dedicated fans can visit twice.

Getting there: Sunshine City is a 10-minute walk from Ikebukuro Station’s east exit, or directly connected via underground passage from Higashi-Ikebukuro Station on the Yurakucho Line.

Is the Conan Cafe Worth It?

The 2026 Conan Cafe theme is “Harbor Town Retro” (港町レトロ) — a retro-modern Western restaurant aesthetic with custom character illustrations in vintage outfits. It’s running at 8 venues across 6 cities, with Tokyo locations in Shibuya (from April 10) and Ikebukuro (from April 17).

The Conan Cafe consistently produces some of the highest-quality collab cafe food in Tokyo. Past years have featured character-themed cocktails (non-alcoholic options available), mystery-box dessert sets where you solve a mini case to determine your order, and food presentation that references specific manga panels. Exclusive merchandise is available only at the cafe.

Prices run ¥990 for drinks, ¥1,200-1,990 for food items, and ¥1,100-2,200 for merchandise items. A typical visit (one food item + one drink + one merch piece) totals around ¥3,500 (~$24).

For Tokyo visitors, the Ikebukuro cafe location is strategically smart — you can combine it with the Sunshine City Conan event (10-minute walk) for a full Conan half-day. Reservations are through the official cafe site at conan-cafe.jp. The Ikebukuro Phase 2 run (May 20 – August 2) will be easier to book than Phase 1, which overlaps with movie release hype.

How Do You Visit Conan Town in Tottori?

Creator Gosho Aoyama grew up in Hokuei (北栄町), Tottori Prefecture, and the town has fully embraced its connection to Detective Conan. The JR station has been officially renamed Conan Station (コナン駅), the shopping street is Conan Street, and the Gosho Aoyama Manga Factory museum displays original manuscripts, character models, and interactive exhibits.

The honest assessment: Conan Town is a pilgrimage destination for dedicated fans, not a casual side trip. Getting there takes effort:

From Tokyo: Shinkansen to Okayama (~3.5 hours, ¥17,000) then JR Sanin Main Line to Yura Station (~2.5 hours, ~¥4,000). Total: about 6 hours each way. This is a full-day commitment or requires an overnight stay.

From Osaka: JR to Yura Station via Sanin Main Line, about 2.5-3 hours. More manageable as a day trip if you leave early.

If you’re making the trip, combine it with Tottori Sand Dunes (Japan’s largest sand dunes, about 1 hour from Conan Town) to fill a full day. The JR Pass covers all train legs, which significantly reduces the cost — the Tokyo-Tottori round trip alone is worth ¥34,000+ without a pass.

What About USJ’s Detective Conan World in Osaka?

Universal Studios Japan runs Detective Conan World as part of its annual Universal Cool Japan event. The 2026 edition (January 30 – June 30) features three attractions:

Detective Conan: The Escape — A live-action puzzle adventure where you’re a “hostage” trying to solve clues and stop a bombing. New for 2026: wristband-based interaction system that tracks your progress. Time-limited with groups of 20-30 participants. This is the most immersive Conan experience available anywhere — it’s part escape room, part live theater, part theme park ride.

Detective Conan: Mystery Restaurant — A sit-down dinner show where you solve a mystery while eating a full course meal. Live singing performances are part of the storyline. This is the most expensive option (requires separate ticket + park admission) but also the most memorable.

Detective Conan x Story Ride — A themed ride featuring Conan, the Detective Boys, and Heiji Hattori in a runaway self-driving car scenario. Less cerebral than The Escape, more adrenaline-focused.

USJ park admission starts at ¥8,600 (~$59) for a 1-day pass, with date-based pricing going up to ¥10,400 (~$71) on peak days. The Conan attractions require additional Express Passes or separate tickets. Book through Klook for occasional bundle deals, or directly at usj.co.jp. The 2026 Cool Japan event also features Jujutsu Kaisen, Frieren, and Monster Hunter — you can combine multiple IPs in one park visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best single Conan event if I can only visit one?
For accessibility and value, the Sunshine City collaboration in Ikebukuro. It’s mostly free, doesn’t require advance booking, runs through June 7, and you can combine it with the Conan Cafe in Ikebukuro for a full half-day. For a more immersive experience, USJ’s The Escape is the best single attraction — but it requires being in Osaka and buying park admission.

Is Conan Town in Tottori worth the long trip?
For hardcore Conan fans, yes — there’s nothing else like it in the world, and the Gosho Aoyama Museum has original manuscripts you can’t see anywhere else. For casual fans, the 6-hour travel time from Tokyo makes it hard to justify unless you’re already visiting the San’in region. The 30th anniversary special exhibition running April 4-26 adds extra incentive if your timing works.

Can I visit multiple Conan events in one Tokyo trip?
Easily. The Conan Cafe Ikebukuro and Sunshine City event are both in Ikebukuro, walkable from each other. Add the movie at any Tokyo theater. That’s three Conan experiences in one day without leaving one neighborhood. The 30th anniversary exhibition has already left Tokyo but continues in other cities through early 2027.

Do I need to understand Japanese for these events?
The movie is in Japanese with no subtitles in domestic theaters. The Sunshine City mystery rally is primarily in Japanese (some English support available). The Conan Cafe is fully navigable without Japanese — point and order. USJ’s The Escape is in Japanese, which limits the puzzle-solving aspect for non-speakers, but the theatrical experience still works. The Gosho Aoyama Museum has some English signage.

Are the Conan Cafe reservations hard to get?
Phase 1 (opening weeks) sells out quickly due to movie premiere excitement. Phase 2 (late May onward) is significantly easier. The Ikebukuro location has the most seats. Book through conan-cafe.jp — the system accepts international email addresses.

How does Detective Conan connect to Osaka beyond USJ?
Osaka native Heiji Hattori is a recurring character, and several cases are set in the Osaka area. The Conan Cafe also has an Osaka location. For a dedicated Osaka anime trip, combine USJ Conan World, the Osaka collab cafe scene, and the Den Den Town shopping district.

More Pilgrimage & Event Guides

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• Tokyo Collab Cafes Summer 2026
• Book Japan Anime Events from Overseas
• Japan Rail Pass 2026: Is It Worth It?
• Japan eSIM vs Pocket WiFi: Best Pick for 2026

Written by Takapon

Born and raised in Kyoto, currently in Tokyo. Former management consultant turned anime culture writer. Has visited countless collaboration cafes and pilgrimage spots across Japan. Also sharing tips on Instagram @pop_now_jp.

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