A Hands-On Report from USJ: Become a Hostage in the New 'Detective Conan' Real Escape Game! A New Wristband Feature Doubles the Thrills as You Race Against Time to Stop a Bombing.

USJ's celebration of Japanese pop culture, Universal Cool Japan, is back! We introduce the highly anticipated new 'Detective Conan' attraction.

Universal Studios Japan will host "Universal Cool Japan 2026," an event that brings together Japan's iconic entertainment brands, starting January 30.

Now in its 11th year, the event features three attractions that immerse you in the world of 'Detective Conan.' The highlight is 'Detective Conan: The Escape - Prologue to the Highway,' an authentic puzzle-solving real escape game where guests themselves become hostages. Here's a spoiler-free look at the story and its key features.

Masumi Sera, Kogoro Mori, Ran Mori, Sonoko Suzuki, and Conan Edogawa visit the Bell Tree Smart Mobility Laboratory, built by the Suzuki Financial Group. They are attending a new technology presentation and exhibition, to which the media has also been invited.

The presentation introduces the famous detective "Sleeping Kogoro," reveals a connection between Sonoko and the lab's director, Hinohara, and showcases the lab's cutting-edge autonomous driving system, a culmination of their intensive research.

Immediately after, Director Hinohara receives a threatening email: "Pay 500 million yen in cryptocurrency within one hour, or the laboratory will be blown up."

Suddenly, an explosion rips through the ceiling, and alarms blare. A swarm of drones appears above the lab, and news footage reveals that one has crashed into the facility, bursting into flames.

You, the guests, are caught up in the mission: disable the system and stop the bombing before time runs out! Police officers Chihaya Hagiwara and Juugo Yokomizo arrive on the scene, joining forces with you and the other characters in a thrilling collaborative effort. How will Conan solve the case? Your choices will determine everyone's fate in this high-stakes, maximum-intensity real escape game.

A new technology launch event at a research lab is targeted by a swarm of drone bombs. Alongside Conan, Kogoro, Ran, and Sera, you must race against the clock to disable the system and prevent the attack!

The attraction is located at Stage 18 in the Hollywood area. It begins with a 15-minute opening show, after which guests are guided into the "laboratory" to start the real escape game. Puzzles are scattered across the building's four floors. Using a tablet provided at the start, you'll need to use your own wits to solve mysteries and advance through the rooms.

While USJ has hosted 'Detective Conan' real escape games before, a new feature this time is a mandatory wristband (with an RFID tag) for all participants.

This wristband syncs with your tablet, recording your individual progress at various experience stations throughout the game. The fate of the mission hinges on your puzzle-solving answers, doubling the tension and thrill as you face the constant threat of explosion.

For the climax, everyone gathers in one room for the familiar "deduction" phase (the ending show). You'll witness Sera and Conan (speaking through "Sleeping Kogoro") unravel the mystery right before your eyes in the "real world." What happened to the bomb? And finally, the confrontation with the culprit begins. Expect the unexpected, right up to the very end!

The attraction lasts approximately 120 minutes. A separate, special ticket is required for this experience. Prices start from 3,200 yen (same price for adults, children, and seniors).