What the Fair Includes
The promotion, reported by Anime Anime, launched on May 22 and spans 47 bookstores concentrated in the greater Tokyo area. Purchase any single volume of the light novel — volumes 1 through 16 are eligible — and you'll receive one randomly selected paper-cut-style card illustrated with art from the novels. The two designs feature the series' leads, Maomao and Jinshi. Each purchase also comes with a ¥300 discount coupon redeemable at the Yokohama venue of the ongoing novel exhibition.
The coupon applies to same-day ticket purchases and merchandise orders of ¥3,000 or more at the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse location. One coupon per transaction, and advance tickets aren't eligible for the discount. Both the cards and coupons are available while supplies last at each store.
The Exhibition Behind the Fair
The bookstore fair is a tie-in to "The Apothecary Diaries Novel Exhibition: Poison and Medicine, Science and Mystery," the franchise's first large-scale exhibition dedicated to the original light novels. Rather than focusing on the anime adaptation, the exhibition digs into author Natsu Hyūga's written world and illustrator Shino Touko's artwork, featuring newly written episodes exclusive to the event and behind-the-scenes material never published before.
The exhibition's Tokyo run wrapped up at Tokyo Solamachi late last year. The Yokohama venue opens June 5 and runs through June 21, 2026, at Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse Building 1 (2F), with hours from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and last entry at 6:30 p.m. The venue is about a six-minute walk from Bashamichi or Nihon-Ōdōri stations on the Minatomirai Line.
The event is organized by Tohan Corporation with cooperation from Imagica Infos, ADK Emotions, and ADK Creative One.
A Massive Year for the Franchise
The Apothecary Diaries is in the middle of a banner stretch. The 45-million-copy mystery series — which follows Maomao, a sharp-tongued poison taster who can't stop solving crimes in the imperial rear palace — already delivered two successful anime seasons produced at TOHO animation STUDIO and OLM. Season 1 aired from October 2023 through March 2024, and Season 2 ran from January to July 2025, both ranking consistently among the top titles on streaming platforms.
Now, Season 3 is confirmed for an October 2026 premiere, with a theatrical film arriving in December 2026. The film will feature an original story written by Hyūga herself. Between the exhibition, the bookstore fair, themed cafés, JR East collaboration campaigns, and a steady stream of merchandise, the franchise is building serious momentum heading into the fall broadcast.
Looking Ahead
The Yokohama exhibition runs June 5–21, so fans in the Kanagawa area have a narrow window. The bookstore fair's end date varies by location, but stock is limited — if the cards matter to you, sooner is better.
On the anime front, Season 3's October 2026 premiere is the next major milestone. No dedicated Season 3 trailer has dropped yet, so expect one over the summer. Crunchyroll streams the series internationally and is the likely home for Season 3 outside Japan as well, though no official confirmation for the new season's streaming has been announced.
For English-language readers who want to get ahead of the anime, the light novels are available digitally through J-Novel Club and in print from Square Enix Manga & Books.