Apothecary Diaries Returns to Ibaraki for Year-Two Tourism Collab

Ibaraki Prefecture and the TV anime The Apothecary Diaries have locked in a second year of collaboration under the tourism brand IBARAKI is Blossoming. Timed with a July 27 refresh of the prefecture’s branding site, the team unveiled a new key visual and a special promo film that cast palace pharmacist Maomao and inner-palace administrator Jinshi as guides through Ibaraki’s four seasons.

The campaign theme — “a bouquet-like journey weaving seasonal stories” — pairs the hit series’ lush court atmosphere with real-world spots: spring flower fields, summer fireworks, autumn flavors and foliage, and winter landscapes. The new art places both leads against those local scenes, while the special movie follows them through nature, food, crafts, and scenic experiences as if flipping pages in a travelogue.

Fans can already browse the renewed site for seasonal itineraries and “gem” experience packages, with more interactive content on the way. Officials teased an AR photo-spot rollout and a second stamp-rally after last year’s well-received first collab — exclusive photo ops and collectible stamp stops that turn a prefecture tour into must-do anime merch tourism.

The timing is no accident. The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 is set for a split-cour run beginning in October 2026, with the theatrical film The Apothecary Diaries: The Secret Treasure of the Deceased Consort opening December 11 in Japan. For viewers planning a real-world pilgrimage before the next court intrigue airs, Ibaraki just reopened the map.

Official: Official site · X