Fullmetal Alchemist × Daemons of the Shadow Realm Exhibition — Sapporo

An exhibition covering both of Arakawa Hiromu's major series comes to Daimaru Sapporo, the second stop on a national tour that began in Tokyo.

More than 300 pieces are on show, among them original artwork and rough sketches. Alongside them are objects recreated from the two series: the telephone box from Fullmetal Alchemist, and a statue of Sayuu-sama from Daemons of the Shadow Realm, Arakawa's current series.

There is a local connection worth noting. Arakawa was born and raised on a dairy farm in Hokkaido, and the prefecture turns up throughout her work.

Merchandise made for the exhibition has been released in waves. The latest includes embroidered patches drawing on both series, and a tea set with two character-shaped tea bags and a randomly chosen sticker. There is also neji choco, chocolate cast as a nut and bolt that actually screw together, along with a postcard set and an official exhibition book.

There are two ways in. Timed tickets apply on the opening day and on the first Saturday and Sunday, covering the morning only, in two bands between ten and midday. Entry within each band is by the reference number on the ticket. Open tickets cover every other time and let you arrive when you like.

Beyond these there are three bundles, adding a set of five postcards, the exhibition book, or both. The postcards are made for the exhibition and are not sold on their own, so the bundle is the only way to get them.

Timed tickets and all three bundles are sold through one agency only. Open tickets are more widely available, including at the venue itself during the run. Bundles are advance sale only, and once the exhibition opens the open ticket is all that remains.

Entry is one way. Leave and you cannot come back in. There is no swapping out between time slots, so you can stay as long as you like once inside.

The merchandise area is open only to ticket holders, and only after seeing the exhibition.