Hotel Chourakukan in Kyoto's Higashiyama district will hold a special, one-day-only exhibit on September 27 (Sunday), 2026, as part of the "Art Festival in CHOURAKUKAN 2026." The exhibit focuses on the connection between the TV anime Sparks of Tomorrow, produced by Kyoto Animation, and the Important Cultural Property Chourakukan.
Sparks of Tomorrow is set in an alternate, fictional version of early 20th-century Meiji-era Kyoto, following a boy and a girl who dream of an "Age of Electricity." Chourakukan served as a location reference for the Mizoe Store, where the character Yosuke Mizoe serves as branch manager, and scenes throughout the series echo the historic building's design and spaces.
The exhibit will display panels comparing the architecture and interiors depicted in the series with the real Chourakukan, letting visitors compare the spaces shown on screen with the historic building that helped inspire them, viewed in person inside Chourakukan itself.
A life-size standee of Yosuke Mizoe will also be on display, along with a photo spot where guests can take pictures alongside a sofa that has remained in the building since its completion and is designated as an attached item of the Important Cultural Property. It's a one-day-only display bringing together furniture that has remained in the building for more than 100 years with a character from the series in the same space.
The exhibit will be held for one day only on September 27 (Sunday), the same day the series airs its final episode. Experiencing the spaces depicted in the show at the real Chourakukan offers visitors a chance to enjoy the series' world even more deeply.
Exhibit Overview
Event: Sparks of Tomorrow x Hotel Chourakukan Special Exhibit
Date and time: Sunday, September 27, 2026, 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM
Venue: Hotel Chourakukan, Main Building 2F Balcony
Exhibit contents:
- Comparison panels of Sparks of Tomorrow and Chourakukan
- Life-size standee of Yosuke Mizoe
Cooperation: Sparks of Tomorrow Production Committee
Admission to view the exhibit requires an "Art Festival in CHOURAKUKAN 2026" admission ticket (¥1,000).
About the Art Festival in CHOURAKUKAN 2026
The Art Festival in CHOURAKUKAN is a one-day event held at Hotel Chourakukan, offering visitors a chance to experience the building's appeal through architecture, art, music, literature, food, tea, and other aspects of culture.
Now in its 5th year in 2026, this year's edition takes "Architecture and Hospitality Culture" as its theme. Using the Important Cultural Property Chourakukan itself as the venue, the festival opens spaces normally closed to the public and offers a wide range of programs spanning music, tea, food, and more.
Learn more: https://chourakukan.co.jp/fair_plan/art_fes_2026/
About Sparks of Tomorrow
In this alternate, early 20th-century Kyoto, only steam engine technology has developed, and the city is shrouded in smoke.
A boy who has grown suspicious of others after losing the brother with whom he once dreamed of an "Age of Electricity." A girl who lives a devout life, keeping her hopes for the future and her regret over her late mother close to her heart.
The two meet while searching for the secret behind the "20th Century Electrical Catalog," a record of the dreams once drawn within it. Overcoming who they are now, they set out to reclaim the dream they once glimpsed.
This is a story of rebirth.
Currently airing on ABC Television, TOKYO MX, TV Aichi, and BS11, and streaming exclusively worldwide on Netflix.
Blu-ray and DVD Volume 1 releases October 28 (Wednesday), and Volume 2 releases November 25 (Wednesday), 2026.
© Hiro Yuki / Kyoto Animation / Sparks of Tomorrow Production Committee
Official site: https://denkimokuroku.jp/
About Hotel Chourakukan
Hotel Chourakukan is a boutique hotel centered on its Important Cultural Property main building, Chourakukan, which houses a restaurant, cafe, sweets boutique, and bar, along with an adjoining New Wing offering six guest rooms in total. As a member of the global hotel brand Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH), it welcomes guests from Japan and abroad.
Chourakukan (the former Murai family residence) is a modern Kyoto building constructed in 1909 as the private residence of Meiji-era businessman Kichibei Murai, known as the "Tobacco King." Notable for its design incorporating architectural styles from around the world, it was designated a national Important Cultural Property on December 9, 2024.
- Address: 604 Maruyama-cho, Yasaka Torii-mae Higashi-iri, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto 605-0071
- Website: https://www.chourakukan.co.jp/
Business days and hours are subject to change; please check the official website for the latest information.
