Three Ghosts 2026, Japan

• October 6, 2026
  Event date:
• December 13, 2026
  Event end:

What to expect in 2026

Three Ghosts is a new stage production from PARCO PRODUCE 2026 and a world-premiere play by acclaimed British playwright Simon Stephens, directed by Sean Holmes. The production marks Masato Sakai’s return to the stage after 17 years and brings together an international creative team with a major Japanese cast. The world premiere opens at PARCO Theatre in Tokyo on October 6, 2026, before touring to Okayama, Osaka, Toyohashi, Miyazaki and Kitakyushu through December 13.

The play is set in a future only a few years away and revolves around an imagined technology called “Leap Mind,” a device capable of recording and reproducing human dreams. The technology promises extraordinary possibilities, but the story gradually turns toward memory, grief, guilt, relationships and the emotional consequences of confronting experiences that people might otherwise leave in the past.

Masato Sakai plays Joe, a man deeply involved in promoting Leap Mind while becoming increasingly disconnected from the people around him. His professional ambition, marriage and relationships become entangled with unresolved memories and events from his past.

The production combines psychological drama with speculative technology. The title’s three ghosts refer to three figures or forces connected with an individual’s life: the first brings a warning, the second represents a trial or consolation, and the third signals an ending. The production therefore uses the idea of ghosts as a way to examine memories that continue to affect the present.

For international theatre visitors, Three Ghosts is particularly notable because it is not a revival or adaptation of an existing Japanese play. It is a newly written work receiving its world premiere in Japan, with Japanese actors performing a new script written by Simon Stephens and translated into Japanese by Atsuro Hirota.

Event dates

Three Ghosts runs from October 6 through December 13, 2026, with performances across six Japanese cities and six major theatres. The Tokyo engagement is the longest part of the tour, followed by five regional stops.

• Tokyo – PARCO Theatre: October 6–27, 2026
• Okayama – Okayama Art Creation Theatre Harenowa Medium Theatre: November 6–8, 2026
• Osaka – Sky Theatre MBS: November 12–23, 2026
• Toyohashi, Aichi – Honokuni Toyohashi Arts Theatre PLAT Main Hall: November 27–29, 2026
• Miyazaki – Medikit Prefectural Cultural Center Theatre Hall: December 3–6, 2026
• Kitakyushu, Fukuoka – J Kitakyushu Performing Arts Center Grand Hall: December 10–13, 2026

The Tokyo opening on October 6 is designated as a preview performance and begins at 6:00 PM. The remaining Tokyo schedule includes afternoon and evening performances through October 27.

Visiting this event? Don’t miss out on these amazing activities and local experiences while you’re here.

Venue & performance locations

PARCO Theatre, Tokyo

The Tokyo performances take place at PARCO Theatre on the eighth floor of Shibuya PARCO, 15-1 Udagawacho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-8377. The theatre is reached from Shibuya Station via the Hachiko Exit and Park Street.

Okayama Art Creation Theatre Harenowa, Okayama

The Okayama engagement uses the Medium Theatre at Okayama Art Creation Theatre Harenowa, 3-11-50 Omotecho, Kita-ku, Okayama. Performances are scheduled for November 6–8, with evening performances on Friday and Saturday and afternoon performances on Saturday and Sunday.

Sky Theatre MBS, Osaka

The Osaka performances are held at Sky Theatre MBS, located on the sixth floor of JP Tower Osaka, 3-2-2 Umeda, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-0001. The theatre is directly connected with Osaka Station and has a 1,289-seat configuration in its standard arrangement.

Honokuni Toyohashi Arts Theatre PLAT, Aichi

The Toyohashi performances take place in the Main Hall at 123 Nishiodawara-cho, Toyohashi, Aichi 440-0887. The theatre is directly connected to Toyohashi Station and is approximately three minutes on foot from the station’s south exit.

Medikit Prefectural Cultural Center Theatre Hall, Miyazaki

The Miyazaki stop is at the Theatre Hall of Medikit Prefectural Cultural Center, 3-210 Funatsuka, Miyazaki City, Miyazaki 880-8557. It is within Miyazaki Prefectural General Cultural Park.

J Kitakyushu Performing Arts Center Grand Hall, Fukuoka

The final stop is the Grand Hall at J Kitakyushu Performing Arts Center, located at 1-1-1-11 Muromachi, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka 803-0812, inside Riverwalk Kitakyushu.

Full programme

Three Ghosts is presented as one newly created dramatic work rather than a collection of separate plays. The central concept is Leap Mind, a futuristic device that records and reproduces dreams.

Joe is attempting to secure an advertising contract connected with the technology. His professional ambition becomes increasingly important to him, affecting his relationship with his wife Hana and his wider family. His relationship with Hana’s older sister Mika creates a serious rupture within the family.

After Mika disappears, Joe achieves the professional success he has been pursuing, but the achievement does not provide the fulfilment he expected. A visit to his ophthalmologist friend Yugo leads to an unexpected diagnosis, changing the direction of Joe’s life.

Joe later continues his work with a new assistant, Sara. Sara and Dan, one of Hana’s students, begin approaching Joe while carrying suspicions of their own. The story then connects Joe’s present circumstances with memories, family relationships and the unresolved consequences of his past.

The production therefore moves between professional ambition, family conflict, personal memory and the psychological consequences of technological control over dreams.

Featured productions & performers

Masato Sakai as Joe

Masato Sakai leads the production as Joe. This performance represents his first stage appearance in 17 years, making his return to theatre one of the central features of the production.

Kana Kurashina as Hana

Kana Kurashina plays Hana, Joe’s wife and Mika’s younger sister. Her relationship with Joe is placed under considerable pressure as the story develops.

Kayo Ise as Mika

Kayo Ise plays Mika, Hana’s older sister and a former teacher to Sara. Her relationship with Joe becomes an important turning point in the story.

Takaya Sakoda as Yugo

Takaya Sakoda portrays Yugo, Joe’s friend and an ophthalmologist. Joe’s visit to Yugo becomes significant after the events surrounding Mika.

sara as Sara

sara plays Sara, Mika’s former student and Joe’s new assistant. She becomes increasingly involved in the questions surrounding Joe and his past.

Seiichi Kohinata as Dan

Seiichi Kohinata plays Dan, one of Hana’s students. Dan becomes connected with Sara as they develop suspicions about Joe.

Atsuko Takahata as Mari

Atsuko Takahata portrays Mari, Joe’s mother. Mari carries complicated feelings connected with Joe’s family history and the death of her younger sister Nico.

Yasunori Danda as Ken

Yasunori Danda plays Ken, the father of Mika and Hana. He becomes concerned about the situation involving Joe and tries to protect Hana.

Shows & performances

The production is a full theatrical drama presented in Japanese, based on Simon Stephens’ original script. It is directed by Sean Holmes, with Atsuro Hirota providing the Japanese translation and John Bausor responsible for set and costume design.

The creative team also includes assistant director Tomoya Kiriyama, music by Shuhei Kamimura, staging by Shuji Onodera, lighting by Yusuke Yokohara and sound by Masahiro Inoue.

Rather than relying on spectacle alone, the production is built around the gradual revelation of Joe’s relationships and memories. Leap Mind provides the speculative element, while the family and psychological drama supplies the emotional centre.

Performance schedule

Tokyo

• October 6, 6:00 PM – Preview
• October 7, 6:00 PM
• October 9, 1:00 PM
• October 10, 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM
• October 11, 1:00 PM
• October 12, 1:00 PM
• October 13, 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM
• October 15, 1:00 PM
• October 16, 1:00 PM
• October 17, 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM
• October 18, 1:00 PM
• October 19, 1:00 PM
• October 20, 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM
• October 22, 1:00 PM
• October 23, 1:00 PM
• October 24, 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM
• October 25, 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM
• October 26, 1:00 PM
• October 27, 1:00 PM

Okayama

• November 6, 6:00 PM
• November 7, 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM
• November 8, 1:00 PM

Osaka

• November 12, 6:00 PM
• November 13, 1:00 PM
• November 14, 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM
• November 15, 1:00 PM
• November 16, 1:00 PM
• November 18, 6:00 PM
• November 19, 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM
• November 20, 1:00 PM
• November 21, 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM
• November 22, 1:00 PM
• November 23, 1:00 PM

Toyohashi

• November 27, 6:00 PM
• November 28, 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM
• November 29, 1:00 PM

Miyazaki

• December 3, 4:00 PM
• December 5, 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM
• December 6, 1:00 PM

Kitakyushu

• December 10, 6:00 PM
• December 11, 1:00 PM
• December 12, 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM
• December 13, 1:00 PM

The running time had not yet been announced by the production at the time of the latest official listings and was expected to be published approximately one week before each opening.

Ticket types

Ticket prices vary slightly between Tokyo, the regional tour and individual venues.

Tokyo standard reserved seat

Approximately $77 for a regular reserved seat.

Tokyo preview

The October 6 preview is approximately $70.

Tokyo U-30

Approximately $38 for the U-30 ticket, available to people aged 30 or younger. Identification showing date of birth is required when exchanging for the assigned seat.

Regional standard seats

Most regional performances use a three-tier structure:

• S Seat: approximately $80
• A Seat: approximately $61
• B Seat: approximately $42

U-18

At Miyazaki and Kitakyushu, U-18 tickets are approximately $29 for audience members aged 18 or younger, subject to identification requirements.

Toyohashi discounted tickets

Toyohashi offers S Seats at approximately $80, A Seats at approximately $61, U-25 tickets at approximately $30 and high-school-and-under tickets at approximately $6. The discounted categories are limited and require identification.

The dollar figures are approximate conversions of the officially announced ticket prices using the September 20, 2026 reference rate.

Ticket release & booking

Tokyo general ticket sales began on September 5, 2026. The Tokyo production also had an earlier PARCO STAGE advance period, while Ticket Pia offered several advance and premium sales routes.

Okayama, Miyazaki and Kitakyushu general sales opened on September 12, 2026. Toyohashi general sales begin September 26, while Osaka general sales begin October 12.

Tickets are distributed through Ticket Pia, ePlus, Lawson Ticket and venue-specific ticket offices depending on the city. Availability changes by performance, and some performances already show limited or exhausted allocations.

VIP & premium seating

There is no publicly announced VIP lounge, backstage tour or meet-and-greet package for Three Ghosts.

Tokyo did, however, offer premium advance ticket categories through Ticket Pia, including a premium option guaranteeing seating within a specified front-area section. These were advance-sale arrangements rather than a separate hospitality package.

For standard ticket buyers, the regular reserved-seat categories provide assigned seating. Tokyo also has its U-30 category, while regional venues introduce their own youth or discounted categories.

Event rules

Children below school age are not permitted to attend the performances. Audience members using U-30, U-25 or U-18 tickets must bring valid identification when required to exchange their discounted ticket for an assigned seat.

Unauthorized commercial resale is prohibited. Tickets generally cannot be refunded for personal reasons unless the performance itself is cancelled. Some venues also state that cast changes do not automatically qualify for refunds.

The Tokyo production includes a smoking scene using a non-nicotine, non-tar electronic cigarette as a stage prop.

Audience members should arrive in sufficient time for security, ticket checks and seating. Regional venues generally open approximately 30 minutes before the performance unless otherwise announced.

How to get there

Tokyo

PARCO Theatre is located inside Shibuya PARCO. From Shibuya Station, use the Hachiko Exit and walk through the Shibuya area toward Park Street. The theatre is on the eighth floor.

Okayama

Harenowa is convenient from JR Okayama Station by streetcar. The Okayama Electric Tramway Higashiyama Line reaches the theatre-area stop, with the venue then accessible on foot.

Osaka

Sky Theatre MBS is directly connected to JR Osaka Station through JP Tower Osaka. It can also be reached from Kitashinchi, Umeda, Nishi-Umeda, Higashi-Umeda and Osaka-Umeda stations.

Toyohashi

PLAT is directly connected to Toyohashi Station and approximately three minutes from the south exit. JR Tokaido Shinkansen, JR Tokaido Main Line, Meitetsu and Toyohashi Railway services all serve the area.

Miyazaki

From Miyazaki Station, the theatre can be reached by bus in approximately 15 minutes, followed by a one-minute walk from the Cultural Park stop. A taxi takes approximately 10 minutes. Miyazaki Jingu Station is approximately 20 minutes away on foot.

Kitakyushu

The J Kitakyushu Performing Arts Center is inside Riverwalk Kitakyushu in central Kokura. The Grand Hall is on the sixth floor, with access from Riverwalk’s fifth floor when arriving from the parking area.

Public transport & parking

Public transportation is the most practical choice for most performances.

Tokyo

Shibuya Station provides JR, Tokyo Metro, Tokyu and Keio connections. Visitors should allow additional time to walk through Shibuya and reach the eighth-floor theatre.

Osaka

Sky Theatre MBS is particularly convenient for rail travellers because JP Tower Osaka is directly connected with Osaka Station. The venue can also be reached from several Osaka Metro and private railway stations.

Toyohashi

PLAT does not have a dedicated visitor parking lot. Nearby Toyohashi Station-area car parks are available, and eligible performance visitors can receive parking discounts at participating facilities.

Miyazaki

The cultural centre does not have a dedicated theatre parking lot. Shared parking in the prefectural cultural park includes north and south lots, with approximately 169 spaces and 362 spaces respectively, plus a temporary lot when available. These areas can become busy during performances.

Kitakyushu

Riverwalk Kitakyushu provides parking facilities, but the performing arts centre itself is accessed from the fifth floor after parking rather than directly from the sixth-floor theatre level.

Accommodation areas

Shibuya and Shinjuku, Tokyo

For the Tokyo run, Shibuya is the most convenient base because PARCO Theatre is within the Shibuya PARCO complex. Shinjuku is another practical choice with extensive rail connections.

Umeda, Osaka

Umeda is the most convenient area for the Osaka performances because Sky Theatre MBS is directly connected to Osaka Station. The surrounding district has a large concentration of hotels, restaurants and shopping facilities.

Okayama Station, Okayama

Staying around Okayama Station provides convenient access to Harenowa while also making it easy to explore central Okayama and travel onward by rail.

Toyohashi Station

The area around Toyohashi Station is especially practical for the PLAT performances because the theatre is directly connected to the station.

Miyazaki Station

Miyazaki Station is a useful accommodation base for visitors attending the Miyazaki performances, with bus and taxi connections to the cultural centre.

Kokura Station, Kitakyushu

Kokura is the natural base for the final performances because Riverwalk Kitakyushu and the performing arts centre are located in central Kokura.

Dining & refreshments

Three Ghosts is presented as a theatre performance rather than a food-focused event, so refreshments are generally best arranged around the individual venue.

In Tokyo, Shibuya offers extensive restaurants, cafés and department-store dining around PARCO and the station. Allow extra time if dining before an evening performance because Shibuya can become crowded.

In Osaka, the Sky Theatre MBS location is particularly convenient for dining because JP Tower Osaka and the wider Umeda district contain numerous restaurants and cafés.

Okayama’s Harenowa is located in the Omotecho area, making it possible to combine a performance with dining and shopping in central Okayama.

Toyohashi visitors can find restaurants and cafés around Toyohashi Station, while Kokura visitors can use the restaurants and food facilities around Riverwalk Kitakyushu. Riverwalk’s restaurants generally operate during daytime and evening hours, although individual businesses may vary.

For afternoon performances, dining after the show can be easier than trying to eat immediately before curtain time. For evening performances, booking a restaurant in advance is advisable in busy districts such as Shibuya and Umeda.

Accessibility

Accessibility arrangements vary by theatre.

PARCO Theatre provides wheelchair spaces and hearing-loop receiver seats. Visitors who require these services should purchase their tickets first and then contact the designated production contact with their performance date and seat information. Spaces are limited.

Toyohashi PLAT provides wheelchair spaces, with advance arrangements required. The venue also offers a childcare service for the November 28, 1:00 PM performance, subject to advance registration and availability.

Sky Theatre MBS has seven wheelchair spaces in its standard configuration. Wheelchair users are asked to contact the venue’s information service after purchasing tickets.

Miyazaki has limited wheelchair spaces. Visitors are instructed to purchase an S Seat and contact the production organiser in advance. The venue also has dedicated accessible parking spaces, including spaces within the theatre grounds.

Kitakyushu also provides wheelchair-accessible seating, with visitors advised to contact the theatre before purchasing or attending.

Best performances to attend

Tokyo preview

The October 6 preview is a notable option for audiences who want to experience the production at the beginning of its world-premiere run. It is also the first scheduled performance of the entire tour.

Tokyo weekend performances

The Tokyo schedule contains several Saturday and Sunday afternoon and evening performances, making these practical choices for visitors who cannot attend during weekdays.

Okayama weekend run

The November 7 Saturday schedule includes both afternoon and evening performances, while November 8 has an afternoon show. This creates several options for visitors planning a short weekend theatre trip.

Toyohashi Saturday double performance

November 28 has both a 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM performance. The venue also offers a dedicated childcare service for the afternoon performance, subject to advance reservation.

Final Kitakyushu weekend

The tour concludes with performances on December 12 and 13. December 12 has both afternoon and evening shows, while December 13 has the final 1:00 PM performance of the national tour.

Previous year’s highlights

There is no previous edition of Three Ghosts to report. The 2026 production is a newly written work receiving its world premiere in Japan, so there was no 2025 edition with previous performances, lineups or ticket prices.

The production is the result of approximately six years of preparation involving Simon Stephens, Sean Holmes, Japanese and British creative personnel and the Japanese cast. The play was specifically written for this project and uses a near-future setting connected with dream-recording technology.

Its major historical point is therefore the 2026 world premiere itself, alongside Masato Sakai’s return to stage performance after a 17-year absence.

Official tickets

The main official ticketing information is available through Ticket Pia, which lists the Tokyo and regional performances, advance sales, general sales and resale information.

Ticket Pia: https://t.pia.jp/pia/event/event.do?eventBundleCd=b2669724

The official PARCO production information should be checked before travelling because performance times, ticket availability, cast arrangements and venue instructions can change.

Location

FAQ