Grand Prince Hotel Osaka Bay, an urban resort hotel located in Osaka's bay area (Suminoe Ward, Osaka City), will hold a special ghost story live event titled "Kaiki no Yube — Kono Monogatari wa, Anata ni Kikarareru no wo Matteiru" (A Night of the Strange — This Story Is Waiting to Be Heard by You) on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
The venue is an unused tatami suite on the hotel's 6th floor — a space that has remained untouched and hushed since the hotel's rebrand opening in 2023. In this specially opened, still room, ghost story tellers will perform original stories collected from across Japan.
A Room Where the Eerie Lingers
One of the most important elements of enjoying ghost stories is the atmosphere of the "place" itself.
For this event, the hotel will open a quiet Japanese-style suite that has not welcomed any overnight guests since the hotel's rebranding in 2023, due to planned renovations. Isolated from the hustle and bustle of the city, the air in this Japanese-style room is crisp and clear — an ideal setting where every word spoken by the storytellers sinks deep into the audience, amplifying their imagination to the fullest.
The Storytellers
Ghost Story Teller: Ueda Koji (pictured left)
Originally from Nara Prefecture, Ueda Koji is affiliated with "Kaidan Live Bar Thriller Night Dotonbori." He has been fascinated by ghost stories and subculture since childhood, and collects supernatural tales from a unique perspective. He is active in many fields, including co-authoring "Nanika, Iru," the DVD "Kaiki Shuushyusha Ouma Roku," the YouTube channel "Ueda Koji no Kaitoku," and columns in local free papers.
Occult Ghost Story Writer: Kudamatsu Hiroshi (pictured right)
The author of numerous books including "Yabai Jikka" (Bungei Shunju) and "Reiwa Saikyou Horror Selection: Kuragari." He has won both the Hirayama Yumei Prize and the Kuroki Aruji Prize at the Takeshobo Instant Ghost Story Contest, and won the "Kaidan New Generation Tournament 2." He is known for his meticulous description and gripping, reality-based storytelling that seems to invade everyday life.
Event Details
Event Name: "Kaiki no Yube — This Story Is Waiting to Be Heard by You"
Date: Saturday, May 2, 2026
Venue: Grand Prince Hotel Osaka Bay, 6th Floor "Tatami Suite"
Schedule (Two Sessions):
- Session 1: Doors open 4:30 PM / Start 5:00 PM / End 5:45 PM
- Session 2: Doors open 6:30 PM / Start 7:00 PM / End 7:45 PM
Admission (limited to 20 seats per session):
- Adults: ¥3,500
- Children (elementary and junior high school students): ¥1,500
Children under school age are not permitted to attend.
Check-in: 1st Floor, next to the Front Desk
Reservations can be made via the hotel's official website.
All seats are cushion seating (zabuton). Prices include a 13% service charge and tax. Discounts and special privileges do not apply. The event is not eligible for Seibu Prince Global Rewards (SEIBU PRINCE CLUB) points earning or redemption.
