OSAKA EXPO Perfect Guide – Not What People Expected

OSAKA EXPO Perfect Guide – Not What People Expected

Konichiwa today’s topic is osaka expo 2025 people are calling osaka expo 2025 the worst expo in history but is that really true that’s the 
kind of thing you might say giving all the  negative buzz even before the expo opened
for example there were scary rumors about methane   gas leaking from trash buried under the site then 
right after the opening a brand new subway line   broke down causing huge crows and long lines
new reports talked about bad manners and social media   exploded with hashtags like expo disaster and then 
came the final blow the uk’s afternoon tea people expected a classy british tea experience but what 
they got has a paper cup and frozen cakes from   a supermarket all for 5,000 yen social media 
went wild with all these disasters piling up   it’s easy to think this expo is a total failure 
but is that really the case actually not at all   in this video i’ll give you the perfect guide to 
osaka expo 2025 including how to enjoy it to the fullest first let’s start with how to get to 
the osaka expo the venue is located on an artifical   island in osaka called yumeshima which literally 
means dream island sounds magical right well this   dreamy sounding place used to be a landfill yeah 
piles of trash now it’s been reborn as the site   for a futuristic world expo from garbage to dreams 
that’s some glow up the easiest way to reach the   expo is by train osaka metro Chuo line was extended 
just for the expo and the brand new yumeshima   station was built you can hop on the train at 
honmachi station in central osaka and ride straight   to the end of the line about 30 minutes step 
off at yumeshima station and boom you are right   at the east gate of the expo there was a hiccup 
during the opening week when the new line had   some technical issues but don’t worry everything 
is running smoothly now you can also get there   by bus direct shuttle bus run from major station 
across kansai taking you to the west gate of the expo   buses departed from like osaka station namba shin osaka
kansai airport and itami airport if you have   got a lot of luggage or just don’t want to deal 
with transfers the bus might be your best method   but just remember seats are limited and require 
advanced reservations depending on where you   are coming from it usually takes around 30 or 40 
minutes from osaka station if traffic is light plus the bus ride doubles as a little sight tour you 
might catch a glimpse of universal studios japan   and remind yourself “no i’m not here to meet the 
minions today.” from the highway you’ll see even   see yumeshima floating out in the bay it’s actually 
kind of cool now before you get any bright ideas   no you cannot just grab a taxi and pull up to the 
front gate private cars and taxis are not allowed   on the island if you absolutely must drive the 
best option is to park near a nearby station and   transfer to a train or shuttle bus once you arrive 
at station or the bus terminal it’s time to enter   the expo you’ll go through security and scan your 
ticket at the entrance there are two main gates   east for the train west for the shuttle bus lines 
can get pretty long during peak hours so give   yourself some extra time and once you step through 
those gates your journey into the future begins   next let’s talk about tickets and what actually 
happens once you get inside there are a few   different types of tickets for the osaka expo the 
standard one day tickets cost 7,500 yen for adults   not exactly cheap but it gives you full access 
for the whole day there is also a weekday only   tickets that’s a bit cheaper at 6,000 yen it can 
only be used on weekdays but hey that might be the   organizer’s way of saying “please come when it’s 
less crowded.” and then there is the night tickets   which lets you enter after 5:00 p.m for 3,700 yen 
a pretty good deal if you don’t mind skipping the   daytime heat you can buy tickets in advance on 
the off website same day tickets are available   at the venue too but you might be restricted to 
specific time slots so it’s better to buy online   ahead of time if you can if you’re using an e 
ticket just show the qr code on your smartphone   at the entrance but don’t forget to charge your 
smartphone beforehand a dead battery means no   entry bring a power bank just to be safe once you are in
your first instinct might be to grab a map   but hey paper maps are not free use official map 
instead which has an interactive map that even   shows your current location though some people 
say the interface is a bit confusing but you need   a map the place is massive the expo grounds cover 
about 155 hectares which is roughly the combined   the size of tokyo disneyland and disney sea in 
other words very huge you want to see everything   in one day or maybe even two so strategy is key 
and speaking of strategy here is the biggest one   pavilion reservations those that need advanced 
reservations and those that don’t in general   the most popular ones like the japan pavilion 
or italy pavilion require a reservation  some areas in those pavilions might be open without
a booking but if you really want to experience them   fully you will need to reserve there are actually 
two advanced lottery periods for reservations one   from 2 months before your visit and another from 
1 month to 8 days before if you won the lottery   you’d lock in your spot but of course demand was 
high and many people didn’t win that’s where same   day reservation come in on the day of your visit 
you’ll need to check the official app constantly   for available slots as soon as a pavilion opens 
up you’ll have to tap fast to grab a spot the   catch you can only hold one reservation at a 
time until you actually go to that pavilion and   finish your visit you cannot book another one so 
yeah no holding just one at a time like a queue based   battle royale let me give you an example let’s say 
you enter the expo early on saturday morning and   your first target is the japan pavilion you lost 
the advanced lottery and the same day slots are   almost gone you open the app right after entering 
and boom it’s already full yeah brutal you think   of course everyone’s doing the same thing so now 
you scramble to find another popular pavilion but   slots are disappearing fast your fingers are 
shaking as smash the refresh button welcome   to the reservation war expo 2025 it’s chaotic and
it’s real and since it’s first come first served your   internet connection matters too there is free 
wi-fi at the venue but it’s spotty at best so use   your mobile data if possible you’ll need to every 
bit of speed you can get after entering the expo   site here are the main spots you’ll definitely 
want to check out before heading to the pavilions   be sure to take a look at the symbolic landmarks 
and popular facilities that represent the entire   venue the first thing you’ll notice when you 
arrive is the massive circular structure right   at the center of venue the ground roof ring as 
the name suggest it’s a giant ring-shaped wooden   roof that wraps around central area of the expo 
and get this it stretches almost 2 km in total   length making it one of the largest wooden 
buildings in the world and was designed by   renowned architect so fujimoto and represents the 
expo concept many yet one the entire structure   is made using domestic japanese wood and if you 
look up you’ll see beautiful interlocking wooden   beams forming elegant arches it’s a work of art in 
itself the ring was fully completed in august 2024   and even made it into the guinness world records 
during the day it glows with the soft warm tones   of natural wood at night it’s lit up in a dreamy 
almost magical way definitely a must for your   photo collection just remember it’s an open air 
structure so bring an umbrella or parcel if the   weather is harsh still it provides precious shape 
during the hot summer months so use it wisely   and next up something every gundam fans must 
see a full-sized gundam statue that’s right   the legendary mobile suit has landed at the expo 
standing at about 7m tall this is the very first   life-sized gundam to appear in the kansai region and 
it’s the main attraction of the corporate pavilion   called gundam next future and this is not just 
your standard gundam pose this one is kneeling   with one arm stretches dramatically toward the 
sky it’s like it’s reaching for space or the   future even if you never watched gundam the sheer 
size and detail of this thing will blow you away   seriously it’s huge and at certain time it does 
shoot out bursts of steam from its chest and back   like the engines are firing up it’s awesome it has 
a real sense of drama that makes you feel like you   are in the middle of an anime scene and let’s be 
honest no trip to the expo is completely without   some souvenirs and good news there are plenty of 
official shops inside the venue the star of the   show? definitely the merch featuring the osaka expo 
mascot myakumyaku myakumyak is a strange red and blue   creature that represent the cycle of water and 
life when its design was first revealed people   were like “what is this strange thing?” but over 
time its weird cuteness started growing on people   and now it’s a fan favorite you’ll find plush 
toys keychains t-shirt and more foreign visitors   are often seen picking up myakumyaku goods with puzzled 
smiles probably thinking “i have no idea what this   is but i need it.” it’s the kind of character 
that just weird enough to be unforgettable the perfect quirky souvenir you’ll also find
limited edition items from different country pavilions   collective pins special edition tomica and even 
souvenir metal machines collectors be aware it’s   dangerously easy to go on a spending spree here   walking around this giant venue takes energy so don’t forget to eat and drink luckily there are 
restaurants and food stores scattered through   at the site one of the best part is that many 
country pavilions have their own restaurants or   cafes that means you can taste authentic food 
from all over the world without leaving japan   grab a croissant and champagne at the french 
pavilion or pad thai and bubble tea at the thai   pavilion it’s like a global street food 
tour packed into a single day foodie heaven right the italian pavilion deserves special 
mention it features a rooftop restaurant with a   sky garden serving traditional dishes from italy’s 
20 regions rotating weekly and it doesn’t stop   there de a juicy burger at the american pavilion 
or sink your teeth into a kebab at the middle   eastern booth you’ll wish you had two stomachs and 
we cannot forget that viral scandal from the uk   pavilion the infamous afternoon tea you’d expect 
classy teapots and scones right but social media   blew up with photos of the s little paper cup 
and frozen supermarket cake all for 5,000 yen   it’s unclear if they’ve improved the service since 
but if you’re feeling bold try it out for the   story and no offense to my friends from the uk 
now it’s time to talk about the best part of the   expo the pavilions there are so many to see but 
here are few popular ones you should really check   out let’s take a look first is japan pavilion the 
japan pavilion is one of the biggest at the expo   it’s made by japan’s ministry of economy and the 
theme is between lives it shows japan’s ideas for   a future where life is connected and keeps going 
in cycles the building is round and has two floors   you walk through three areas plant farm and 
factory all connected in a big circle it feel like   one big loop just like theme of circulation 
the most exciting thing here a real rock from   mars yes really it’s a piece of a meteorite 
found in antarctica in 2000 by a japanese team   there are other fun displays too one is called 
algae hello kitty it shows 32 different hello kitties   dressed as a different kinds of allergy why 
alagae because algae might help save the   plant in the future they can clean the air make 
food and fight global warming so with cute kitty   you can learn about big science ideas in a fun way 
there are also real algae tubes that glow plants   and make oxygen so it feels green and peaceful 
like walking through a little forest and guess   what doraemon is your guide in this pavilion the 
famous robot cat from the future talks to you in this   exhibit it’s fun for kids and even adults will 
smile when they hear doraemon’s voice and next   is a very cool pavilion called pasona nature 
rivers created by the company pasona group   their theme is about the body the mind and human 
connection the name combines nature and universe   and exhibits show how human life connects with 
the world around earth the most exciting thing   here a real mini beating heart made from ips 
cells it’s only about 3 cm wide but it looks   just like a real human heart and it actually moves 
and beats it’s made in lab using real human cells   when you see it moving you’ll probably 
think “wow is this alive?” it’s kind of   like a science fiction movie but it’s real pasona 
is known for doing unique projects like a smart   farming park on awaji island and this pavilion 
continues that style here you can explore the   history of life on earth from the birth of the 
planet to modern humans with amazing videos   there is also a fun area where you can measure 
your brain waves heartbeat using sensors and see   them on the screen this pavilion is full of wow 
moments that both kids and adults will enjoy and   if you love science or want to be surprised 
this is the place for you oh and don’t miss   the special 3d theater show featuring astro boy 
next we come to australia palium bringing a lot   of energy from the southern hemisphere when we 
think of australia we imagine blue oceans with   deserts eucalyptus trees and maybe koalas this 
time the theme is chasing the sun towards the land   of the sun sounds like a cool road trip movie 
right in this pavilion you can go on a virtual   journey across australia from the east coast at 
sunrise to the west coast at sunset it’s a one   day adventure across the country following the 
sun with impressive videos and effects you’ll   feel the beauty of australia’s nature and culture 
it’s a special experience you can only have at the   expo now let’s visit the china pavilion china 
is showing off the 24 solar terms an ancient   chinese calendar that divides the year into 24 
seasons like spring begins or summer solstice as   the pavilion you can experience these seasons with 
high-tech displays it’s amazing and then there is   the famous chinese black tech super advanced stuff 
you might see ai robots holograms even something   like a chinese metaverse there are rumors of a 
new electric cars on display and maybe even a   highspeed train simulator with its mix of rich 
culture and future technology this pavilion is   definitely worth visiting now let’s go to europe 
for one of the most popular pavilions the italy   pavilion which also include the vatican i didn’t get 
the reservation but it’s very popular if you can   go you really should one of the biggest highlight 
is the farnese atlas it’s very old statue made around   the year 150 it shows the god atlas kneeling and 
holding the stars on his shoulders the statue is   over 2 m tall and comes from a famous museum in 
naples this is the first time it’s ever been shown   in japan from the vatican side there is a painting 
by the artist carvajio it’s called the intomet and   the building also looks amazing it’s inspired 
by ancient roman buildings like the colosseum   and the pantheon with big marble style arches and 
the director said “we want people to know this is   italy even without flag.” and honestly you can 
tell right away lastly this is not the pavilion   but don’t miss the night show called ao and the night 
rainbow parade it happens in the water plaza right   in the middle of the expo under the big grand roof 
ring so what’s it like imagine fountains dancing   with music fire shooting into the air huge screens 
showing beautiful images colorful lights and   drones flying in the sky making shape with lights 
it’s a big very exciting show that use sound water   fire and light all at once the story is about a 
boy named ao who lives on island he goes on the   magical adventure and finds a night rainbow which 
is a symbol of hope and life the show is about 25   minutes long and happens twice each night even 
if it’s raining a little they still do the show   usually it starts around 7:00 p.m and 8:00 p.m but 
check the schedule just to be sure it’s one of the   most beautiful and moving moments at the expo if 
you have the energy don’t skip it it’s the perfect   way to end of your day before we wrap up here are 
a few extra tips to help you have an even smoother   expo experience first travel light a backpack or 
cross body bag that keeps your hands free is ideal   there are coin lockers both inside and outside the 
venue but they are limited if you’re carrying big   luggage it’s a better to store it at your hotel or 
train station locker beforehand plus most areas are   photofriendly but remember some pavilions have 
no flush or no photography zones always follow   the staff’s instructions you don’t want to be 
that person setting off a camera flash during a   delicate exhibition and don’t miss the official 
stamp rally it’s like a mini souvenir hunt you   collect stamps from different pavilions and there 
is even a special passport you can buy at the   souvenir shops it’s especially fun if you’re with 
kids or even just a kid at heart lastly prepare   for crowds when leaving a closing time everyone 
heads for the exit and it’s get packed the east   gate that heads yumeshima station can have crowd 
control in place meaning you might have to wait   just to enter the platform here’s what i recommend 
once the night show ends either head straight to   the station to beat the rush or stick around 
and let the crowds sing out while you enjoy the   lingering expo vibe so we have seen it all and 
no expo 2025 is not the worst ever there were   problems sure but also cool tech fun characters 
mars rocks and an epic night show you can only feel   this magic right now in osaka so go see it you’ll 
be glad you did thank you for watching until the   end if you enjoyed this video give it a thumbs 
up and hit the subscribe button have a nice expo

Is Osaka Expo 2025 the worst ever… or the most unforgettable?
This ultimate travel guide reveals what it’s really like from bizarre rumors to a full-size Gundam😁
Before you go, watch this and find out what everyone’s getting wrong about the Expo!!

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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpqdBdcYPICO8NnuiFX2xVg

～CHAPTERS~
0:00 Intro
1:05 How to Get to The OSAKA EXPO
3:32 About The EXPO’s Ticket
5:10 Pavilion Reservations
7:05 The Grand Roof Ring
8:30 A Life-Size Gundam Statue
9:18 Official Shops
10:24 Food & Dining
11:41 The Pavilions
16:48 The Night Rainbow Parade
17:49 Additional Tips for The EXPO

#japan #osakatravel #osakaexpo2025

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