Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai Grand Ring (Takahiro Takiguchi/Stripes Japan)
Experience a taste of over 160 countries and learn more about emerging tech and other innovations at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, aka Osaka Expo.
This six-month-long event opened April 13 and will conclude Oct. 13 at the custom-made venue on Yumeshima Island in Osaka Gulf.
Under the theme of “Designing Future Society for Our Lives,” countries like the U.S., Australia, Indonesia and more, along with international organizations like the European Union and International Science and Technology Center, are showcasing their interesting cultural features and technology.
Though I wasn’t originally interested in visiting, my daughter convinced my wife and I to join her after she received tickets from her company.
We decided to make it an overnight trip and fly there since we live in Yokosuka City. We were able to snag round-trip airfare and a hotel for around 25,000 yen per person. Fairly cheap, right?
On a hot mid-August day, we departed from Haneda and arrived within a smooth one hour at Itami Airport in Osaka. Our commute continued with a 40-minute airport limousine bus to Osaka Station. Then, after stowing away our bags at a coin locker, we had another 50-minute ride on several trains to finally arrive at the expo venue.
There were what seemed to be thousands of attendees already waiting in line to enter the east gate. It took us about 40 minutes to finally reach the inside. After seeing the media coverage and online chatter beforehand, I knew there would be a wait and it would be difficult booking reserved entry to many of the pavilions.
We were lucky enough to enter 10 pavilions and learned a lot during the 10 hours we spent at the expo. There is much to see and enjoy at this impressive event!
Enormous venue
Visitors to the expo will notice the stunning circular wooden structure enclosing indoor and outdoor pavilions. According to officials, the venue itself is large enough to fit 33 Tokyo Dome ballparks!
According to an expo handout, the wooden structure, called “Grand Ring,” is one of the largest of its kind in the world with a circumference of 2,075 meters, a building area of 60,000 square meters and a height of 12 meters. Applying traditional Nuki joints typically used for Japanese shrines and temples, the gigantic building made with Japanese cedar and cypress had some Japanese feel to it but really reminded me of the Rome Colosseum.
I liked the big wooden structure, as it offers visitors a sheltered space from the strong sunlight rather than serving as the main route for visitors around the site.
The structure also gives visitors a view of the surrounding landscape and gulf, so make sure to walk to the top deck to enjoy an incredible sight.
Getting in
(Takahiro Takiguchi/Stripes Japan)
My daughter tried many times with no success to book reservations at the U.S., Italy, Germany and Japan pavilions via the mobile app. If you also have trouble getting pavilion tickets, don’t worry, you can still explore around the expo and wait in line for standby entry.
We were able to enter 10 of the pavilions and only entered the ones with short lines like the Philippines, United Arab Emirates, Spain and Romania.
Romania Pavilion (Takahiro Takiguchi/Stripes Japan)
Party in the pavilion
(Takahiro Takiguchi/Stripes Japan)
Bhutan Pavilion (Takahiro Takiguchi/Stripes Japan)
The pavilions were designed to reflect each country’s traditions or future visions. We enjoyed walking around the site and appreciated the unique shapes and forms reflecting each country. But, just like other large events or popular amusement parks, crowds and long lines were a real challenge for us. I felt like it was even hotter and steamier there than in the Kanto Plain.
At the Philippines pavilion, we admired Filipino textiles. In Austria, we listened to AI music performed on an automated piano. The Czech Republic had a vibrant and lively folk-dance demonstration. Spain had colorful displays depicting the country’s equally colorful culture and history.
folk-dance demonstration at Czech Republic Pavilion (Photo by Miyuki Takiguchi)
What’s tradition and culture without food?
(Photo by Miyuki Takiguchi)
Various pavilions were serving some mouthwatering samples of local delights.
At the Czech pavilion, I sipped on some pilsner beer, while my wife and daughter enjoyed tasty Bisayan dishes at the Philippines pavilion.
As we expected, prices for food and souvenirs were not cheap, and required waiting in line. For lunch, we grabbed some snacks and drinks at the large cafeteria in the center of the venue.
After dark
One of my favorite parts of the visit to the expo was when the sun went down and the crowds dispersed a little.
The temperature dropped slightly and the sea breeze was a relief after hours of walking around in the summer sun. Adding to the ambiance, the buildings were illuminated as the skies darkened. Under the vast Grand Ring glowing in a soft orange light, we strolled while enjoying the atmosphere.
Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai Grand Ring (Photo by Miyuki Takiguchi)
Many pavilions had musical performances to keep the busy crowds entertained.
At the Serbian Pavilion, a popular opera piece was performed just as the sun was setting. We were mesmerized.
Opera at Serbian Pavillion (Takahiro Takiguchi/Stripes Japan)
The Canada pavilion had jazz musicians and Malaysia had folk music sung by singers in traditional attire. Each pavilion we passed made us feel as if we’d traveled to one country after another without leaving Osaka.
Jazz musicians at Canada Pavilion (Takahiro Takiguchi/Stripes Japan)
On our way out just before 9 p.m., the expo’s fireworks display was a good way to end our visit.
Small taste of big expo
Though many of the exhibitions at the expo were great, there were still some that lacked creativity and execution.
There was so much to see at the expo that it felt like it could take at least five or more days to cover all of it. Our 10-hour exploration of the site was good enough for us.
So, if you are planning to visit the expo, I suggest going on a weekday to avoid the worst of the congestion. You could even time it so you’re there after lunch to stay until closing time to enjoy some of the pavilions and then the nighttime activities in the cooler evening breeze.
AloJapan.com