Expo 2025 (大阪・関西万博 Osaka-Kansai Banpaku) is the site of the World's Fair for 2025 in Osaka, Japan. It will run for 6 months from April 13, 2025 until October 13, 2025.
Understand
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Osaka-Kansai 2025 is Japan's third Universal Exposition after Expo '70, also held in Osaka, and Expo 2005 near Nagoya. The official theme is "Designing Future Society for Our Lives". 28 million visitors are projected to attend the exposition, which is spread across 155 hectares on the artificial island of Yumeshima (夢洲, "Dream Island") in the Bay Area district of Osaka.
After the Expo is over, Yumeshima will see a different type of dream or nightmare come to life, as Japan's first casino is set to open here in 2030.
Visitor information
[edit]Before you go
[edit]Hours
[edit]The official hours are from 09:00-22:00. To deal with crowds they started opening the gate 5-10 minutes early. Actual entry times however, are decided when you purchase your ticket (see "Tickets" below). Do not join the queue at 9:00 if your ticket says a later time or you will be asked to exit and line up again at your designated time. The pavilion hours were extended in June from ending at 20:30 to 21:00. Some pavilions still choose to close at 20:30 and those with long lines will disallow further queuing when they feel that those already in line will not get in until 20:30, so it's best not to plan to enter specific venues after 20:30 but instead just see which pavilions are allowing entry and pop in if one interests you. The gates close at 22:00, leaving one hour to exit the park after the pavilions and venues have closed.
Tickets
[edit]During the Expo, adult one-day ticket options include ¥7500 for an unlimited full day ticket weekend ticket, ¥6000 weekday tickets, and ¥3700 for "night tickets" valid from 17:00 on the ticket, but you can enter from 16:00. Discounted senior, student and group tickets are also available. There are also a Season Pass giving unlimited entry for ¥30,000 and a Summer Pass allowing entry every day between 19th Jul and 31st Aug for ¥12,000.
Access both to the Expo and the pavilions requires signing up for a free "ExpoID". Once you have registered, you can purchase tickets at the official site, make a reservation for an entry time, and apply for reservations/lottery tickets to enter individual pavilions. You cannot enter the Expo without a pre-purchased ticket. Even if you have a season pass or the full expo pass, you must still apply for a time slot each day you will visit. If you arrive without a ticket for that day, you will be asked to apply on the spot and there is a high chance that the early hours will already be fully booked.
When you buy your ticket online, you will need to choose the date, entry time, and gate. You must enter from the gate that you selected. If you are arriving at Yumeshima Station, the East Gate is closest. If you are arriving by car or by bus, the West Gate is closer. There is a walking course between each gate, so you can still enter, but you'll have a 15-20 minute walk if you choose the gate furthest from your entry point.
When choosing a day, weekends are generally busy, however, weekdays have also seen large crowds so choosing a weekday does not guarantee a better experience. Japanese holidays from mid-July to the end of August are also likely to lead to an increase in weekday visitors. The final month of the previous Expo was the most crowded, so numbers are also expected to climb the closer to October 13 it gets. Rather than worrying about the day, if you're looking to make the most of things, the best strategy is to find a day where you can get a 9:00 entry time and line up more than 30 minutes earlier so that you can enter at least a few pavilions before the waiting lines begin.
Tickets are QR codes. It is possible to print it yourself beforehand and bring it, but most visitors are expected to use their phones. It is recommended to take a screenshot of your QR Code ticket in case for some reason you cannot access the app or website when you arrive.
Cashless only
[edit]The Expo is completely cashless. You will not be able to purchase anything, including water in the scorching heat, with cash, so bring a credit card, have online payment methods such as Pay-Pay, or buy a prepaid card and charge it with plenty of money ahead of time. If your card requires a PIN in order to use, you can make purchases at all venues but the vending machines may not accept your card (drinks can still be bought at one of the convenience stores).
What to bring
[edit]You can bring food and drinks into the Expo, so if you're worried about costs or don't want to waste time in lines for restaurants or convenience stores, you can buy food ahead of time. You'll get through security faster if your drinks still have the seal on them (see "Eat" section).
Sun umbrellas, hand-held fans, neck towels, sunscreen, hats, or any other ways to keep the sun and sweat at bay are highly recommended. From the summer to the end of the Expo, temperatures and humidity are expected to remain high. Many pavilions require you to line up and wait, sometimes for 2+ hours, in the sun with no shade. If you are not prepared, it can be less fun at best and put your health at risk at worst. If you forget or realize that conditions are worse than what you thought, you can buy most of these items at the Expo however, you may waste time in queues to get them and they may cost a lot more.
Bags and luggage storage
[edit]Only bring what you need and are willing to carry to the Expo. Although the Expo technically has limited luggage storage, they purposefully priced it at an outrageous 10,000 yen to discourage people from bringing luggage (only 100 are accepted even at that price anyway). If you have a hotel, leave all non-essentials there. If you need to store luggage, there are temporary luggage storage facilities for the Expo at Bentencho Station and Sakurajima Station, open from 7:00 to 23:00. If you choose to use these, make sure you arrive to get your luggage before 23:00. You cannot leave your luggage overnight. All bags and luggage that is unclaimed after 23:00 will be discarded. They offer a service to send it to your hotel for 1500 yen. If you can find a coin locker at a station that is convenient for you, it will be cheaper than using these facilities and you can retrieve it the following day for an additional fee. Just be sure if you are leaving Osaka that you can get your bags in time to catch a train to your next destination since the Expo ends quite late.
Get in
[edit]- Main article: Osaka#Get in
Visitors to the Expo will generally arrive via Japan's second largest city Osaka, which is a well-connected major travel hub served by Kansai International Airport (KIX IATA) and the JR Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train from Tokyo. See Osaka#Get in for the details.
Once in Osaka, the Expo site is best accessed via 1 Yumeshima Station (夢洲駅) on the Metro Chuo Line from central Osaka.
There are also direct shuttle buses from Kansai and Itami airports as well as major train stations including Shin-Osaka (Shinkansen connections), Osaka and Namba. See the official transport site for schedules.
Upon arriving, make sure you queue up at the gate that is specified on your ticket (if you haven't bought your ticket yet, see "Tickets" in the "Before you go" section above for details about which gate you should choose). You will not be permitted entry if you try to enter the opposite gate. There is a walkway between the two gates, so it is still possible to enter if you make a mistake, but it requires a 15-20 minute walk in addition to the time you wasted queuing at the wrong gate and you will have to queue up again at the correct gate to enter.
If you enter 1 or more hours after the time on your ticket, you can enter through a separate screening area with no lines.
When you get to the Expo, you will be asked to go through a scanner similar to you would at an airport. You need to remove any drinks from your bags to be checked. Once you are through security, you must present your QR Code ticket. A screenshot of your QR code ticket also suffices.
Get around
[edit]Walking is the primary way to get around. Skateboards, scooters, roller skates, etc. are banned from being brought into the Expo. There is a bus that circles the Expo and stops near various points that requires a reservation in order to use.
See
[edit]The sheer size of the Expo means that it is impossible to cover everything in one day, and access to some of the more popular events and pavilions is capacity controlled with several rather convoluted systems. Allow at least two days if you wish to visit all pavilions of interest. It is wise to choose in advance which of the high-profile sites you want to visit and get them reserved early, then fill in the gaps with the more low-key attractions. Lines tend to shorten as the Expo approaches closing time, although if you cut it too close you run the risk of not getting in at all.
Grand Ring
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The 1 Grand Ring is a 2 km timber structure and walkway that rises to a height of 20 metres. One of the world's largest wooden structures, it offers views of the entire exhibition area. People can walk freely under the ring, which has benches, vending machines, and a few shops. It also provides respite from summer heat and rain. Some pavilions located along the perimeter, such as Bulgaria and Italy, have their queues under the ring. The top of the ring can be accessed by a handful of escalators scattered around its perimeter or by stairs which can also be used in case of emergency. At the center of the exhibition area within the Grand Ring, over 100 countries have their own pavilions along with the Signature Pavilions. There are five "commons" buildings, which house multiple countries who don't have their own pavilions. They are scattered throughout the Grand Ring and its sections. The following zones are located within the Grand Ring. They include the pavilion number for easy map-checking as the official maps use the numbers.
P: Empowering Lives Zone
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- Ireland (P01) - The building is designed to represent the Irish triskele. Inside there is a scent area where you can smell Irish plants, an exhibit about Lafcadio Hearn, a Japanese author who was part Irish known for his ghost and horror stories, and Irish folk music performances.
- Malaysia (P02) - Begins with colorful cultural displays of foods from each region of the country followed by exhibits about the future. A highlight is the tree extending from the floor to the ceiling made from traditional handicrafts. Has a restaurant.
- Commons A (P03) Features exhibits and shops of Barbados, Bolivia, Burundi, Comoros, Eswatini, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Mauritius, North Macedonia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Samoa, Seychelles, Suriname, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Tonga, Uganda, Vanuatu, and Yemen
- Jordan (P04) - Has videos of culture and tourist attractions, musical stones, and 22 tons of sand from Wadi Rum that visitors can walk on and touch. Although it is one of the small pavilions, the sand and interactive experiences have made it very popular. Waiting times can go past 2 hours.
- Peru (P05) - Video about the history and culture followed by cultural object displays.
- Advanced Air Mobility (p07) - A video about air mobility. Reservation required.
- Mozambique (P08) - Video followed by interactive display and cultural objects.
- Philippines (P09) - "Woven" is the theme, and the exterior features woven hammocks. Inside, there are weavings from each region, and you can dance around as an AI plant.
- United States (P11) - A star mascot and catchy theme song guide you through scenes from around the country before leading into exhibits about American space innovations. The final room features a mock rocket launch. Upon exiting, you can view an actual moon rock. The theme song is in English for the English tours and in Japanese for Japanese tours. Chinese tours are also available twice per day. Has a restaurant.
- France (P12) - An exhibit that alternates Louis Vuitton art installations and authentic Rodin hand sculptures. The odd combination of vapid consumerism and sophisticated cultural heritage somehow manages to feel coherent and impressive. Has a restaurant.
- Robot and Mobility (P14) - Showcases drones, cars, etc. with occasional demonstrations.
- Vietnam (P15) - Small, with clothing, a recreated temple, and other objects and information. At certain times they perform traditional music with the instruments on display.
- Qatar (P17) - Designed to represent the nation's dhows, the inner exhibits also feature the country's relationship with the sea in addition to tubes of different colored sand, each representing how the sand appears at different times of day.
- United Arab Emirates (P18) - Features giant pillars made of date palm trees, information is scattered about the spacious room with 3 rotating videos featured in the back. Has a restaurant.
- Canada(P19) - Walk through ice bergs and other exhibits with a handheld VR tablet that will show various scenes of Canada when you point them at the physical objects.
- Portugal (P20) - The outer architecture and video inside are themed around the ocean and the need to take better care of it. There is also an exhibit about Portuguese relations and influences in Japan, such as the numerous Japanese words of Portuguese origin. Has a restaurant.
- Colombia (P21) - Butterfly lights on the ceiling guide you through the pavilion to view the actual typewriter used by Gabriel Garcia Martez to write the novel One Hundred Years of Solitude, a circle of objects from the country that you can touch, and an information room. Has a restaurant.
- Switzerland (P22) - You can say your wish for the "future society" into a microphone and create a real bubble that takes your wish upwards. It ends with a space where you can take a picture with a famous anime depiction of Heidi that is very well-known in Japan.
- Austria (P23) - Video of musical history and interactive musical touchscreens.
- Brazil (P26) - Art installation in the main building featuring colored lights and inflatables followed by exhibits about the country and paints available for you to paint tribal patterns on your face or hands in the second building.
- Kuwait (P27) - Contains a video of a futuristic vision of the country and actual sand brought from the dessert that you can touch and compare to sand you've felt in Japan or elsewhere.
- China (P28) - Animated videos of Chinese culture in a traditional painting-style. The cultural objects chosen to display are replicas of three Sanxingdui artifacts, a beast-headed helment, a mask, and the "Sacred Tree". The Sacred Tree is the largest Shang and Zhou dynasty bronze relics in existence. The objects are forbidden from being taken outside of China, but these are the replicas on display were the first ever to be approved of these objects, so even as replicas, they are one-of-a-kind. The other highlight are real samples from both the near and far side of the moon. This is said to be the first time samples from both sides have ever been displayed together.
- International Organizations Pavilion (P29) - World Expo Museum, ITER project, ASEAN
- United Nations (P30) - History of the UN, how the UN effects people's lives, a video, and a shop.
- Red Cross and Red Crescent (P31) - A video and information about what the organization does.
- Bahrain (P34) - Contains a variety of objects made by craftsman and cultural objects utilizing all five senses, including an entire wall of smells. Has a restaurant.
- Turkmenistan (P35) - Has a video about the country followed by some cultural objects. The colorful building featuring a white horse is considered to be one of the most eye-catching at the Expo.
- Nordic (Iceland, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway) (P36) - A glorified lounge; lots of space, not much to see. Has a restaurant.
- Malta (P37) - Features videos of Malta's history and an authentic samurai armor suit gifted to Malta by Fukuzawa Yukichi in 1862, also marking the first Japanese to visit Malta. They have not been on display since being put in storage for safety during WWII. Beside the samurai armor is a traditional Maltese knight suit of armor.
- Czech Republic (P38) - Built with materials from the Czech Republic, such as spruce and Bohemian glass. Artwork lines the walls and art using the glass is also featured.
X: Signature Zone
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- Better Co-Being (X01) - An open-air exhibit of various art installations intended to bring people closer together, the daytime experience feels more in touch with nature while the nighttime experience feels more otherworldy. Reservation required.
- Future of Life (X02) - Gives history of projecting life onto objects ending in robots and AI from where it introduces ideas of a future in which robots and humans live among each other. It follows the mental struggle of an elderly woman who must decide between dying a natural death or placing her memories inside a robot as a gift to her granddaughter so that she can continue to interact with "her" even after she passes. It posing questions about what is life and what does it mean to be human. It ends with robots emerging from peach-like structures, a nod to the Momotaro folktale, where you can see their expressions up close as they move and gesture towards you to show that robots are already capable of invoking emotion and response from you to further push visitors to confront discomforts surrounding robots. Reservation required.
- Jellyfish Pavilion (X03) - A fun pavilion to relax in; it's especially pretty at night when it's lit up. The main pavilion does not require any reservation, but there is an additional reservation-only experience with a concert and light displays.
- 2 OCHIAI Yoichi's Signature Pavilion "Forging Lives" null² (X04). Has two completely different experiences. The Installation tour is a 10 minute sound and visual art display. The Dialogue tour creates an AI version of you that you can communicate with and it will replicate you. Reservation required.
- Dynamic Equilibrium of Life (X05) - The "dynamic equilibrium" is defined as "a system that is in constant change yet is balanced as a whole". This concept is artfully illustrated through a narrated (Japanese and English) light show. Reservation required.
- Live Earth Journey: Totality of Life (X06) - A virtual reality experience. Reservation required.
- Earth Mart (X07) - Attempts to show how we can eat sustainably through projections and a variety of interactive exhibits. Reservation required.
- Dialogue of Theater (X08) - One participant is chosen from the crowd to engage in a dialogue with someone on video from elsewhere in Japan. Each of the 184 days of the Expo, the question that the two people must answer and discuss is different. The idea is to bridge divides by talking and engaging rather than dissociating. Because the participants are randomly chosen, every session's discussion is different and it is unknown to what exent the participants will be "divided" if at all. Reservation required.
S: Saving Lives Zone
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- Commons C (S01) - Feaures exhibits from Croatia, Gabon, Guatemala, Israel, Montenegro, Panama, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine, and Uruguay. Has a Gabon restaurant.
- Chile (S02) - Mostly empty room with weavings on the ceiling.
- Tunisia (S03) - Makes good use of the small pavilion with projections and the opportunity to have your name written in Arabic, inscribe your name on a plate, or get handmade pottery from the man outside. Has a restaurant.
- Cambodia (S04) - Recreates parts of a stone temple with a replica of Angkor Wat in the center.
- Algeria (S05) - A video with an AI child.
- Baltic (Latvia and Lithuania) (S06) - Medicinal herbs from these countries and art featuring their mascot. Estonia did not participate.
- European Union (S07) - Has a machine-tended zen rock garden and colorful flower and origami exhibits.
- Belgium (S08) Free Biscoff cookie when entering. Focuses on Belgium's importance in medical innovation and technology.
- Italy and the Holy See (S09) - The theme is "Art Regenerates Life". The Italian part features authentic paintings and sculptures from Michaelangelo, pages from the Da Vinci Codex, Olympic Torches. The 16th century painting "Portrait of Ito Mancio" by Domenico Tintoretto commemorates the first diplomatic relations between Japan and Italy. The Vatican contributed Caravaggio's painting "The Deposition" (also commonly called "The Entombment of Christ"), which depicts Christ being laid on th Anointing Stone by Nocodemus, John, and holy women. It is considered to be Caravaggio's best work. Although the authentic artwork is the highlight, the pavilion also features videos, Italian craftwork, modern inventions, and a rooftop garden. This is the most popular pavilion at the Expo. Reservations are available but not required. Without a reservation, expect 3+ hour wait on weekdays and 4+ hour wait on weekends. Has a restaurant.
- Singapore (S11) - Focused around dreams, it's an interactive exhibit that allows you to write down your dream and then move into the projection dome where your dream will appear to help build the city.
- Bulgaria (S12) - In Japan, Bulgaria is synonymous with yogurt in the most literal sense; "Bulgaria" is the name of a popular yogurt brand. Bulgaria introduced yogurt to Japan at the 1970 Expo. Because of this association, the pavilion uses yogurt and its bacteria as the base from which to introduce ideas about different cultures working together for the betterment of society like the good yogurt bacteria does in the human body. There is also a video where you can see the wishes of those who previously visited and you can use the QR code in the pavilion to write your own wishes for the next groups to read. English tours at 18:00 each day, arrive a few minutes early and tell the staff (do not get in the queue if you are doing the English tour).
- Netherlands (S13) - Carrying a glowing orb as your guide, you'll learn about the history of the Netherlands' relationship with its waterways, from hardships to modern innovations intended to harness its power. Reservations required after 11:00.
- Commons D (S14) - Features exhibits from Antigua and Barbuda, Cameroon, Cuba, DR Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea, Honduras, Laos, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, Marshall Islands, Moldova, Mongolia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Sao Tome and Principe, Sudan, Tajikistan, Togo, Burkina Faso, Belize, and Bhutan
- Oman (S15) - Projection mappings and a video. Has a restaurant.
- Hungary (S16) - Local flora and an intimate, moving concert by a folk singer. Has a restaurant.
- Commons E (S17) - Features art exhibits.
- Poland (S20) - Flower projections and art made with traditional Polish goods. Reservations possible but not required. Additionally, the pavilion has daily classical piano concerts in a very intimate setting that do require reservations.
- Romania (S21) A video, live performance, and exhibits of traditional woodwork and handicrafts. Has a restaurant.
- United Kingdom (S22) - Themed around dreams as "building blocks", follows a block mascot and daughter talking to her father in the UK. Features an interactive game. Has a restaurant.
- Angola (S23) Opened in late June, the pavilion features a video story about a girl with malaria that promotes a future where modern medicine and traditional medicine are both valued, respected, and used alongside one another rather than pitted against one another. After that, you can listen to different people speak about various topics. Has a restaurant.
C: Connecting Lives Zone
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- Nepal (C01) (not open as of July 2025)
- Luxembourg (C02) - A video about life in Luxembourg, exhibits about Luxembourg as "the heart of Europe"
- Germany (C03) - Carrying a light-up mascot of the pavilion, it will guide you in the language of your choice (Japanese, English, or German). The pavilion focuses on sustainability and solving modern problems, such as what to do with abandoned city housing. Roll your mascot down a chute to exit the pavilion.
- Korea (C04) - A sound and light show, green energy art displays, and video
- Commons F (C05) - Features exhibits from Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Brunei Darussalam
- Azerbaijan (C07) - Arguably one of the most beautiful from the outside with its white arches and wooden ethnic dancers that spin over water between each arch, inside there is a rather long video followed by a hall of cultural objects from the country. Has a restaurant.
- Monaco (C10) - Consists of 3 separate buildings, the first featuring a video of Monaco's culture, sensory touching, and a tacky VR experience. The others are located along an outside path with small gardens and interactive play spaces. They feature a maritime protection building with an attractive central pillar and projections and another small building with touch panels to learn more about the country. Has a wine bar.
- Turkey (C11) - The main intrigue is the illuminated sun and moon, the sun representing Japan and the moon representing Turkey. The outside Turkish ice cream and Turkish food vendor are more popular than the pavilion itself.
- Thailand (C12) - After a video introduction, the exhibits focus on food. Reservations for Thai massages can be made. Has a restaurant.
- Spain (C13) - Exhibits about the ocean followed by a vibrant orange room with some postcards.
- Saudi Arabia (C14) - Arabian architecture, multiple buildings with different exhibits and a central area where performances and demonstrations are held. Project-mapping is done on the buildings at night. Has a cafe.
- Australia (C15) - Recreates a forest with video representations of local animals appearing in the trees.
- Indonesia (C16) - A Sumatran forest with unique animals scattered about, a thoughtful video, and authentic blades from various ethnic groups
- India (C17) - The pavilion was built to resemble a lotus flower, a symbol of Enlightenment. Inside there are videos about Indian innovations along with Indian cultural objects.
- Uzbekistan (C18) - Introduces the culture of the country before taking you to the roof which utilizes the same wood as the Grand Ring in its own unique design.
- Serbia (C19) - "Understanding through play" is the theme, so it features a variety of interactive exhibits.
- Bangladesh (C20) - Various objects around the room with a video in the back.
- Senegal (C21) - Words on the wall about the country and a shop.
- Egypt (C22) - Video projections of famous Egyptian sites.
- Commons B (C23) - Features exhibits from Cape Verde, Ethiopia, Guyana, Gambia, Ivory Coast, Zambia, Sierra Leone, Djibouti, Jamaica, Zimbabwe, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Somalia, Tanzania, Chad, Central African Republic, Tuvalu, Dominica, Nauru, Haiti, Paraguay, Timor-Leste, Fiji, Benin, Micronesia, Mauritania, and Lesotho.
F: Forest of Tranquility
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An attractive forest with paths for visitors to explore in the center of the inner ring. It consists of trees that were scheduled for thinning from Expo 70 Commemoration Park in Suita along with trees transplanted from other parks around Osaka Prefecture, including Osaka Castle Park. For passport stamp collectors, the Forest of Tranquility is one of the only venues that does not have a stamp. This is on purpose; frantic stamp collecting is neither relaxing nor tranquil.
Outside the Grand Ring
[edit]The following are venues located outside the grand ring representing Japan with the Japan Pavilion, Kansai Pavilion, and 12 Japanese megacorps pavilions, along with other non-country pavilions, such as the Women's Pavilion. These are typically highlights of the exposition, with Bandai's GUNDAM Pavilion guaranteed to draw crowds. They are well worth visiting but nearly all require reservations, so temper your expectations. You'll need multiple days with lots of lottery luck if you plan to enter more than just a few.
E: East Gate Zone
[edit]- Kansai (E01) Features some of the traditional prefectures that make up Kansai (Shiga, Mie, Wakayama, Kyoto, and Hyogo) along with Tottori, Fukui, and Tokushima. Each prefecture has its own exhibition space branching off from the center. There is a Nara stamp for collectors however, Nara does not have an exhibition space. Osaka is not featured because the Expo is in Osaka and one hope of the pavilion is to inspire visitors to explore other prefectures. The exhibitions and features change throughout the festival, but the overall experience is similar:
- Shiga: A 20 minute video with floating ball art.
- Mie: Walk through a tunnel with projection-mappings of prefectural beauty followed by interactive exhibits where you can open doors and turn flaps to see and learn about famous places, objects, products, animals, and nature from the prefecture.
- Wakayama: Large taiko drums for performances.
- Kyoto: Features local lacquerware art and products.
- Hyogo: A video of prefectural highlights
- Tottori: Using a magnifying glass, as a nod to Detective Conan whose creator is from Hokuei, you first walk on sand from the Tottori Sand Dunes to find and learn about various things from the prefecture followed by a projection-mapping show over the sand.
- Fukui: Using digital flashlights, you can find dinosaur fossils and then shine your light on Fukui dinosaurs, such as Fukuititan and Fukuiraptors, as they move around you.
- Tokushima: Known for its indigo dyes, visitors can dip a thread into indigo dye and tie it to a traditional drying rack. There are also some cultural objects and a few interactive displays that you can feel and smell.
Reservation required.
- Osaka Healthcare (E02) - Has information about Japanese innovations in healthcare, demonstrations of a self-washer (an updated one from that which was featured at the 1970s Expo), and a body scan that creates an AI version of you and tells you where your health will likely take you in 2050. Reservations required, different reservations exist for regular entry versus regular entry plus the 2050 avatar experience.
- NTT (E03) - Starts with a 3-D glasses video of the music group Perfume singing followed by a video show using the bodies of those in the room. Outside there are old-fashioned phones inside phone booths that play various sounds when you dial the numbers. Reservation required (outside phones can be used by anyone).
- Mitsubishi (E05) - A video. Reservation required.
- Panasonic Group - The Land of Nomo (E06) - Walk through with a crystal that you can use to interact with various exhibits. Reservation required.
- Sumitomo (E07) - With the theme "The Unknown Forest", it begins with a video that sets the tone and setting of the forest before visitors are able to explore the unknown forest themselves on a walk with hand-held lanterns. Reservation required.
- Electric Power - Eggs of Possibilities (E08) - Walk through the pavilion holding a glowing egg. There is a light show as well as interactive exhibits, some of which require use of your egg. Reservation required.
- Women's Pavilion in Collaboration with Cartier (E09) - Using an audio guide (English option available), visitors are randomly separated into three groups to follow the story of one of three women before reuniting to read timelines of recent achievements by women, improvements in laws protecting women, and female firsts. Lastly, there is a room with various people (including men) with holes in their chests that you reach into to hear their stories. Reservations possible but not required.
- Japan (E10) - With an attractive architectural design, the building has excellent visual exhibits showcasing Japanese innovations related to sustainability, such as plastic disintegration and algae, including the Hello Kitty algae display that for many became symbols of the Expo alongside the mascot. The pavilion is informative yet also artistic. Non-reservations from 9:00-11:00 and 19:30-21:00, Reservation required during daytime.
- EXPO Hall "Shining Hat" (E11) - Has projection-mapping on the outside at night.
- EXPO National Day Hall "Ray Garden" (E12) - A National Day is held for each country participating in the Expo. This is where they hold those performances. Nearly every day is a "national day". Visitors can check the website to see if their visit day coincides with a National Day that interests them.
- Gallery EAST (E13) - A small showcase of paintings and cultural objects.
W: West Gate Zone
[edit]- Tech World (Taiwan) (W02) - Taiwan is not permitted to have a pavilion under its name, so in spite of the name "Tech World", this is Taiwan's pavilion. It features a projection-mapping about its nature and information about its technology with a focus on IC chips.
- Gas Pavilion Obake Wonderland (W03) - "Ghost Wonderland". With a VR headset, you become a ghost and can interact with your surroundings as you navigate the world. Lessons about human waste manifest in the CO2 monster that must be destroyed. Popular with children. Reservation required.
- Iida Group (W04) - Videos and models of their vision of future Smart Homes surrounded by circles (much like the Grand Ring) that contain grocery stores, shopping malls, and other necessities and entertainment for those in the apartments.
- ORA Gaishoku (W05) - A dining facility showcasing Osaka foods. It contains a variety of Japanese cultural objects including an entire float from the Nebuta Festival in Aomori.
- Blue Ocean Dome (W06) - Follow water droplets through a Pythagorean device also known as a Rube Goldberg machine-style contraption followed by a video. Reservation required.
- Gundam NEXT Future (W07) - Uses videos to make you feel like you're inside a Gundam looking out during a battle. Reservation required.
- Pasona Natureverse (W09) - Utilizes Astro Boy, a former vision of the future, to introduce a "Neo-Astro Boy", with exhibits about life-giving medicine. One of the highlights is a real lab-grown beating heart made from IPS cells. The Astro Boy statue sitting on the building is a popular photo op.
- Yoshiimoto waraii myraii (W10) - Described as a waste of space by adults, children enjoy rolling down the slopes on the outside.
- EXPO Exhibition Center "WASSE" (W11) - A space that is used for events, gatherings, and limited-time exhibitions.
L: Future Life Zone
[edit]The Future Life Village houses most of the featured sites, so they are more like booths or areas rather than individual pavilions. Most exhibits in this area are scheduled to change monthly, so there isn't a set experience and those who have visited before can have a different experience if they visit in a different month.
- Gallery West (L01) - Has a small indoor display and VR experience and an outdoor space that is used for events throughout the expo.
- Future Life Experience (L02) - Exhibits of how culture, food, and healthcare may look in the future.
- Team Expo (L03) - Focuses on promoting people to take action in their lives on goals set for the future.
- Mobility Experience (L04) - The launching and landing place of the advanced mobility aircraft.
- Future City (L05) - A virtual experience of "The City of Happiness" which is set up much like the expo with a ring around central apartments and restaurants, shops, and a park located on the ring and around the buildings to create a small, self-contained living space with all of one's essentials very close by.
- Expo Arena "Matsuri" (L06) - A large open space with a central stage for concerts and large events.
- Junior SDG Camp (L07) - The actual Junior SDGs Camp is for schools however for stamp collectors, this one is stamped via an 11.5kg concrete weight.
- Expo Sauna "Taiyo's Tsubomi" (L08) - Described as an "experimental sauna ritual", it utilizes heat from the sun to create the sauna's heat. The "ritual" comes from the way you use it. A guide takes visitors through each of the sauna's experiences in the order you're meant to use them. Scents and sounds are used, and the facilities come with instructions, such as a bath where you are to submerge at least up to your ears in order to experience not just the bath but also the sounds that are meant to have soothing effects. Only 100 people can enter per day.
Do
[edit]Numerous events big and small are held during the Expo.
The most easily accessible is the One World, One Planet show, a synchronized show of sound, lighting and projection mapping across the entire venue, held daily after sunset.
Buy
[edit]Expo is cashless, and all payments on site must be made by card or electronic money.

The Expo 2025 Official Store has an East Gate and a West Gate shop so whichever is your entrypoint, you will be near a gift shop. You can buy Expo passports at these shops and they contain the widest variety of goods. Maps of the Expo must also be purchased at information centers near the entrances.
The Expo's official mascot is Myaku-Myaku (ミャクミャク), a bizarre cross between a multi-eyed amoeba and a donut. Gift shops are featured throughout the site, including by the gates, which feature the mascot as many different products. There are also many corporate collaborations featuring the mascot, such as Sanrio characters in a costume of the mascot.
Many country pavilions have small gift shops retailing local products, and you can pick up corporate merchandise at most of the company pavilions.
Eat
[edit]Many pavilions will have places to eat featuring their own nation's foods. There are also scattered food trucks, tents, and food courts. The convenience store prices are the same as outside and some of the restaurants, such as ramen restaurants, are comparably reasonable. Most restaurants and international cuisine have highly inflated "Expo prices", so visitors hoping to enjoy foreign foods should expect to pay more.
The ORA Gaishoku in the West Gate Zone (see above) is a pavilion that is entirely a dining facility, featuring Osaka cuisine. The area around it also has other restaurants such as a pizzeria and the African restaurant, PANAF.
The Kura-zushi is particularly popular. Conveyer-belt sushi was actually first introduced at Osaka's 1970s Expo, so it was een as fitting to include it upon the Expo's return to the city. The highlight at this Expo is that it features sushi with foods and flavors from over 70 countries, all of which are participating in the Expo. There are 338 seats, making it the largest Kura-zushi restaurant. Reservations are required.
A visitor poll actually showed that bento's from home were the most popular food to eat. When it comes to bringing food and drinks, the food can stay in your bags and be run through the x-rays as normal. Drinks need to be removed from your bags and shown to the security staff at the entrance. If your drink is sealed, you can go through easily. If it is not sealed, they may have you drink some in front of them to prove it is a beverage. They have the authority to confiscate drinks that they deem suspicious, but this is not an issue for most people, and if it does occur, you can purchase drinks at vending machines or convenience stores inside the Expo.
Drink
[edit]There are vending machines throughout the Expo and convenience stores to get drinks to stay hydrated. For alcohol, some country pavilions have their own local beers and wines. Most sit-down restaurants in the pavilion have some alchohol on offer. In addition, there are fun non-alcoholic but exotic drinks not typically available in Japan, such as camel milk at the UAE Pavilion and baobab juice at the African Restaurant, Panaf.
Sleep
[edit]There is no lodging available on site, but it's located in Osaka, which has a wide variety of hotels. Reserve as early as possible.