The world exposition is taking place in Osaka this year. Here are some tips to help you have a great time!
Also referred to as the World Expo, this event is held every five years and began in 1851 to share the latest in culture, economy and technology. This year this event is being held in Osaka, Japan. This is the second time that Osaka has hosted the world event, the last time was in 1970. This year the theme is “Designing Future society for our Lives” and will run from April 13 to October 13, 2025. This theme allows for a broad range of interpretations by the 150 participating nations. There is something for everyone.
The world’s largest wooden architectural structure was built for this Expo. It is a wooden ring around the grounds that is 2,025 meters in circumference, 30 meters in width and ranges from 12 to 20meters high. You can walk on the upper deck and view the grounds below. This structure alone took over a year to construct.
The rest of the grounds are filled with pavilions from around the world. The themes of nature, culture and technology are incorporated into the exteriors and offers an experience for the senses. There are also common areas that house multiple smaller nations, offering information about the country and unique experiences for visitors.
You can get a full day, evening ticket or if you are able to stay longer summer and season passes are available. Once you have your ticket and the day you will attend you can apply for lottery tickets for entrance times into specific popular venues. While many offer walk-in traffic, these can have long wait times.
Food and drink. There are free water fill stations, as well as vending machines for refreshments. Bring a small hand towel to dry your hands after washing because no hand dryers or paper towels are provided. While this is common in Japan it is also part of the environmental net zero policy. There are so many food venues found within the grounds including the chain Kura sushi that usually offers sushi on a conveyer belt but at Expo they offer various dishes from all around the world.
Wear comfortable walking shoes it is a huge facility and there is so much to see, especially if you have various reservations and need to move from one end to another. Consider the evening light shows when applying for reservations for some of the venues. Try to get a place on the upper ring to watch the final light show. And don’t forget to say hi to Myaku-Myaku the official mascot of 2025 Osaka Expo.