Have you been to Osaka Expo 2025? Did you have a good time? Are you planning to go to the Expo soon? Well, let this article serve as a guide.
Where to begin? Let’s start with the first and the worst thing that you will experience at the Expo, and that is the crowds. The first time I went was during Obon and it took 50 minutes just to get to the entrance! The second time I went I was fortunate enough to get into the fast lane, which made things easier. But crowds and long lines are something that you will have to get used to from morning to night.
But, as crowded as the Expo is, you can escape the throngs of people by going to the top of the grand ring, which is not only a nice place to relax away from the crowds but also gives a great view of the pavilions and the whole Expo area.
Perhaps the best thing about the Expo is that it feels like you are travelling around the world, all in one place. You can visit pavilions from many countries around the world including countries you may never have heard of. Not only will you see exhibits from around the world, you also get the chance to talk to people from these countries to learn more about their culture.
And that brings me to another travel related thing you can do at the Expo, and that is to use a passport. For a small fee you can buy a stamp passport and fill it with stamps from each pavilion you visit. Over time your book will get filled from stamps from all over the world just like visas in a real passport.
Foreign countries are not the only thing being showcased at the Expo, another popular theme is the future and some pavilions and areas showcase future technology and society. I was lucky enough to get into the Future City pavilion which showcased lots of concepts for cities in the future and I was able to see the CORLEO robotic concept vehicle from Kawasaki.
Robots feature quite a lot at the Expo with one of the most popular pavilions (reservation only) being the Gundam pavilion.
Many Japanese companies including NTT, Panasonic, Bandai, and Mitsubishi, all have pavilions showcasing their role in society and their plans for the future.
Many of the pavilions at the Expo are reservation only so, you will need to reserve online before you go and almost all of the pavilions have long lines, especially popular pavilions like Japan, the US and France. So, you might not get to go to all the pavilions that you most want to visit. But, there is so much to see that it’s easy to have a fun time.
So that about wraps it up.
If you have been, what was your favourite pavilion? Did you have a good time at the Expo?
Remember if you are still planning to go, be sure to bring drinks, an umbrella and, if possible, a portable chair so that you can sit down while waiting in those long queues.
Cheers!
(The Expo runs until October 13th)