In 1970, Osaka hosted the first-ever World Expo in Asia. Now, exactly 55 years later, it is bringing the magic back home, presenting six months of awe-inspiring exhibitions, amazing performances, and unbelievable innovations. Running until mid-October this year, Expo 2025 Osaka is unique for many reasons. Perched on Osaka Bay in the southern region of Kansai, Japan, it is the only Expo to be held on the sea, while the Grand Ring that contains it is ‘the largest wooden architectural structure’ on the planet, according to the Guinness World Records.
Predicted to attract 28 million people, this year’s World Expo passed the one-million-visitor mark just 11 days after opening, and it’s an experience that should be top of all our travel wish lists. Colourful, exciting, and packed with rich culture and interesting ideas, it provides yet another welcome excuse to get that Japan adventure booked in and confirmed.
Hosted under the theme of ‘Designing Future Society for Our Lives’, Expo 2025 Osaka features diverse, multicultural pavilions from 158 countries, nine regions, and various international organisations. Eight ‘Signature Pavilions’ are also located in the middle of the site.
Containing boundary-breaking, thought-provoking projects by renowned Japanese artists, filmmakers, and creatives, the Signature Pavilions and Signature Events all effortlessly blend the virtual world with the real, and encourage visitors to examine the concept of life from a different perspective.
Some of the (many) other pavilion highlights include the striking Women’s Pavilion – created in collaboration with Cartier – as well as the Kansai and Japan pavilions, and, of course, the pavilions from the GCC.
While Saudi Arabia steals the show as the second-biggest pavilion after Japan, the UAE Pavilion is inspired by the look and feel of the traditional ‘arish’ houses that were built from palm fronds and trunks. Inside, state-of-the-art exhibitions focus on the nation’s many accomplishments in space, healthcare innovation, and sustainability.
Starting with its explosive opening ceremony, Expo 2025 Osaka is hosting a continuous programme of engaging, world-class events all the way through until the end.
Spanning National Day-themed celebrations, music, dance, art, and more, one of the most notable events on the schedule is the enthralling One World, One Planet show. Taking place for 184 consecutive days, the magnificent display of light, sound, and technology will see drone shows and projections illuminate many of the site’s key buildings every evening.
Another must-see is the Expo Sauna TAIYO’s TSUBOMI. Looking over the waters of Osaka Bay, the trio of flower-bud-like tents offers a unique spa experience.
Combining a sauna, water bath, and relaxation lounge, it’s completely powered by the sun’s energy, illuminated by pretty LED lights, and designed to work in harmony with the natural elements.
Following in the footsteps of the architectural wonder that is Expo City Dubai, the Expo 2025 Osaka site is filled with enthralling and inspiring spaces. Here are a few.
A massive and incredible structure, the wooden Grand Ring’s circumference stretches for roughly two kilometres.
Allowing visitors to smoothly and safely walk around the site under the shaded walkway, it was constructed using a fusion of modern construction methods and traditional Nuki joints (the same technique used in Japanese shrines and temples), while the circular shape is designed to reflect the idea of ‘unity in diversity’.
After the Grand Ring, the calm and peaceful Forest of Tranquillity is perhaps the second most amazing feature of Expo 2025 Osaka. A lush green oasis in the centre of the complex, it provides visitors with a quiet place to rest and recuperate during their busy days at the world fair.
Spanning over two hectares, many of its 1,500 trees have been relocated from the Expo ’70 Commemorative Park and other parks in Osaka. Also home to a pond, water features and multiple species of native Japanese plants, it brings a welcome dose of verdant greenery to the technology- and future-focused celebration.
Reminiscent of the original Tower of the Sun at the first Osaka Expo in 1970, the Shining Hat amphitheatre hosts some of Expo 2025 Osaka’s most impressive events and displays.
Topped with a large, circular gold roof and wrapped in textured pure white fabric, different, enrapturing animations and visual-art installations take place here daily.
As fantastic as Expo 2025 Osaka is sure to be, don’t forget that this exciting city also has so much to offer away from the Expo village. A bustling metropolis, it’s far less touristy than Tokyo, and renowned for its modern architecture, delicious street food, and authentic character.
Just over an hour’s flight from Tokyo, it’s less conservative than other Japanese cities, and proudly laid back and fun, too. Exploring the bright lights of the Instagrammable Dōtombori area and its 400-year-old canals is a feast for the senses in all the best ways, while the city’s other top attractions include the reconstructed 16th-century Osaka Castle and its cherry-blossom-dotted gardens.
For those visiting with kids (or anyone who simply wants to indulge their childish side), Universal Studios Japan is also just a 10-minute drive from the Expo site.
Images: Courtesy of Expo 2025
Visit expo2025.or.jp
