Home in the World

Last Updated on August 10, 2025 by Home in the World

If you’ve been reading my blog or following me on Instagram for a while, you’ll know I’m a pretty big fan of Osaka, Japan. So much so that I made two separate trips there in 2024.

I knew it was going to be hosting the World Expo 2025 – there was no shortage of reminders; its official mascot, a red and blue creature called Myaku-Myaku, was omnipresent throughout the city, featuring on everything from manhole covers to billboards.

And so began my admittedly very First World dilemma: should I make the trip up from Australia for the third time in the space of 12 months to attend my first ever World Expo?

In the end, the allure of Japan and my beloved Osaka won out. I never need an excuse to visit at the best of times, but the World Expo 2025 seemed like a pretty cool thing to combine it with.

So I’ve decided to write a little post about my experience there and share some information that will hopefully be of use to anyone planning to attend themselves this year.

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What is the World Expo?

For those not familiar, the World Expo is a large-scale event held every 5 years in a different city around the world, showcasing global innovations, design, sustainability initiatives and culture.

Most countries are represented through their own pavilions (some larger and more elaborate than others), and there are also themed pavilions and sponsored pavilions, not to mention an entire section dedicated to the host country and its various regions.

The first ever World Expo was held in London in 1851, and indeed the Eiffel Tower was built specifically for the 1889 event in Paris. The most recent edition was held in Dubai from late 2021 to early 2022 (it was supposed to have been held in 2020 but was postponed due to the pandemic), and the next edition in 2030 is set to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The 2025 event is actually the second time Osaka is hosting, having also taken place there in 1970. Fifty-five years later, it’s back, its guiding theme being ‘Designing Future Society For Our Lives’.

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When is Expo 2025 Osaka?

Expo 2025 started on 13 April 2025 and will be running until 13 October 2025 (6 months in total). I attended in May.

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Buying tickets

I personally booked my ticket through the official website before even leaving Australia. As with many Japanese websites, there is an onslaught of information and it can be a bit overwhelming to try and find what you’re looking for. I initially felt like this while browsing the various Expo ticket options, but it did end up being quite self-explanatory.

Basically, the steps are as follows:

1. Register and get your Expo ID
2. Choose your ticket type, time, day etc. (I opted for a single-day weekday-only ticket for 12pm onwards. It cost around JPY 6000)
3. Purchase this via the website (you can make up to 2 date changes for free)
4. You’ll receive a QR code, which is what you show when entering the grounds
5. Make reservations for pavilions or join the lottery

You can also buy tickets at the entrance, subject to availability, as well as at local convenience stores in Japan. But I didn’t want to run the risk of missing out, given I was only in Osaka for a specific time window.

Alternatively, you can book your ticket via the options below or through Klook:

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Getting there

I went by subway, and I highly recommend this as the best way of accessing the Expo grounds. And if so, it means you will be arriving at the East Gate (I mention this, as it asks you which gate you will be arriving at when buying your ticket).

Take the Chuo line (the green line) westbound to the terminus, Yumeshima. If you’re staying in central Osaka, you will likely have to change at Hommachi station en route.

The Yumeshima station is a brand-new, purpose-built station that only opened in late 2024. Japan’s public transport is amazingly efficient at the best of times, and the Expo access experience was no different.

The trains ran regularly, the station was well signposted and you really can’t get lost. Follow the signs (and the crowds), pass through the turnstiles and then head up the escalator to reach the entrance to the Expo grounds.

When I arrived (at around midday on a Wednesday), there was no queue and we just walked straight up. Be aware that you will have to pass through similar security to an airport; walk through a metal detector and put your bags through an X-ray machine. You are allowed to bring water bottles in, but you may have to take these out and put them through the X-ray machine separately. Large bags and suitcases are not permitted.

After that, simply show your QR code to the official standing at the gate, and you’re in!

If you plan to arrive via another mode of transport, e.g. bike, private car, shuttle bus, airport bus or ship, I recommend reading the specific instructions on the official website.

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A day at Expo 2025 Osaka

How you choose to spend your day at Expo is entirely up to you, as there are so many things to explore.

One thing I will recommend to everyone, however, is to wear comfy walking shoes and bring a water bottle and sun protection if you’re there on a hot and/or sunny day, as the grounds are vast (maps are available for a fee) and there is not always a lot of shade. Likewise, if you’re there on a rainy day, be sure to have an umbrella handy.

If you’ve booked specific slots at a particular pavilion, you will obviously attend those. If you have not, you may still be be able to access the pavilion, but be prepared to queue up for anywhere up to an hour or so.

I actually did not reserve any specific pavilions, as I didn’t want to be locked into set times. Nor did I fancy wasting time queuing up for anything that looked too busy. So I spent the majority of my time just wandering the grounds admiring the unique and often quirky architecture of all the pavilions.

Some, like the futuristic Korea pavilion, had a big screen on its exterior showcasing the country through amazing high-resolution videos and music. I also watched a Korean dance performance.

Of course I also had to put my head in at the Australia pavilion, but I most enjoyed heading into the smaller countries’ pavilions, where there were no massive queues and you could walk straight in.

These included Cambodia, whose interior featured a replica arcade from Angkor Wat, as well as lots of Khmer handicrafts. Considering I had visited Cambodia just a few months prior, it was lovely to refresh my memory and also talk to the local Cambodian staff working at the pavilion.

Another pavilion I enjoyed, and which was easy to get into, was Chile, whose entire interior was draped in gorgeous Andean woven fabrics and also included carts of Chilean wine. Expo is all about showcasing a country’s culture and major industries, after all.

There are also a number of ‘Commons’ buildings containing multiple pavilions; basically like mini trade fairs, with each country having its own stand. I went inside Commons D and explored pavilions such as Mongolia, Bhutan, Tajikistan, Palestine and Sudan.

In terms of food & drink, there is an ample offering throughout the grounds, with all kinds of takeaway and sit-down options. It’s not especially cheap, as you would expect; I paid about JPY 700 for a small serve of seaweed salt chips. But it is what it is. I just needed a small snack to refuel the tank!

As is commonplace throughout Japan, don’t expect to find a heck of a lot of rubbish bins (or trash cans for the Americans out there) around. But when you do see them, they are in a set of about 10, each designated for specific types of waste; e.g. plastic bottles, paper waste, food scraps etc.

This waste sorting and recycling was one of several eco-friendly initiatives I saw on site (in addition to the actual environmental-focused pavilions), another being the Green Park Bus. This was a cute little electric bus that just sat parked, with its engine running, and people could sit inside it for a while as a rest stop and recharge their phones while there.

If you want to get a bird’s eye perspective of the entire grounds, I definitely recommend taking one of the numerous escalators up to the top of the Grand Ring encircling the grounds.

It was built made using both traditional Japanese techniques and modern technology, and is the world’s largest timber structure. You can follow it around as far as you wish, enjoying the lofty air, the rooftop gardens and a fabulous view of the eclectic pavilion rooftops, not to mention some of the large-scale art installations. And at ground level, the Ring provides some useful shade, shelter and seating areas under its awe-inspiring timber beams.

Other attractions I recommend checking out: the world’s largest 3D-printed biodegradable monolithic building (it’s even got a Guinness Book of World Records certificate) and the sculpture by Japanese artist Kazuhiko Hiwa, made from old wheelchairs. Hiwa himself uses a wheelchair, and much of his work is dedicated to offering new perspectives on mobility, physicality and accessibility.

So how long should you spend at Expo? I would say a good part of a day, perhaps even extending into the evening. There is a lot to see, and don’t expect to see it all if you’re only there for one day, but just soak up the atmosphere, admire the vast array of global innovations, culture and art on display, and take pleasure in the fact that you’re attending an incredible event that’s only held every five years!

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Where to stay in Osaka during Expo 2025

On all three of my trips, I have stayed at the Fraser Residence Nankai Osaka, which I HIGHLY recommend and for which I have written a comprehensive review. It is perfectly located in the centre of Osaka right near Namba station, is spotlessly clean and spacious, has absolutely wonderful staff, and delivers excellent value for money overall.

But if it’s not for you, you can search for a property suiting your needs below.

If you’re also planning to do general sightseeing while in Osaka, I do recommend staying somewhere in the Namba area, as it will put you within easy walking distance of the major tourist site of Dotonbori, as well as countless restaurants, shops and Namba station, which offers excellent access to the rest of the city and beyond via multiple subway and railway lines.

If you prefer to be closer to the Shinkansen (bullet train) station, consider somewhere near Umeda or Shin-Osaka. Ultimately, it’s important to be close to a subway station, as that is definitely the best way to get around Osaka, including visiting Expo 2025.

Here are some good options if you want to stay right near the Expo grounds.

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Final thoughts on Expo 2025 Osaka

Having never attended anything like this before, I wasn’t really sure what to expect from Expo 2025. But after going, I can say I thoroughly enjoyed it. It kind of felt like being at an ‘educational’ theme park. There was so much to take in, and such a lovely multicultural atmosphere with visitors from all over the world.

And of course being in Japan, everything was very well organised, clean and orderly. If you find yourself in Osaka anywhere between now and 13 October 2025, definitely consider attending. My ticket cost approx. JPY 6000 (approx. USD 40), which I thought was pretty decent value. After all, it’s only every 5 years that we have the opportunity to experience something like this.

I hope this personal account of my time at Expo 2025 helps you and clarifies things for you if you’re planning to attend. Should you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to contact me and I’ll do my best to answer them based on my experience. And if you do end up going, have fun!

** This post, like everything else on this website, has been written entirely by me. No ChatGPT or any other AI tool has been used. It takes longer to create, but I value 100% human-generated content and I hope you do too! **

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Before you go…

You might like to download my free, print-friendly one-page Osaka city guide or read my blog posts on What to see in Osaka for first-timers and fun foods to try in Osaka, as well as a guest post by local experts on Osaka’s best sukiyaki restaurants.

Plus, follow me on Instagram to enjoy more aspirational travel content from around the world!

For more Asia travel content, feel free to check out my posts from Cambodia, Taiwan, South Korea and China, as well as my older travel memories (more narrative style than blog style) from Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia and Singapore.

And for more Osaka travel inspiration, you may want to consider some of these tours:

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