Visit Osaka: Osaka World Expo (Expo 2025)

While planning our trip to Osaka, I discovered that the Osaka World Expo (Expo 2025) was going on.  It wasn't until the month before we were leaving did I decide to buy tickets, since I figured we may probably not have the chance to experience a World Expo again.

The World Expo is basically where countries and a few private businesses showcase their products, research, and advancements that address climate change, transportation, agricultural, environmental issues, design, and so much more. 

We bought tickets early enough in the World Expo run (started on April 13, runs through Oct. 13) to get discounted tickets.  I selected an entry time of 9am (you may arrive anytime after your selected entry time).  

Ahead of your visit, you can sign up for a lottery to get into one of the over 150 pavilions to avoid standing in long lines.  There is one lottery 2 months prior to your visit, and another 7-days in advance of your visit.  You can select up to 5 pavilions or time slots per pavilion (if there is a single pavilion you really want to go to) for the lottery.  For the first lottery, we got tickets for Gundam Next Future Pavilion. For the second lottery, we got tickets for Japan Pavilion.  The day of your visit you can also try and snag any reservations that may have opened up for the day via the website.  

I have no idea how hard it is to win any lottery tickets, but I was thankful we won any, because I hate standing in lines.

But I was soon to find out lines were the norm at Expo 2025 no matter what. 

Once we got there at around 920am, the crowds were crazy with the lines to match.  We entered through the East Entrance, which is where the train station ends, but if you have private transportation or book a bus, you can enter through the West Entrance, which I heard is not as crazy. 

You first wind through the entrance gates to find your entry time.  In true Japan-style, hundreds of people were sitting down waiting for their time slot to open up.  There were several security lines open, but it took a while to get through security, as not only do you have to have your items scanned, but they scan the water bottles and other drinks separately.

While waiting, recorded announcements kept playing to remind guests to use a parasol and drink water to prevent heatstroke.  

It took about 40 minutes to get through security.  Once we got in, we quickly looked for a map, because our first reservation was for Gundam at 1036-1048 (the site does say if you miss your time slot you may not be let in).   It turned out to be near the other end of the entrance.

It was a very neat 4D, immersive experience about the future of transportation.

The Japan Pavilion was educational and I especially loved the algae exhibits.

There were lines to stand in even if you had a reservation, but they were very minimal compared to the standby lines.  

A wooden structure called the Grand Ring encompasses the expo, symbolizing "Unity in Diversity," which provided not only shade, but you could also walk up stairs, use an escalator, or take the elevator to get views from the upper deck. 

As you walk through, you'll see various pavilions.  When we arrived the lines were short or non-existent.  By the time we finished our first pavilion, lines grew quite long, and by the afternoon queues were pretty crazy for certain pavilions.  

Some of the fam went into pavilions that had minimal to no lines, while some of us just sat and rested. 

The World Expo is just enormous.  I underestimated just how expansive it is and how easy it was to get lost, even though everything is contained in a circle.  

It was neat to see all the different pavilions, even from the outside.  

Views at night were so pretty, with the pavilion lights on display.

There are many places to eat and drink - from sit down restaurants to food trucks.  

Vietchocolat:

Chocolate Popsicle

Strawberry Gelato

Cafe Koko (Australia Pavilion)

Steak Fries

Fish & Chips

Crocodile Fillet Roll

Osaka Osho:

Green Onion Mayonnaise Gyoza

Gyoza Fried Rice Set

Food Court:

Burger & Omelette Rice

Hamburger Set Meal

Chocolate Soft Serve

Caramel & OREO Crepe

Matcha Taiyaki Crepe

Yakiniku Dotonbori Mitsuru

Wagyu Beef Bowl

There is also entertainment at the expo.  We watched a couple of concerts.  The Under the Rainbow water show was cancelled that evening because of finding legionella in the water plaza.  The One World, One Planet Drone Show was cool.  

My legs were on fire and I suggested we catch a taxi back home, but that was a huge mistake.  The line was so long, and the timing was just bad for us, because people in line in front of us got the taxi vans, and by the time we reached the front of the line, only normal taxis were available.  The taxi attendant did make us wait on the side for a bit in hopes a taxi van would return soon, but he didn't want us to wait any longer, and we didn't want to wait much longer either, so our family went into two taxis.  It was expensive, and had I known the line was going to be that long, I would've suggested we traverse the crowded train station to get back.

Other things of note - there were hundreds of midges the closer you got to the water.  They don't bite, fortunately, and it was extremely hot during the day, but it got super chilly at night.

There were plenty of seats, as well as seats in the shade, so finding a spot to rest or eat was not a problem.

I was surprised that there were no informational booths or many staff / volunteers to help people who were lost or had questions.  

I did not find the apps very helpful.  

People buy multi-day passes to get through everything at their own pace, but for those who are there for only a day, waiting in line Disney-esque style to get into a pavilion may be your only choice if you want to visit as many pavilions as possible. 

Overall, it was a neat experience, despite the crowds and long lines.

If you can plan it better than I did in terms of pavilions to visit, arrival time, reservation time(s), and transportation, you may be better able to maximize your time there and get a lot more accomplished than we did.