So, what’s up with Osaka Expo 2025?

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Japan is already a red-hot popular destination (so much so that it’s facing the problem of overtourism), but there’s another reason to go that’s not all that discussed – Osaka Expo 2025!

Billed as Osaka’s first World Expo since its previous turn in 1970, this gigantic fair in the bustling port city will feature exhibitions, performances and dozens of villas showcasing the very best of every participating nation.

Let’s check out Osaka Expo 2025’s main offerings and see if they’re worth the (admittedly) high asking price.

Dream Island

From April 13 to Oct 13 for a total of six months, the Osaka Expo 2025 will be held in Osaka’s Yumeshima Island (Dream Island),

Themed around the main concept of “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”, this piece of reclaimed land in Osaka Bay will feature countless halls, pavilions, arenas, pavilions and even a forest, with the pudding-shaped main Expo Hall and the grass-topped EXPO National Day Hall being the main stars.

But dwarfing both of these will be an unimaginably massive shaded central wooden ring encompassing all of the main pavilions and buildings, one that is supported by countless timber pillars created with cutting-edge Japanese technology.

Mainly sourced from lumber hailing from the once disaster-stricken town of Namie in Fukushima, these pillars are also designed to be easily disassembled for use in future projects throughout Japan. This ensures that the expo fulfills its key goal of achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) set for 2030.

Speaking of goals…

Lofty Goals

Besides the UN’s SDG goals, the Osaka Expo’s five stated goals are:

1. Bringing together the wisdom of the world, including breakthrough technologies, to create and communicate new ideas
2. Expansion of domestic and overseas investment
3. Creation of innovation through activation of human interaction
4. Activation of regional economies and small and medium enterprises
5. A chance to communicate the wealth of Japan’s culture

To achieve these goals, a whole host of events are planned to highlight both Japanese and international advancements in the fields of art, science and most importantly – sustainability.

Orchestras, orchestras, indigenous dances, concerts, movie screenings, VR experiences – these activities and more will be playing throughout the expo’s various National and Special Days, not to mention the Theme Weeks.

Villas

Arguably the star of the show, more than a hundred pavilions will be constructed by various countries that each showcase their nation’s unique architectural, cultural and national achievements.

From China’s wooden scroll-inspired ode to sustainability to the Czech Republic’s ethereal spiral of glass and steel, the Expo will feature such a huge array of pavilions that it will be impossible to visit and appreciate each one in a single day.

For fellow Malaysians visiting the expo, make sure to check out our very own songket-inspired pavilion woven out of bamboo!

Check out some of the more unique pavilions here:

For more pavilions, check out the Osaka Expo’s official pavilion page.

Mascot

True to the Japanese tradition of creating endearing (or at the very least memorable) mascots, the Osaka Expo will be represented by the bizarre yet oddly adorable mascot called Myaku-Myaku.

Blessed with a rotund blue body crowned by a ring of crimson red balls – some dotted with eyes – the cell-inspired mascot even features an eyeball on its bum!

A Japanese sensation in their own right, you can be sure to see plenty of them running around as mascot suits or plastered all over merchandise!

Admission & Pricing

So, raring to get your tickets for Osaka Expo 2025?

Not so fast.

Depending on when you’re visiting, how much you want to see and your budget, ticket prices can go from an already pretty pricey 4,000 yen (RM120) for an adult single-entry ticket during the opening two weeks to an eye-watering 30,000 yen (RM887) for an unlimited entry pass.

There are also special concession prices for people with disabilities while toddlers aged from 0-3 years can enter free.

For details on other tickets, check out the Admission Tickets page on the Osaka Expo 2025 website.

How to Get There

Flights from Kuala Lumpur to Osaka depart daily, with AirAsia, Batik Air, Malaysia Airlines, Japan Airlines being some of the airlines available.

If you’re planning on pairing your Expo visit with a Tokyo itinerary, then no worries, Japan’s famed shinkansen will ferry you between both cities for 13,870 yen (RM410) – much cheaper and convenient than a flight!

Within Osaka, the fastest way to get to the station will be by train with the Osaka Metro Chuo Line, which goes directly towards Yumeshima. There are also interchange stations at Bentencho, Hommachi and Morinomiya that link directly with other major lines in Osaka as well. Further access and transportation options are detailed on the official page.

For Japanophiles not interested in Osaka Expo, try checking out our guides to the hot spring heaven and hot spring hells of Beppu or the daytrip hiking destination of Mount Nokogiri!

Or simply check out the rest of our articles on Japan!

Links

Osaka Expo 2025 Official Website
https://www.expo2025.or.jp/en/

Nippon.com – Osaka Expo’s Iconic Wooden Ring Features Fukushima Timber
https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-topics/c12207/osaka-expo%E2%80%99s-iconic-wooden-ring-features-fukushima-timber.html

Osaka Expo 2025 Event Schedule (dated March 2025)
https://www.expo2025.or.jp/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/7713b9ff17c5b7468aa62a054ef77d1c-1.pdf