Expo 2025 Osaka Visitor Guide

Held from April 13 to October 13, 2025
Read also: A look at the Osaka expo site ahead of its opening

64 million visitors - more than half of Japan's population - visited the Expo 70 in Osaka, making it one of the most successful events in the country's history. 55 years later, the world expo is scheduled to return to the city, addressing issues facing humankind on a global scale.

The theme of the Expo 2025 is "Designing Future Society for Our Lives" with participants sharing their ideas and technologies in dozens of pavilions across the expo site, which is located on a man-made island just off the coast of central Osaka. The same island, Yumeshima, is also scheduled to see a massive new resort with casino around 2030.

Attractions

The expo site's most prominent feature is a huge, wooden, elevated ring-shaped pedestrian walkway, called "Grand Ring", which is two kilometers long, 12-20 meters tall and 30 meters wide and partially extends over the water. Inside the ring are the majority of the expo's pavilions, although some are also located outside of the ring.

The major pavilions at the expo will be:

Japan Pavilion (by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)
Kansai Pavilion (by the Union of Kansai Governments)
Osaka Healthcare Pavilion (by the prefecture and city of Osaka)
Pavilions by about a dozen major companies, including NTT, Sumitomo, Mitsubishi, Yoshimoto, Panasonic and Bandai
And last but not least pavilions by over 60 countries from across the world and a few international organizations. Over 30 countries have built their own pavilions, while the others are gathered in five Commons pavilions.

Many pavilions can be entered freely or by lining up; however, for some of the more popular pavilions it is possible - and for some even mandatory - to make an advance reservation for entering during a specific time slot. There are four opportunities to make reservations:

One reservation can be made through a lottery drawing two months before your visit
One reservation can be made through a lottery drawing seven days before your visit
One reservation can be made on a first-come first-serve basis during the seven days leading up to your visit
More reservations - one at a time - can be made during your visit

Reservations can be made through the Expo website and at terminals inside the expo site.

Tickets

Tickets can be purchased via the official website or various travel websites, including Japan Experience, Klook and Rakuten. The sale of same-day tickets on site is also planned.

Regular tickets

7500 yen (1-day pass)
6000 yen (weekday after 11am)
3700 yen (any day after 5pm)

Advance purchase

6700 yen (1-day pass on sale until April 12)
4000 yen (1-day pass for a visit between April 13 and 26)
5000 yen (1-day pass for a visit between April 13 and July 18)

Purchase Expo 2025 Tickets

Getting there

The main means of transport to the expo site is the Chuo Subway Line, which was recently extended to Yumeshima Station, a few steps from the expo site. The Chuo Line crosses central Osaka from east to west. Transfers from the JR Osaka Loop Line are possible at Bentencho Station, and from the Midosuji Subway Line at Honmachi Station.

An alternative main access method will be provided by shuttle buses from Sakurajima Station, the terminal station along the JR Yumesaki Line, which branches off the Osaka Loop Line at Nishikujo Station. An easy transfer of trains is usually required at Nishikujo Station; however, there are also a few trains on the Loop Line from/to Osaka Station, which directly run into the Yumesaki Line to/from Sakurajima Station. Additionally, there will be hourly "Expo Liner" trains that directly connect Shin-Osaka, Osaka and Sakurajima stations.

Direct shuttle buses to the expo site will be operated also from several other locations in and around Osaka, including Osaka Station, Shin-Osaka Station, Namba and Tennoji/Abenobashi.

How to get to and around Osaka