Expo 2025

I went to “Expo 2025” / “Osaka Expo 2025” / “Kansai Expo 2025” on May 31st, 2025, and again on June 1st, 2025.

Here are my notes for attending, so you can learn from what I've learned:

• Though the expo officially closes at 22:00, in practice, most venues start closing around 20:30 and 21:00.
• In-practice, leaving the venue after the light show / at 21:00 is guaranteed to leave you in a 1 hour line to leave the expo and arrive at the Osaka Metro Station (夢洲駅) Yumeshima at the East Gate. Not only is this significantly annoying, but the venue is pitch black / unlit. If you are with a group of people and you are not holding onto each other's hands or bags, you will get separated. It is not for the feint of heart. There are no bathroom breaks during the line back to the station. There are no vending machines. If you have children, a stroller, a wheel chair, or any kind of mobility aid, leaving the expo will be dangerous and difficult. There are not a lot of access options for the Expo. I strongly suggest that you plan on departing the Expo before the crowds/rush (maybe as early as 19:00). Please take it from me – I routinely attend events at Tokyo Big Sight like Comic Market, the largest fan convention on the planet. Unlike Comic Market, you cannot simply leave the venue walking and get a taxi.
  • I personally think that if you're a foreigner attending with children this is just too dangerous. Your children need to be exceptionally patient and adept at navigating crowds with you. You also need to make sure you pay excruciating attention to them and make sure to drag them, physically, along with you if the crowd of people starts pushing in one way or another.
  • The most dangerous part to get separated from groups is when the line snakes around a corner. During these areas, people tend to rush and run around like crazy to try to get ahead in line.
• On-site reservation booking is bound to fail. Do not rely on it. Instead, there is a map of the venue that you can use without reservations accessible via a link to the map of pavilions without reservation requirements inside the official visitor app and/or digital map on the website.
  • Popular pavilions like important countries (e.g., China, Malaysia, Australia) usually have 2 hour wait times to enter.
  • Foreign country pavilions do not require reservations.
• If there are fireworks, you cannot stand on the wooden ring to watch them from many angles.
• There is a relatively complex toilet system that has one-way entry doors. Avoid this system and find a different toilet to use. People get this wrong and you will wait to use the toilet far longer than you would expect.
• If you want merchandise, go to the store early, do not wait until the end of the day, or things will be sold out.
  • On the east gate side, I suggest MARUZEN JUNKUDO to buy official expo merchandise with Myaku-Myaku on it. There is a store that is the “official store” directly next to this store, often with a smaller line. MARUZEN JUNKUDO has a better selection of merchandise. I suggest going to it instead of the other store. Facing them both, it’s the store on the left that I suggest.
• There is a lot of food around the venue. Avoid the British/UK food at all cost.
• People tend to wait 4 hours to dine at the Saudi Arabia pavilion (according to staff).
• Food prices aren’t horrible for this type of event, but are high relative to Japan.
• Cash payment is not accepted at this venue. The only Japanese e-money recharge stations are in a few shops. They are not widely available. You must already have the equivalent e-money card to use these (or an iPhone with an IC card loaded).

• China
  • History dense but probably worth going
  • 2 hour wait
• UN
  • History and peace focused
  • 30-45 minute wait
• Mozambique
  • Easy to get into
  • 15 minute wait
• Saudi Arabia
  • 30 minute wait, close to closing time
• International area
  • Mainly for ITER
  • No ITER merchandise
  • No wait
• Indonesia
  • Entered at closing, was rushed, no wait
  • Ending video was difficult to watch with people exiting