The Expo 2025 Osaka Guide: Top Pavilions and Insider Tips

What if you could step into the world of tomorrow, today? From April 13 to October 13, 2025, the global spotlight will shine on Osaka, Japan, for Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai. This isn’t just an exhibition; it’s a once-in-a-lifetime glimpse into the future, where you can see, touch, and experience the innovations that will shape our lives.

But with 161 countries participating and a site covering 155 hectares, planning a visit can feel overwhelming. That’s where this guide comes in.

I’ve done the research for you, compiling everything you need into one definitive playbook. From the top 10 can’t-miss pavilions (and my personal favorites!) to a step-by-step guide on mastering the tricky ticket system and insider tips that will save you time and stress, this is your ultimate resource for an unforgettable journey to Expo 2025.

I will also share my personal experience of my visit to the Expo as well, on the April 18, and hopefully you will be able to gain some insight from it.

Gundam

Saudi Arabia

Singapore

Manhole

The Grand Ring

The marble from Serbia

Pokemon!

Earth Mart

France

My Nasi Lemak

My souvenir for myself

🌏 The Vision & Venue: Understanding Expo 2025’s Grand Design

At its core, Expo 2025 is built around a profound theme: “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.” It’s an invitation for the world to tackle modern challenges like the environmental crisis through three key sub-themes: Saving Lives, Empowering Lives, and Connecting Lives.

The entire event takes place on Yumeshima, a man-made island in Osaka Bay, and its design is just as ambitious as its theme.

The Grand Ring: The Heart of the Expo The moment you arrive, you’ll be struck by the jaw-dropping Grand Ring. Designed by visionary architect Sou Fujimoto, this two-kilometer wooden halo is officially the world’s largest wooden structure. It’s the architectural star and beating heart of the Expo, serving multiple purposes:

• A Main Pathway: It’s the primary circulation route, connecting all the major zones.
• A Shelter: It provides welcome shade from the sun and cover from the rain.
• A Viewpoint: Its Skywalk boardwalk offers stunning panoramic views of the entire site, the Osaka skyline, and the sea, especially at sunset.

The site is divided into several zones connected by this ring, with two main entrances: the East Gate (primarily for train access) and the West Gate (for shuttle bus access).

My Experience
The trip was a late decision, and the decision to go to the World Expo was an even later one. I happened to have some time available on my last day which I did not know how to fill up. After much pondering I decided to go for the World Expo. I made the decision despite knowing I have only roughly half a day there as I had an evening flight back to Singapore and the Expo only starts entry from 9am.
I didn’t have a lot of issues with the purchasing of tickets online. I bought two opening tickets (only for the first two weeks), 4000 yen each, as opposed to the usual one day ticket for 7500 yen.
The only headache I had was figuring out the lottery system and what to choose for it. I pretty much only had the 7 day reservation lottery and 3 day first come first served to choose from. For the 7 day lottery, it was difficult to make my choices as the Expo has not opened yet. I did quite a bit of searching online and also based on the hype and made Mt choices. I was given the Kansai Pavilion, believing that it was not too bad an option given that it is the host region of the Expo (but more on that later). For the 3 day reservation, I was already in Japan and I only had my mobile phone with me to enter the website – it was challenging to see what was available and I just randomly snapped up a slot for the United Nations Pavilion (always had a soft spot for them). I know there are themed pavilions for Gundam and also Monster Hunter for fans of them but not my cup of tea so wasn’t a choice for me.
I decided to enter from the West Gate as the 9am slot at the East Gate was no longer available. I had also read that the queues were shorter are it was slightly less accessible to get to.

✅ The Essential First Step: Mastering Expo 2025 Osaka Tickets and Reservations

Let’s be honest: the ticket and reservation system for Expo 2025 can seem complicated. When I first started looking into it, I admit, I felt a little overwhelmed. But breaking it down into a simple, step-by-step process makes it entirely manageable. Getting this right is the most crucial part of your planning, so pay close attention here!

Here’s your 4-step guide:

1. Register for an Expo ID. This is a mandatory first step for purchasing most tickets online and making any pavilion reservations. You can register on the official Expo 2025 website. One ID can be used for multiple people if you plan to enter together.
2. Purchase Your Admission Ticket. Once you have your ID, you can buy your ticket. There are various types, from single-day passes to night tickets and full season passes. They are primarily e-tickets with a QR code.
3. Reserve Your Visit Date and Time. After buying your ticket, you must reserve the specific date and time you plan to visit. You can do this up to six months in advance, and I can’t stress enough how important it is to do it early, especially for peak dates.
4. Reserve Pavilions and Events. This is the key to seeing the most popular attractions without waiting in enormous lines. There are several ways to do this:
   • Advance Lotteries: You can enter a lottery to win reservation slots either two months or seven days before your visit.
   • First-Come, First-Served: Starting three days before your visit, you can book any remaining reservation slots.
   • Same-Day Reservations: This is your secret weapon on the day. Starting 10 minutes after you scan your ticket to enter the site, you can check for any available same-day slots via the app or website. Be ready to tap fast, those popular slots can disappear quickly!

Days before
I was watching local TV in my ryokan. It happened to broadcast the events of the first day. It was a disaster – the massive crowds, the rain, and more. I went onto Reddit. People were miserable, queued long hours and did not manage go see much. I guess despite the planning and prep that went into the Expo it was not sufficient. I was starting to get afraid that it would be a horrible day.
I continued to check Reddit in the upcoming days and it seemed like I’m the situation gradually improved. Before I knew it, the last day of my trip had arrived and I’m about to head for the Expo.

🌟 The Main Event: Top 10 Must-See Pavilions and Attractions at Expo 2025 Osaka

With so much to see, where do you even begin? I’ve compiled this ranked list of the most buzzed-about, innovative, and unforgettable experiences to help you prioritize. I did not manage to go to most of them due to the limited time that I had.

1. The Grand Ring: Yes, it’s an attraction in itself! The architectural star of the show offers the best views and photo opportunities at the Expo. Don’t leave without taking a walk along its magnificent Skywalk.
2. Japan Pavilion: As the host nation, Japan delivers a stunning showcase of sustainability with a circular structure focused on the cycles of life. It even features a biogas plant that processes food waste on-site.
3. France Pavilion: A must-see for architecture buffs, this pavilion offers a spectacular theatrical experience called the “Theatre of Life.” Its striking cubic design and rooftop garden are unforgettable.
4. Saudi Arabia Pavilion: Hailed as a “GOAT” (Greatest Of All Time) pavilion by early visitors, this multi-sensory journey takes you through winding alleyways inspired by traditional Saudi villages.
5. Germany Pavilion: A brilliant lesson in circularity. The entire structure is conceived as a prototype for repurposing buildings, made from rented scaffolding and bio-based materials. Interactive and on-theme.
6. Italy Pavilion: A celebration of Italian creativity, this pavilion is always a crowd-pleaser. It features a stunning wave-like roof and showcases priceless works of art, including a masterpiece by Caravaggio.
7. Sumitomo Pavilion: An immersive fan favorite. Visitors rave about this interactive and heartfelt experience that blends physical animatronics with digital art. You even carry a lantern through a forest-themed exhibit.
8. Gundam Next Future Pavilion: An absolute must for fans of anime and robotics. This pavilion features an immersive exhibit and a show-stopping, life-sized Gundam statue that you can see from across the venue.
9. Osaka Healthcare Pavilion: Get a fascinating glimpse into future wellness. This participatory exhibit lets you meet an avatar of your future self and see wild demonstrations like the “Human Washing Machine.”
10. The Signature Pavilions: Located inside the Grand Ring, these eight pavilions are designed by leading Japanese producers to explore life’s big questions. Don’t miss Earth Mart (a must for foodies), the ethereal Better Co-being, and the mind-bending mirror theater of Null2.

Beyond the headliners, dozens of other pavilions offer unique experiences. Many are housed in large “Commons” buildings, which I found to be a great way to visit several countries in a short amount of time.

Here are a few other highly recommended national pavilions:

• Uzbekistan: Don’t miss the immersive film with a moving platform.
• Bahrain: A beautiful, sustainable design inspired by traditional dhow boats.
• Chile: Features a unique seismic-safe timber structure that will be dismantled and returned home.
• Netherlands: A powerful statement on climate activism featuring a floating sun spectacle.
• USA: Features immersive exhibits and a dedicated, often shorter, English-language line.

The Pavilions I Visited:
I’ll write about the pavilions by point and the order which I visited them in – I largely had no idea what to expect before I went.
Saudi 🇸🇦
I rushed to the Saudi Pavilion and there was almost no one around. The first word was wow – the unique architecture of each Pavilion really stood out. The Saudis had a mini-botanical garden at the front. The exhibitions were futuristic and high tech, and showcased their progress in various and upcoming events/projects. (Eg. Neom, the World Cup). There was also a coffee making demonstration. I spent about 20mins there as I rushed through everything, not knowing how the rest of the day would pan out.
Spain 🇪🇸
Next I went to the Spain Pavilion as it was just beside. I climbed the steps to enter the pavilion which I thought was rather unique. It showcased the relationship between Spain and the sea. Later you will enter a visually striking yellow-orange room showing the greetings from Spain. Actually I was out after 10 mins. It didn’t have much content but regardless it was impressive.
Singapore 🇸🇬
I contemplated whether to go for the pavilion of my own country for a while, but I decided to head in as I have to support my own country in someway. Once I saw the pavilion, I giggled. It is yet again the “Little Red Dot”. There were multimedia installations about our biodiversity and people, as well as a floor where visitors pen their dreams down, which was subsequently projected onto the undersurface of the large dome. Honestly it didn’t showcase that much of my country but it was a great audiovisual experience nevertheless.
Belgium 🇧🇪
The queues were starting to build up along the different pavilions and I next headed to Belgium and spent about 10mins in the queue. Make sure you don’t only look at the length of the queue but also how fast it moves. They gave out Biscoff right before you entered (I’m still keeping it so far). The pavilion showcased Belgian advances in technologies and innovations in the medical field eg. vaccinations, AI in healthcare, robotics. You enter as a group and move through the exhibition together as a group, with gradual timed releases into the next rooms. Total took maybe about 25mins?
Serbia 🇷🇸
This was one of the pavilions which I spent the longest queuing for. They let people in batch by batch, and those with reservations were allowed to go in first. I was getting rather inpatient unfortunately, had to remind myself to calm down and just look around. Got in maybe about 30mins. They featured various installations similar to Rube Goldberg machines which had both virtual and physical portions. The exhibits were creative and interactive and I enjoyed the visit. The theme was regarding the importance of play. They handed out a marble with the Serbian flag colors at the exit which was a really nice touch.
Kansai
The Kansai Pavilion was honestly one of the more disappointing experiences that I had at the World Expo, given that it was one that I had to make reservations for. I went at the time that I had my reservation and there was no queue. I noted that there were many same day reservations slots that opened up for the Kansai Pavilion. That likely meant that the reception was lukewarm and I had read multiple reviews that it was underwhelming. It felt like this was a pavilion catered to the general Japanese public. I felt ignored and each sub section for each prefecture was crowded out by school children (the exhibits looked like it kind of meant for them too) and the staff was more keen in entertaining them than speaking to anyone else who was interested (aside from this kind young lady who tried to engage me in Japanese but I was too shy to speak to her so I just kept nodding and smiling – it would have been a good experience to make good use of my Japanese). I was in and out after barely 20mins.
Earth Mart 🌏🛒
I managed to snag a reservation on the day itself (and ended up giving up my UN slot instead as they were about the same time). It was one of my favorite pavilions. It’s aim is to cultivate a greater sense of appreciation for the food we eat, and drive further thought into how food ends up on our table. The pavilion comprises two main zones. The “Marketplace of Life” visualizes the total amount of food a person consumes in a lifetime, while the “Marketplace of the Future” highlights food-related ideas and techniques started in Japan for the future.
Malaysia 🇲🇾
There was no queue for this as there was no crowd control. I went in given that I spent part of my childhood there and still go in regularly into JB to visit my grandmother. The first exhibit was about food from the various parts of Malaysia, thereafter was about the upcoming projects is ongoing in Malaysia. The section which was the most crowded was the restaurant (obvious I didn’t get anything given it is my neighboring country) given that it was lunchtime. I would say the best part was the architecture (which I believe there was a controversy about).
France 🇫🇷
With not much time remaining, I decided to queue up for one last pavilion and I chose France given that it was one of the most hyped pavilions and I certainly did not regret. It featured multimedia installations combining both the past and the present. There were also multiple showcases of luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton and Dior done creatively. They also included various pieces from Rodin.
Other National Pavilions and Commons
I ventured into some of the smaller pavilions but honestly there wasn’t much that it memorable for me. I would highly recommend you go the the various Commons Pavilions though. It was nice seeing smaller countries showcase what they want to, within limits of their manpower and budget. There were a lot of people trying to get more stamps here as well.

📖 Your Expo 2025 Osaka Playbook: Pro Tips for a Perfect Visit

Now that you know what to see, here’s how to do it. These pro tips will help you navigate the Expo like a seasoned expert.

Getting There: Your Transportation Plan

• Use Public Transport. This is the best and recommended way. The Osaka Metro Chuo Line goes directly to Yumeshima Station, right at the East Gate.
• Consider an Alternate Route. To avoid crowds at the main gate, take a shuttle bus to the West Gate. These may require advance reservation via the Kansai MaaS app.
• Leave the Car Behind. Private cars are not allowed on-site. You must use designated off-site Park & Ride lots and take a shuttle, which also requires reservation.

On-Site Essentials: What to Bring & What to Leave Behind

• Your Must-Bring List:
  • A portable charger/mobile battery (you’ll be using your phone a lot for apps and photos!).
  • A folding umbrella, hat, and sunscreen (the site is very exposed, and I’m told it gets windy!).
  • A reusable plastic water bottle (no glass/cans) to use at free refill stations – stay hydrated!
  • Light snacks to tide you over between food vendors, especially during peak meal times.
  • A handkerchief or small towel (some restrooms may lack hand dryers).
  • A Stamp Passport for collecting pavilion stamps – a fun souvenir!
• Your Prohibited Items List:
  • No alcoholic beverages.
  • No glass bottles or cans.
  • No large luggage, rolling bags, or carts of any size.
  • No tripods, monopods, or selfie sticks that aren’t palm-sized.

Smart Strategies for Navigating the Expo

• Go 100% Cashless. The entire Expo site is cashless. Bring credit cards and loaded IC transit cards (like Suica or ICOCA).
• Screenshot Your Ticket! The network signal can be weak at the gates. Save a screenshot of your ticket’s QR code for fast, stress-free entry.
• Download the Apps in Advance. Get the “EXPO 2025 Visitors” app (for tickets/reservations) and the “EXPO2025 Personal Agent” app (for maps and crowd status).
• Arrive Early & Manage Crowds. Get to the gate well before it opens at 9:00 AM. For popular pavilions without reservations, try visiting after 6:00 PM when crowds often thin out.
• Be Patient & Flexible. Systems can be slow, and lines will be long. Remember to enjoy the atmosphere. With few trash bins, be prepared to carry your own trash out.

On the Day itself
My wife decided to sleep in instead (Grrrrr) and forgo the ticket (Double grrrrr) hence I was left alone to go to the Expo myself. I planned to take the 830 am bus from Sakurajima Station and get there just before the opening time. When I exited the train station there was already many ushers there guiding people along the process and overall well-organized and orderly.
I prebooked the shuttle bus tickets online the day before. There were some people there standing around trying to purchase the tickets online as they did not do so beforehand and were made to buy the tickets there, so make sure you get your tickets in advance.
There was already a small crowd queuing for the bus but the buses were coming and going almost continuously. Given that this is likely the way which most people would be getting to the West Gate, I’m indirectly queuing for entrance to the Expo.
On the bus I got my first glimpse of the massive wooden Grand Ring that encircles the Expo Venue and that is where the excitement started. It was a picturesque journey along the coasts of Osaka. It was a short bus ride, maybe 20mins? You were dropped off directly at the West Gate, where you know you are at the Expo venue when you see the flags of the world lined up at the entrance.
Talking about lines, people also lined up in an orderly fashion to enter the Expo. I tried to predict which line would move the fastest but I ended up in the slow line (as always somehow). The security started allowing people in from 9am and I was in by 915am.
Once you entered, it kinda felt like a theme park in a sense where you have this massive place and ‘attractions’ to chose to visit, and massive crowds to compete with.
Do check the website once in a while for availability of same day bookings – I managed to snag a booking to ‘Earth Mart’ on the day itself.
Some pavilions have reservation systems from their own website so that may be an option as well.
I made my plans for the day geographically, planning to end up at the East Gate.
I aimed for the Pavilions that were suggested by other Redditors with the limited information thus far. The Expo was huge and you cannot underestimate the walking time. The weather then was also pleasant though starting to turn warm.
I saw my first stamps at the Saudi Pavilion and I regretted not even bringing paper. I’m a huge sucker for stamp rallies and before this I even contemplated whether to purchase the official stamp book (but that in itself will probably cost me more time). But I didn’t even have a notebook on hand 😞 it would have been a great memento. They did have NFT stamps though. I opened a lot in my browser and they are still hanging out there as I write this.
I didn’t purchase any food at the Expo, having read that it will be exorbitant (like at any major events), so I packed a sandwich and some snacks from 7-11 beforehand and finished them during the trip.
The only thing I ended up purchasing (I’m quite a miser in terms of spending money on things other than experiences) is a souvenir – I got an engravable medallion. Was actually looking out for a pin but couldn’t find one with a nice design. There was a surprisingly long queue for the souvenir store though, and they had employed crowd control but it didn’t take too long to get in.
The exit from the Expo into the Metro station was smooth as well, unlike what previous online commenters were saying initially.

🎉 Beyond the Pavilions: Food, Shopping, and Spectacular Events

The Expo experience extends far beyond the pavilions.

• Food & Drink: With over 70 food outlets, you can find everything from takoyaki and ramen to global cuisine. Popular sushi chains like Sushiro and Kura even have outlets on-site.
• Shopping: Don’t forget to grab a souvenir! The official stores are filled with merchandise, but the most popular item by far is anything featuring the lovable, quirky mascot, Myaku-Myaku.
• Live Events: Your day doesn’t end when the sun goes down. Be sure to catch:
  • The dynamic water show (“Under the Midnight Rainbow”) at the Water Plaza.
  • The spectacular nightly drone show (weather permitting).
  • Planned flying car demonstrations offering a real-life look at future mobility.

🏯 Extend Your Adventure: Explore Osaka and the Kansai Region

Don’t limit your trip to just the Expo! The Kansai region is one of Japan’s richest cultural areas.

• Explore Osaka: Dive into the neon-lit food paradise of Dotonbori, visit the historic Osaka Castle, or see the city from above at Abeno Harukas.
• Take Day Trips: The ancient temples of Kyoto, the friendly deer of Nara, and the beautiful port city of Kobe are all just a short train ride away.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

✨ Conclusion: Come to Expo 2025 Osaka!

Expo 2025 Osaka is more than just the world’s biggest event. It’s a vibrant, hopeful, and inspiring look at the world we can build together. It’s a place of wonder, discovery, and connection.

The future isn’t just waiting to be seen; it’s waiting to be designed. Use this guide to plan your journey, and get ready to be a part of it.

Honestly I genuinely wished I had at least a full day to explore around, maybe even more. It was likely that the Crowds would have thinned out by the evening time, and I read you can likely walk into the most popular exhibitions. But this was the best I can do with the amount of time I had. I would gladly do it again for the time and the money (but if the ticket was full cost you’re better off spending the whole day here).