Why Osaka Expo 2025 Left Us Disappointed
Wondering if the Osaka Expo 2025 is worth visiting? Here’s our honest take.
We had one of our all-time favourite travel experiences at Expo 2020 in Dubai, which made us genuinely excited to see what Japan would bring to the 2025 World Expo. Having visited Japan many times, we expected cutting-edge tech, bold design and a real sense of global creativity.
But Osaka didn’t deliver. In fact, we left feeling underwhelmed and frankly baffled at how far off the mark this Expo was. So much so that we’d say, save yourself the trip.
Here’s what went wrong, and what to know if you’re still planning a visit.
Short on time?
Here’s our honest verdict on visiting the Osaka Expo 2025:
Overall Take: The Expo didn’t live up to our expectations. Compared to the last Expo in Dubai, Osaka felt underwhelming. We recommend skipping the Expo and spending more time in Kyoto, Tokyo, or Nara. Japan has so much more to offer, and the Expo just didn’t come close.
What Went Wrong: From a glitchy app and confusing ticket lotteries to a lack of weather-proofing and overcrowded trains, it felt more like a national fair than a world-class event. The quality of many pavilions fell short.
What We Did Like: The Grand Ring was genuinely impressive, and the toilets were (in classic Japan fashion) spotless and easy to find.
Still Going Anyway? If you already have tickets, scroll down for our tips and insights: the best pavilions to prioritise, when to visit to avoid queues, and what to pack for comfort and weather.
What Is the World Expo (and Why It Usually Blows Us Away)
The World Exposition, or World’s Fair as it’s sometimes called, is one of those rare global events where countries come together to share their culture, ideas and future plans.
You can think of it as a temporary city built from scratch, filled with national pavilions, futuristic tech, food spots and more.
It only happens every five years and can last up to six months. The first official one took place in London in 1851, inside the Crystal Palace (a vast glass and iron building made specially for it). You can see a full list of all world expos here.
Did you know? Some of the world’s most famous landmarks were actually built for a World Expo, like the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Atomium in Brussels, and the Space Needle in Seattle.
For us, the World Expo is one of those places where you get to travel the globe without leaving one city. You can hop from country to country, chat with people from every corner of the world, try food you’ve never heard of, marvel at beautiful architecture, and see how different cultures are thinking about tomorrow. When it’s done well, it’s genuinely exciting.
So yes, we had very high hopes for Osaka…
What We Liked at Osaka Expo 2025
Even though the overall experience didn’t meet our expectations, there were still a couple of standout moments that reminded us why we love World Expos in the first place.
The Grand Ring
This was easily the most impressive part of the entire site. The Grand Ring is a vast circular wooden structure that wraps around the Expo grounds, and it’s now officially the largest wooden architectural structure in the world (according to Guinness World Records).
Whether we were walking underneath its curved frame or taking in the views from the top, it really did feel monumental. Sadly, most of it is due to be taken down after the Expo ends.
Spotlessly Clean Toilets
We never thought we’d be raving about restrooms, but here we are. The toilets were everything you’d expect from Japan: spotlessly clean, thoughtfully laid out, and high-tech.
Plus, they were easy to find and never too crowded. On a long day spent walking and queuing, this sort of thing makes all the difference.
Where Osaka Expo 2025 Fell Short
We really wanted to love Osaka Expo… but once we stepped inside, a long list of frustrations started adding up. Here’s what stood out most (for all the wrong reasons):
🎟️ Ticketing System was Confusing and Restrictive
40 of the pavilions could only be accessed through a lottery-based reservation system, and slots were released in four stages. Even after applying at every stage, we only managed to secure three bookings across several days.
Additionally, we had to select a specific one-hour time slot to enter the site. On one of our visits, the earliest option we could get was 11am, even though the site had already opened at 9am.
For a full-price day ticket, losing two hours straight off the bat felt needlessly restrictive.
📱 Official App Was Glitchy and Mostly Useless
The official Expo app was another low point. It was slow, glitchy, froze multiple times, and didn’t offer much beyond the basics.
We were logged out constantly, couldn’t save anything, and ended up wasting time waiting for it to load (it’s not surprising it only has a rating of 1.5 out of 5 on the App Store).
Most of the features weren’t even in the app itself; they just opened the Expo’s website in a browser. For something meant to represent future tech, it felt years behind.
🗺️ Site Maps Were Hard to Get
Another odd choice was not offering free paper maps. We saw queues of 30 minutes, and those were to buy a map.
For an event this size, charging for something as basic as a map felt like a missed opportunity to make things easier for visitors.
🍽️ Overpriced Food with Limited Options
We expected more variety when it comes to the food options. Compared to Dubai, the choice felt limited.
Some pavilions had their own local cafés or snack stands, but the queues often stretched to half an hour or more. And the prices weren’t far off from what we’re used to in central London. Vegetarian and vegan dishes were also few and far between.
Overall, it felt more expensive and more restricted than we’d anticipated, especially for an event on this scale.
🌤️ No Shade, Few Places to Rest or Escape the Weather
There were barely any comfortable spots to sit or unwind between pavilions. Apart from one larger green space in the middle, most of the site felt harsh and temporary.
It lacked the thoughtful layout and inviting zones we’d seen in Dubai, where shaded areas and rest spots were built into the flow of the day.
There also wasn’t much protection from the elements. Rain or shine, it seemed like shelter hadn’t been factored into the design properly.
🏚️ Pavilion Quality Felt Underwhelming
We know this part comes down to personal taste, but the overall quality of the pavilions didn’t come close to what we experienced at the 2020 Expo in Dubai. There, many countries showcased bold architecture and interactive storytelling.
But in Osaka, the pavilions felt smaller, less ambitious, and in some cases, unfinished. It felt like many countries sent leftovers rather than their best ideas.
That might be partly down to the size of the site. Osaka’s Expo grounds are about a third of the size of Dubai’s, and it showed.
🗑️ Not Enough Bins, And Waste Sorting Was A Hassle
Japan is known for having few public bins, often due to strict waste sorting rules, and that was definitely the case here.
Bins at the Expo were hard to find, and when we did spot them, at least one staff member (sometimes up to four people!) was watching over visitors to check that the rubbish was sorted properly.
While we understand the reasoning, it didn’t feel very visitor-friendly, especially on a site this big where you’re likely to be carrying things around for hours.
👾 Mascot Felt Off
Japan has a brilliant track record when it comes to mascots: cute, clever and full of personality. So we were genuinely curious to see what they’d come up with for the Expo.
What we got was Myaku-Myaku. It’s definitely memorable, but mainly for the wrong reasons. With its bright colours, odd shape and giant eyes, it looked more like a monster than a character you’d want to pose with.
For a country like Japan, known for its tech and design, not having something equally interactive felt like a strange omission.
💰 Entry Tickets Felt Overpriced
The pricing felt off, especially when compared to Dubai. A one-day ticket there was AED 95 (about £19, €23 or US$26), while in Osaka, it’s 7,500 yen (about £39, €46 or US$52) – double the price.
For Dubai’s 2020 Expo, all Emirates passengers received a complimentary one-day pass as part of their booking, so we effectively had two days for that price. There was nothing similar on offer in Japan, which made the value gap even more obvious.
🚉 Public Transport Couldn’t Handle the Crowds
Getting to the site by metro should have been straightforward. The Chuo Line takes you straight to the East Gate, so in theory, it’s an easy ride.
In reality, it was packed well before we reached the final station. Trains were overcrowded and absolutely rammed. It didn’t feel like the transport system had been built to handle the volume of visitors.
What made it worse was that we weren’t even there during opening week. We visited in the second month, which is generally a quieter time at a World Expo.
Oh, and if you’re thinking about taking a taxi or Uber to the site: taxis and private cars aren’t allowed on Yumeshima Island.
🇯🇵 Felt Designed Mainly for a Local Crowd
The Osaka Expo appeared to be primarily aimed at Japanese visitors. Many of the pavilion staff weren’t from the countries being represented, and often couldn’t answer cultural questions. The staff often didn’t speak much English either.
In Dubai, national pavilions were usually run by people from those countries, which made conversations feel more authentic.
Overall, the Osaka Expo felt more like a national fair than a global showcase.
🚫 Security Rules that Disrupted the Experience
At one point, we stopped briefly to take a photo and were immediately told to move along. We saw similar interactions with other visitors.
While crowd control is important, it sometimes felt overly strict and took away from the open, exploratory vibe that makes World Expos so special.
Tips If You’re Still Going to the Osaka Expo 2025
While we don’t recommend going, we know some of you already have tickets or are planning a visit. If that’s the case, here are some tips based on our experience to help you get the most out of it and avoid the worst of the hassle.
Tip #1: Book Your Entry Slot for 9am
When buying your ticket, you’ll need to select a specific entry time. Choose the 9am slot, even if you don’t plan to arrive that early. You can enter later than your time, but not earlier.
Just be aware that queuing is still part of the process. One morning, we waited 45 minutes, while the other waited just 10.
Tip #2: Use All Four Reservation Lotteries
For many of the major pavilions, a reservation is required. These are allocated through four lotteries:
- One happens two months ahead
- One seven days before your visit
- One three days before your visit
- One on-site (on the day of your visit)
Take part in all four if you want a better chance of seeing the top pavilions.
Tip #3: Use the Personal Agent App and Bookmark the Expo Website
You don’t need the official Osaka Expo app! Just bookmark the Expo’s website in your browser to access tickets and manage lottery entries.
For navigation, the EXPO2025 Personal Agent app is far more helpful. It has been created by NTT Data (a Japanese IT company) and is faster loading and offers smoother zooming.
It also displays pavilion names directly on the map (see screenshots below), which the official app does not. Plus, you can favourite pavilions and see which ones you’ve reserved.
Tip #4: Plan Ahead for Food or Bring Your Own
Dining options are limited, queues are long, and prices are high.
- Some restaurants, such as the sushi conveyor belt restaurants Kura and Sushi, require reservations, so make sure to book ahead.
- Others, like one ramen restaurant we tried on-site, had us waiting over an hour for the food. Just keep that in mind when planning out your day.
- If you have dietary needs, such as being vegetarian or vegan, you may want to bring snacks or pack a meal. The selection on-site is limited.
Tip #5: Be Ready for the Weather
Yumeshima Island (where the Expo is held) is very exposed. There’s little shade and barely any shelter from wind or rain.
- Bring a hat or an umbrella to protect yourself from the sun.
- Wear layers, as it can get cold in the evening.
- Pack a light raincoat or umbrella if rain is in the forecast.
Tip #6: Bring a Refillable Water Bottle
There are water stations around the site. A refillable bottle makes life much easier, especially on hot days.
Tip #7: Screenshot Your Ticket QR Code in Advance
The mobile signal is patchy, and the Expo app takes a while to load. Save yourself the headache by taking a screenshot of your ticket QR code (or even a printout of it) so you can access it easily at the gate and pavilion entrances.
Tip #8: Prioritise Pavilions and Skip the Commons
Some countries are grouped together in shared spaces called Commons. In our experience, these weren’t as engaging as the standalone pavilions, so they’re easy to skip if you don’t have much time.
You’ll only manage a few major pavilions each day, so it’s worth being selective. For time planning:
- Allow at least 30 minutes inside each one
- Add another 30-45 minutes for queuing
Our top tip: If you only have time for a few pavilions at the Expo, we’d recommend Australia, Earth Mart, Luxembourg, the UK, Germany, and Saudi Arabia.
Tip #9: Go Pavilion-Hopping After 7pm
We spoke to staff about the best times to visit the pavilions, and they all recommended visiting after 7pm. Things quiet down around then, also because many people head to the 7:30pm light show.
If there’s a pavilion you couldn’t get into earlier, this is your best chance. In the evening, we saw queue times drop drastically (sometimes even to 5 minutes!).
Our Final Verdict: Is the Osaka Expo 2025 Worth It?
We don’t think it is. Even if you’re already in Japan, we wouldn’t recommend making a detour for it. The Osaka Expo 2025 doesn’t offer enough value or experience to justify the time, cost or effort.
This country has so many better ways to spend your time: Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, and more all offer far richer and more memorable experiences (check out our 2-week Japan itinerary for the best places to see!). The Expo just didn’t come close.
Between the high ticket prices, complicated reservation system, weak infrastructure and overall lack of atmosphere, it felt like a missed opportunity. We arrived hopeful. We left feeling let down.
To be clear, this isn’t a criticism of Japan itself. We love this country and have visited many times. This is purely about how the event has been run.
Dubai Expo 2020 showed us what the true spirit of a World Expo could be. And we’re still huge fans of the Expo concept, but after this experience, we’ll be approaching the next one with more caution.
For more Japan-related content, check out some of these posts:
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