Grand Roof Ring

The symbol of the expo, the “Grand Roof Ring,” is officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest wooden structure—it was truly impressive. The 2 km-long ring incorporates a traditional Japanese construction technique called nuki, also used in Kyoto’s famous Kiyomizu Temple stage. From the top of the ring, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the entire expo site. Every night, there are water and drone shows held over the water inside the ring.

Crowded?

Even without advance reservations, I was pleasantly surprised by how many exhibits I was able to enjoy. The venue is extremely large, and I walked over 20,000 steps in one day! While there are plenty of benches and resting spots, most of the area is uncovered, so I highly recommend bringing sun protection, especially as the weather gets hotter.

At the country pavilions and “Commons Pavilions” (joint exhibits by multiple countries), you can truly experience different cultures, cuisines, and people’s energy. Wait times are shorter in the evening, making it easier to get into popular exhibits later in the day.

Here are some of the pavilions that personally left a strong impression on me:

USA Pavilion

Focused on space exploration, this exhibit offers a simulated rocket launch experience by NASA. At the end, you can see a real moon rock! This pavilion is very popular—on the first day, the wait time was four hours. I was able to get in after about 30 minutes by joining the English tour, but the Japanese tour had a two-hour wait. To minimize wait time, I recommend the English tour.

Canada Pavilion

Using a tablet with a handle, visitors can point it at iceberg-like objects to trigger AR experiences—like kids skiing, Niagara Falls, and Canadian nature. I initially gave up due to a two-hour wait, but came back in the evening and got in after about 40 minutes.

China Pavilion

The massive exterior, modeled after an ancient bamboo scroll, was quite a sight. The interior resembled a museum, with a huge number of exhibits. The theme focused on history, featuring advanced technology like interactive AI conversations with Sun Wukong. It was a highly immersive and sophisticated experience.

Jordan Pavilion

They reportedly shipped 22 tons of desert sand from Jordan to Japan. You can walk barefoot on the real red desert sand, which feels cool and soft. This is the same sand from the “Star Wars” filming locations. You can even sit on the sand and feel like you’re really there. There’s also a hand massage experience using Dead Sea salt and mud (reservation and fee required).

Private Pavilion – Pasona Pavilion

This pavilion, themed around “Life,” is designed with an exterior modeled after an ammonite fossil, a symbol of ancient life. Inside, you can see a real beating iPS heart, about the size of a thumb, as well as a working iPS cardiac sheet. These technologies are helping patients recover heart function by being attached directly to the heart.

If you’re someone who loves experiencing other cultures, this is an incredible opportunity now happening in Osaka. Each country’s pavilion has its own unique architecture and design, making even just walking around the site feel like a mini world tour.

When the official mascot Myaku-Myaku was first announced, its unusual look surprised many, including me. But the more I saw it, the more I got used to it—and by the time I left, I found it kind of cute!

EXPO 2025 Osaka–Kansai runs through October 13. Don’t miss it!