The Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025 is set to create excitement and engagement as it opens its doors from April 13 to October 13, 2025, on Yumeshima, located in Osaka's Konohana Ward. With the theme "Designing Future Society for Our Lives to Shine," this event will feature the participation of 158 countries and regions as well as seven international organizations. Over the six-month period, the expo aims to highlight solutions to significant global challenges such as climate change, gender equality, and advancements in regenerative medicine.
Among the most anticipated attractions is the introduction of the "Ukaitei Osaka" restaurant, set to operate within the venue for the entirety of the expo. This culinary experience will be provided by Ukai Co., Ltd., which operates multiple restaurants across Japan. Specializing in Teppanyaki cuisine—a style of cooking where ingredients are prepared on iron griddles—the restaurant will offer specially curated courses, emphasizing premium ingredients such as black wagyu steak alongside seasonal favorites.
Reservations for the exclusive dining experience are required due to limited seating, with lunch priced at 25,000 yen and dinner at 35,000 yen. Reservations can be secured online at lounge-dining-expo.jp.
Beyond culinary offerings, the expo will boast one of the largest wooden structures globally, the "Grand Roof Ring"—spanning approximately two kilometers. This architectural marvel was completed at the cost of approximately 34.4 billion yen as of February 2025, serving as the venue's symbolic centerpiece.
Despite these impressive developments, concerns loom over the readiness of participating countries. Of the eighty-four pavilions planned for the expo, sixty-nine are being constructed mainly by Japanese companies, with delays noted among those built by international pavilions. To date, only eight of the forty-two pavilions from overseas nations are completed, including those from Ireland, the Netherlands, and South Korea, raising concerns about overall preparedness for the event.
During the lead-up to the expo, the expo organizing committee is set to conduct trial runs from April 4 to April 6, welcoming approximately forty thousand guests to experience the event on-site free of charge as they seek to iron out operational issues. This free-entry event saw over three hundred fifty thousand applicants, marking significant public interest even before the expo's official start.
On the ticket sales front, progress appears lackluster, with only about 8.06 million pre-sale tickets sold as of March 5, 2025—well below the target of fourteen million. The expo organizers are revamping their sales strategies, simplifying online purchasing, and even enabling same-day ticket availability to boost attendance.
To provide insight from the past, twenty-five years ago, the Hanover Expo experienced frustrations with ticket sales, culminating with significant financial losses. The Osaka-Kansai Expo aims to learn from those historical shortcomings, hoping to strike the right balance between operational success and welcoming visitors.
Recognizing the substantial anticipated attendance, which could reach up to 22 million people daily and exceed 28 million over the event's span, security measures are being heighted. Local law enforcement has established specialized teams, dedicated to ensuring safety for both attendees and international dignitaries. This initiative includes strict access controls such as fences, surveillance cameras, and metal detectors. During the expo, personal vehicle access will be strictly regulated, with authorities advising visitors to utilize public transportation for their journeys.
Among those expected to be present at the expo is Yamada Tomiyo, dubbed "the Expo Granny," who previously attended the Aichi Expo 2005 for 185 consecutive days. Having developed connections with staff from international pavilions, she plans to attend daily again for Osaka-Kansai. With the shared fondness for such expos, she believes it’s important to keep those bonds alive through team badges and memorabilia.
All these elements exemplify the broader ambitions of the Osaka-Kansai Expo; they not only aim to dazzle visitors with technological innovations and global cuisine but also strive to reinforce international relationships and cultural exchanges. By celebrating innovative thinking and the spirit of collaboration, the expo sets its stage to embody the concept of "designing future society for our lives to shine".
With tickets now available, hopes are high for the Osaka-Kansai Expo to meet its aspirations of over 23 million attendees across its six-month run. Anticipation surrounds both the groundbreaking pavilion constructions and the potential solutions to pressing global issues showcased throughout the event.