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In 2025, the World Expo series makes its way to Osaka, Japan after 55 years. A 30-minute train or cab ride from Osaka’s Dotonbori, the artificial island of Yumeshima transforms into a melting pot of the world’s best. Running from April 13 to Oct. 15 every day from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., it also marks Osaka’s second time hosting the expo. The city’s first time in 1970 was also the first time a World Expo took place in Asia.
World Expos are not your typical conventions. They occur every five years and, much like the Olympics, countries bid to host them. According to the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), World Expos are “a global gathering of nations dedicated to finding solutions to pressing challenges of our time.” At these events, countries mount exhibitions and the much-anticipated pavilions to show their culture under a universal theme.
The Osaka, Kansai, Japan Expo 2025 centers on “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.” All throughout, participants—from 140 countries to several private companies—focus on how technology and artistry could work hand-in-hand for societal change.
This guide will give you a teaser of what to expect at the expo so you can make the most out of your visit. All you need to do is book your tickets.
Upon entering the expo through the East and West Gates, visitors see a tall, wooden structure wrap around the main site. This centerpiece is the Grand Ring, primarily designed and supervised by Tokyo- and Paris-based architect Sou Fujimoto. This architectural feat expresses the theme “Unity through Diversity.”
Though the Grand Ring initially appears somewhat humble in its use of wood, it boasts the finest of Japanese craftsmanship. It was built through both modern construction processes and traditional Japanese nuki joints. This wood joinery technique is mainly used in shrines and temples around Japan. To reinforce the decision to showcase local craft, Fujimoto and his team used 70 percent domestic timber (Japanese cedar and cypress) and 30 percent foreign timber (Scots pine).
Their efforts for the Grand Ring haven’t gone unnoticed.
