I went to the Osaka Expo (1) — First, 10 useful tips

I spent two days traveling from Tokyo to the Osaka Expo. I'm not a fan of crowded places, but I'm really glad I decided to go.

Experiencing the vast space, which is 33 times the size of the Tokyo Dome, filled with buildings you wouldn't normally see, completely changes the image you get from social media.

If you're on the fence, you should definitely go.

The Grand Roof Ring, the world's largest wooden structure, and the pavilions showcasing the ingenuity of various countries are things you can only see right now.

What I learned on the first day made the second day much easier. In this article, I will share the notes I took on the first day.
(The header image is a 'not-quite-right' Myakumyaku created by ChatGPT)

1: Pavilions are a matter of luck. Don't be too fixated; enjoy them flexibly.

There are pavilions, such as the Signature Pavilions, that require advance reservations. If you miss out on these, it is very difficult to get a reservation on the day. Even if available times are displayed, they disappear in an instant.

If you get hung up on same-day reservations, you'll end up glued to your smartphone, and you'll lose sight of why you came in the first place, sogiving upand accepting the situation is important, I felt.

Let's be flexible and enjoy the pavilions that seem less crowded.

2: Set a limit on how long you'll wait in line.

During the Expo, I walked about 14,000 steps a day, but what tired me out the most wasn't the walking, but waiting in line for the pavilions.
You have to wait in line for every pavilion, but considering my fatigue, I decided to give up if the wait was over an hour.
By the way, the popular Italy Pavilion had a 3-hour wait (I gave up).

3: Compare the congestion at the East and West gates the day before.

When you reserve your entry gate for your ticket, the congestion level for each gate the next day is displayed.
The East Gate is for the subway, and the West Gate is for buses and taxis, but the West Gate was less crowded, so I used that on the second day.
It took an hour to enter through the East Gate on the first day, but I got in in half the time on the second day.

4: Pavilions with rotation systems are more tiring to wait for.

There are two types of pavilions: those with free-flow viewing and those with a rotation system. In free-flow viewing, the line keeps moving, but in the rotation system, you have to stand still for a long time, so it's quite tiring even if the wait time is the same.

5: Try walking on top of the Grand Roof Ring.

The emergence of winged insects on the Grand Roof Ring has been a topic of conversation, but I didn't see any.
Since it is 2 kilometers long, it seems the insects aren't everywhere.
I recommend going up to the Grand Roof Ring early. Seeing it from a high vantage point allows you to see the full scope of the pavilions and understand their layout, and there is lavender planted there that smells nice.

6: Utilize emover and the Grand Roof Ring for getting around.

You might want to walk directly across the venue to get between pavilions, but the basic approach is to return to the Grand Roof Ring and walk inside it to get close to your destination.
Even if they look close on the map, there are places where you can't pass because the pavilions are packed together, so it's easier to use the ring after all.
Also, there are electric bus shuttles called 'emover,' and since you can ride them all day for 1,000 yen, you should actively use them.

7: Go to the official shop early.

The official shops for buying souvenirs get extremely crowded in the evening. You can shop without waiting in long lines if you visit earlier in the day.
There are many different shops, but I recommend the Daimaru shop as it has stylish items.

8: Dining outside the Ring is a hidden gem

Restaurants provided by pavilions, such as the one at the Saudi Arabia Pavilion, are attractive, but you often have to wait in a separate line from the pavilion itself.
There are various dining options outside the Ring that are less crowded, so I recommend those as well. The PANAF Cafe, where I had African cuisine, was great.

9: The joint pavilions, or "Commons," are recommended

The Commons, where various countries exhibit jointly, are highly recommended. Once you get inside, you can see exhibits from many different countries with almost no waiting.
My favorite was the rock salt exhibit from Pakistan. You can see a large number of pink salt blocks.

10: Don't underestimate the pavilion shops

The shops at each pavilion should not be underestimated. The Turkey Pavilion had a very enterprising design that led directly to the shop immediately after the short pavilion tour, and I was able to purchase the "Nazar Boncugu" 🧿, an amulet to ward off the evil eye, that I had been wanting.

Click here for pavilion introductions ↓

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