World Expo Osaka 2025: Sustainable dreams, high-tech innovations and a look into the future

After our experience at the World Expo in Dubai 2021, Osaka 2025 was high on our bucket list. In Dubai, the Japanese already demonstrated their innovation and creativity. Our expectations for the World Expo Osaka 2025 were therefore high.

In Kanazawa, we bought an Expo guidebook to prepare for our visit. Because one thing's for sure: a world expo is so big that it's impossible to see everything in one or two days. Even with ten days, you'll probably run out of time. So we made choices, compiled a list of must-sees, and hoped the lines wouldn't be too bad.

We visited the Expo at the end of April 2025, shortly after its official opening. Until October 13, 2025 , the artificial island of Yumeshima in Osaka will be the setting for this global event. With the theme " Designing Future Society for Our Lives," the Expo showcases how technology, sustainability, and human innovation will transform our lives.

The iconic heart: the Grand Ring

Even before you actually enter the grounds, the Grand Ring commands attention. This largest wooden structure in the world, with a diameter of 600 meters, offers panoramic views of the Expo, the Osaka skyline, and glittering Osaka Bay via a skywalk. From here alone, you sense: this is a journey into tomorrow.

A world full of pavilions

More than 160 pavilions await you within the Grand Ring. The Swiss pavilion captivates with futuristic, themed spheres reminiscent of spaceships. Inside, the focus is on medical innovations and space travel. Belgium presents a hexagonal pavilion, Human Regeneration , focusing on stem cell therapies. The Dutch pavilion , complete with an artificial sun, focuses on sustainable energy.

Robots and mobility of tomorrow

At the Future City Pavilion, Kawasaki's CORLEO stole the show: a futuristic, four-legged, hydrogen-powered off-road vehicle that steers itself through weight transfer. This innovation embodies Kawasaki's vision of sustainable mobility and is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the Expo. It's still far too early to rush to the store to order the Corleo. Don't expect to see it on our roads or in the wilds before 2040.

But it shows how we are completely rethinking mobility.

We also got to know flying electric cars from SkyDrive and a commercial hydrogen ferry , which you can use to sail across the water, silently and environmentally friendly.

In the Chinese pavilion, Ubitec's Walker-C Humanoid captured the hearts of visitors. This impressive, friendly robot can converse fluently in multiple languages, and thanks to advanced facial recognition and smart AI technology, it responds appropriately to human emotions. The Walker-C Humanoid can move autonomously, recognize obstacles, and skillfully avoid them. Its calm and polite demeanor is impressive, especially when it personally greets visitors and gives tours of the pavilion.

Health and nutrition in the future

The Osaka Healthcare Pavilion showcases how medical technology can transform personal health. Our favorite, however, was the futuristic Earth Mart supermarket, where you can sample sustainable protein sources and learn about circular food production. A sensory experience that will change your perspective on food.

Why you shouldn't miss Expo Osaka 2025

Whether you're a fan of high-tech innovations , sustainable solutions , or cultural discoveries , this Expo will tantalize all your senses. Osaka 2025 is a must-see for anyone curious about the world of tomorrow.

Practical tips for your visit to World Expo Osaka 2025

🗓 Best time to visit: The Expo runs from April 13 to October 13, 2025. Want to avoid the biggest crowds? Choose April/May or September/October. July and August can be very hot and humid in Osaka, and lines are often longer.

🎟 Tickets: Tickets are available online through the official Expo Osaka 2025 website or authorized ticketing partners. Day passes and multi-day passes are available. Children, students, and seniors receive a discount.

🚆 Transportation: Direct shuttle buses run from Osaka Station and Namba Station to Yumeshima Island. You can also take the subway (Chuo Line) to Cosmosquare Station and then transfer to a shuttle bus. Parking is available in designated parking lots, but this is often more expensive and congested.

📲 Useful apps

• Expo 2025 Official App – for maps, waiting times, and event calendars.

• Google Translate – for quick translations of Japanese signs and menus.

🍽 Food & Drink: Inside the Expo, you'll find food courts and restaurants in the national pavilions. Be sure to try the futuristic snacks at Earth Mart or traditional dishes in the Japanese pavilion.

💡 Tip to avoid queues: Start your day at popular pavilions like the Swiss, Belgian, or Future City Pavilion. These fill up quickly. Plan to visit smaller pavilions later in the day.

Please note: for some pavilions you must book in advance via the official website or app.