【iwafu × CJ 】2025 Japan Roaming Feature: Pre-Expo Guide to the Osaka Expo 2025 & 3 Must-See Walk-in Experiences That Will Surpass Your Expectations!
With participation from over 150 countries, Expo 2025 is not about flashy showcases but a co-creation of global lifestyles and cultures. Through a shared meal, a hands-on craft experience, a heartfelt conversation—or even a sauna—you’ll rediscover the diverse richness of this world.
1. Why Osaka? Why Now?
When it comes to Osaka, think smoky, down-to-earth diners, charmingly converted old houses, locally loved general stores, and tangled alleyways that prioritize character over uniformity. As the cultural heart of the Kansai region, Osaka radiates a warmth and vibrancy shaped by the local dialect and people’s generosity.
Now, this very city will transform into a living laboratory for “future living” through Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai. But don’t expect an abstract, distant version of the future. Here, you’ll experience it in tangible, human ways that fit seamlessly into daily life.
2. A World-Class Exhibition in the Name of the Future: EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan
Expo 2025 will run from April 13 to October 13, 2025, hosted on Yumeshima, an artificial island in Osaka Bay. With the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives,” the expo highlights the value of life, future lifestyles, and the integration of technology with sustainability.
This marks Japan’s second time hosting a world expo since 1970, again in Osaka. Positioned as a “People’s Living Lab,” the venue emphasizes participation, co-creation, and innovation. For the first time, we are invited into a real-world setting to practice what future living can feel like—a rare opportunity to write history not just for the world, but for your personal future.
Must-See Architectural Icons (and Photo Spots!)
Grand Roof (RING Sky Walk): The world's largest wooden corridor structure, walkable over 2km, offering views of Seto Inland Sea, vertical gardens, and flower walls.
EXPO Arena “Matsuri”: A stadium for celebratory events and large-scale performances.
EXPO Hall “Shining Hat”: Round stage venue for music, theater, performances, and weekly forums.
EXPO National Day Hall “Ray Garden”: A stage for official and local government events, updated weekly.
Silent Forest: A tranquil open-air zone beneath the Grand Roof, centered around a pond and surrounded by 1,500 trees—Osaka’s forest of the future.
iwafu’s Top Picks: Walk-In Activities at EXPO 2025
LOHAS Festa EXPO 2025
Date: June 2, 2025 (Mon)
Location: EXPO Arena “Matsuri”
A special edition of Japan’s most beloved eco-lifestyle festival, LOHAS Festa brings together handmade goods, fair-trade products, healthy local eats, and SDGs-themed workshops. It’s more than a market—it's a celebration of conscious, slow, and sustainable living for all ages.
More info: https://www.iwafu.com/en/events/1012485
Lines of Connection – International Dance & Art Festival
Date: April 29, 2025 (Tue)
Location: East Pop-Up Stage
A one-day-only artistic collaboration featuring 7 international artists and local creators combining dance, music, visuals, and tech into a powerful immersive experience. This is not a performance to watch, but to join—move, sing, and embody the connection with the world.
More info: https://www.iwafu.com/en/events/1011699
Osaka Week – Spring Edition
Date: May 9, 2025 (Fri)
(Also happening on July 28 “Summer” & Sept 13 “Autumn”)
Location: EXPO Exhibition Center “WASSE”
Featuring all 43 cities and towns of Osaka Prefecture, this experiential exhibit goes beyond food and sightseeing to include craft traditions, industrial technologies, and arts—all ready for you to watch, try, and taste.
More info: https://www.iwafu.com/en/events/1011383
EXPO Sauna “Bud of the Sun”
Date: Starting April 13, 2025 (Sun), 10:00–21:00
Up to 10+ reservation slots per month
Location: EXPO Sauna “Bud of the Sun”
This isn’t your ordinary sauna—it’s a breathing installation built with ETFE membrane, resembling a budding flower. Designed with sunlight, sea breeze, and LED lighting, it creates a deeply therapeutic, multisensory experience.
More info: https://www.iwafu.com/en/events/1012566
Aqua & Air Spectacle Show “Ao and the Night Rainbow Parade”
Date: April 13, 2025 (Sun)
Showtimes: 19:10–19:40, 20:30–21:00
Over 20 shows per month
Location: Water Plaza
A nightly fountain and light show with 300+ water jets, flames, water screen projection, and laser effects. It’s a multisensory poem about the balance between water and air.
More info: https://www.iwafu.com/en/events/1011918
About iwafu
iwafu is a Japan-based platform tailored for travelers, curating dynamic tourism information focused on seasonal festivals, cultural experiences, and local traditions.
Our core concept: “Ichigo Ichie”—every moment matters. With AI-powered services, iwafu enables real-time discovery of unrepeatable, location-specific cultural moments, letting you deeply connect with the Japan that exists only here and now.
Website: https://www.iwafu.com/
Final Thoughts
Osaka has never been a city that hides behind appearances. Its alleys and accents speak truth, reminding us that there’s more to Japan than Tokyo's pristine image.
Expo 2025 is not just about seeing the future—it's about practicing it.
You’re not just a visitor; you’re invited to become a co-creator of the future life you wish to live.
EXPO 2025 Osaka Info
Duration: April 13 – October 13, 2025
Location: Yumeshima, Osaka
Overview: 159 countries, 17 Japanese exhibitors, and over 2,000 activities scheduled throughout the 6-month run