Around 119,000 people visited the World Exposition in Osaka on its opening day Sunday, the organizer said, with long lines forming in the rain at pavilions admitting only a limited number of guests without reservations.
The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition said that more than 140,000 people had made reservations to visit the site on Sunday, but over 20,000 appear to have changed their dates to avoid bad weather.
On Monday, the first weekday since the opening, people lined up in front of the east gate near Yumeshima Station, which is directly connected to the expo site, in a scene reminiscent of the previous day. Entry, however, was smoother than on Sunday.
Inside the venue, a demonstration flight of a pilot-only flying car was held, reaching a height of about 10 meters and flying for around seven minutes as the audience cheered. The event had to be canceled on Sunday due to bad weather.
Later Monday, access to the top of the Grand Ring -- a 2-kilometer-long structure recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's largest wooden building -- was restricted due to concerns about lightning near the venue.
Opening day was not without hiccups, as internet connection issues caused headaches for some participants. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, the top government spokesman, told reporters, "We would like to increase visitor satisfaction through continuous improvements."
The expo will run through Oct. 13 on Yumeshima, an artificial island in Osaka Bay, with 158 countries and regions participating. Around 28.2 million visitors are expected, according to the operator.
The expo kicked off with a bang on Sunday, but soaring hotel prices and a shortage of rooms near the venue are casting a shadow over hopes of attracting more visitors and fueling concerns about the impact of overtourism, locals said.
The new hotels that have opened recently are mostly high-end, catering to wealthy travelers. The surge in foreign visitors has tightened supply and demand, driving up accommodation prices.
© KYODO
44 Comments
Login to comment
Asiaman7
The first-hand, on-site Reddit reviews of Day One are absolutely horrible! Read for yourself:
https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravelTips/comments/1jy0mxk/expo_warning/
If 20,000 fewer people than expected showed up, and the experience was this bad, imagine how awful it could have been.
I, like many, would love to visit, but question whether it’s worth the accommodation and travel cost from outside Osaka, not to mention the endless patience to endure the excessive crowds.
KazukoHarmony
“Visitor satisfaction” is unfortunately lost among those consistently focused on greater attendance numbers.
tora
Seriously? Then count me out. Not going for the privilege of being herded through coned off areas by guys yelling into megaphones.
And i hope that グランド・リング is well away from the smoking areas.
HappySmiles
I wonder whether lightening could ignite that “potentially explosive level of methane gas” that was detected at the Expo last week?
Hope not.
But I guess it theoretically could.
//////////
https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna16092108
Sago mine explosion blamed on lightning
State investigators have determined that a lightning strike sparked the methane gas explosion deep inside the Sago Mine, where 12 coal miners died
sakurasuki
There were long lines and confusion among visitor but that just Japan Inc operated.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/04/14/japan/osaka-expo-confusion/
dbsaiya
Golden Week and summer aren't ideal times to visit due to the crowds and heat. As we saw on opening day, the rainy season won't provide much shelter either, so there's only a narrow window with favorable weather for an enjoyable experience.
WoodyLee
Congrats Osaka, keep it going.
obladi
Unfortunately, the Osaka Expo has been a disappointment so far.
sakurasuki
Japanese way in labeling sanctification , just put a good PR in TV with commentator which usually done by famous TV personality that would say "People seems to be happy and enthusiastic"
JeffLee
During the regular week, it could well be just as crowded with millions of school students on organized trips. That what happens at major museums and Disneyland. Japanese event organizers are only happy with one thing: massive crushing crowds.
Japantime
This must be a disappointment for people who said it wouldn’t be successful. The number of people visiting in one day is a record for an Expo. They will get crowds like this until the end of the year. It will be a good idea to pay extra for the express pass to the attractions.
Bobby Franks
Sorry. It was not even half the one-day high recorded in Aichi in 2005.
Seawolf
So according to this article, there is a shortage of rooms (or only very expensive ones), which might impact the number of visitors, but even now there are concerns about overtourismn? And of course it's all the fault of those bloody foreigners, never mind that many would rather go to other entertainment places, be it Disney, TeamLabs, or just Japanese gardens, than queuing at this place!
Negative Nancy
Well done! I think that's an excellent number. Of course there are issuees to iron out, because it has only just opened, but it will be fine. Forget the negativity and enjoy it!
NZ
positive paid PR.
think about tsuyu/rainy season some 6wks...
I am not convinced to go there...
Kaowaiinekochanknaw
Japan can't catch a break anymore.
You can feel it in the people. Hope is lost. Sadness overwhelms.
Greed, corruption amd xenophobia are rife.
The country is dying, economically, socially and within the people themselves.
There is no energy left.
You can only run and not better yourself for so long without consequences.
Sad to see but it's not unexpected.
YeahRight
That's about 100,000 more than I expected. And those extra 100,000 were probably the ones who had the worst experience.
N. Knight
It was really good. I'm going back again on the 28th.
browny1
The lead photo of the article describes the machine as a *"battery powered aircraft".*
In the article it is described as a *"pilot only *flying car".
News media I watched last night described it as a "flying car".
I don't know of anyone that would realistically describe that as a car.
A drone influenced design - yes.
A helicopter variant - yes.
A car - no.
The photo caption's use of aircraft is correct.
Real examples exist of flying car prototypes and they don't match this one.
Hopefully we won't hear much more of the term wonderful flying car.
mu-da
You obviuosly haven't been in Europe recently. I recommend a train journey in Germany. After that, come back here and visit the Expo.
Kaowaiinekochanknaw
↑ I wasn't comparing it to Europe.
Was talking about Japan.
Concerned Citizen
I was there yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It was fascinating. Kudos to the organisers.
Reserve pavilions well ahead of attendance day to avoid lines (for some of them)
OssanAmerica
If you are in Japan and you actually believe all this, you should leave for greener pastures. And if you aren't, you should visit to see what nonsense your post is.
finally rich
Haven't been to USJ these days but I can confirm that unless you're Disney wise regarding the apps, reservations and all the other tricks required to enjoy what the park was supposed to offer, you're basically paying ￥10.000 to walk around, you can't even eat what you want as there is also a reservation system for restaurants, unless you want to spend 1 or 2 hours in a queue, hungry.
TokyoLiving
Great news..
Great start..
Go Osaka!!..
grc
’Internet connection issues’ is a beautiful euphemism. The reality is that visitors were unable to access their QR codes to afford them admission.
starpunk
'Flying car'? Why couldn't it resemble something out of the 'Jetsons' cartoon series?
That machine is frightfully hideous, I mean it is one of the most butt-ugly machines I have ever seen! Egad!
Kaowaiinekochanknaw
If you are in Japan and you actually believe all this, you should leave for greener pastures. And if you aren't, you should visit to see what nonsense your post is.
I am in Japan. I do believe all of that. I have witnesses a downward decline the last 21 years big time.
No need to leave. I can handle it.
Just an interested observer.
falseflagsteve
Who thought doing cash only and QR code admission was a good idea?
Cash is king for me bruv, make no mistake.
Aoi Azuuri
Organizers haven't considered even storm, "wooden big-roof ring" is worthless when rainfall, many visitors were exposured rain or cold wind.
Holding this Expo itself including its place is wrong.
WiseOneIn Kansai
So much negativity from people who haven't gone or don't even live in the Osaka area!! Not looking forward to reading the weekly barrage of complaints from armchair critics for the next 6 months!!
As someone who lives in Osaka, I have been and completely enjoyed it. Will go next week again with family and some co-workers.
There are bound to be teething problems in the beginning and that's expected since Expo opened just 3 days ago.
My brother-in-law and his family texted us that it was smooth entry this morning. From the station to entering, it was about 25 minutes.
Reservations are very helpful to visit the popular pavilions. If you have time in between reservations, you can visit the "Commons Pavilions" which consist of about 20 countries and have no lines at all to enter.
Make sure to bring a mobile battery charger as you are constantly on your smartphone. Showing QR-code, making the next reservation 10 minutes after the last one finished, paying for food or drinks, checking your location on Expo map and taking lots of photos.
If you don't use mobile app payment, you can use your ICOCA, SUICA, PITAPA cards to pay.
Food is on the pricey side, but you are now allowed to bring your own food. I couldn't resist eating a meat pie from Australia but it was ¥800 which was expected. At least the tomato sauce/ketchup was free.Anyway, "To Each Their Own"!!
falseflagsteve
Wiseonein
Glad you had a good time. However you already mentioned the main reason I will not attend, the QR lark. Also having to have a battery charger is no something people should have to be concerned about on a day out and I would rather not be constantly on my phone at an event. There is also the issues of being unable to get online and even ge into the even. With physical stuff like tickets and cash, this cannot be an issue.
kohakuebisu
As a fan of futurism/science fiction and travelling when I can afford it, I hope this is a success.
I don't mind folks having to queue, just go to any theme park, but no shade or shelter from rain is poor design. It's also unhealthy, especially if there are inadequate restaurants etc.
And yes if it doesn't mostly run on it's wheels, it's not a "car".
wallace
For most of us it’s easy to charge our phones before leaving home.
falseflagsteve
Wallace
The chap said you have to use so much battery and be on the phone so often that the battery runs low. I would imagine that is also the case even if it’s charged. I know some elderly people in Japan not good with smartphones etc, this would put them off from going.
Cashless is a positive for companies and governments but should be a choice.
smithinjapan
I know about six people who have gone, and five went Sunday when everything was canceled due to bad weather. Including the sixth, who is still there now, not one said it was worth it. Granted, a couple have mostly attributed that to the weather. Some were baffled by the claims that new tech would be introduced when it was only predictions of what tech would be like in the future. Another said that the tech that WAS introduced has been basically around with Apple Watches since 2013, or with smartphones even earlier.
wallace
falseflagsteve
Wallace
No way would you drain your phone battery from a fully charged one using it all day at the Expo.
Patricia Yarrow
Please, would someone confirm if there were plentiful TRASH BINS for crowds? Or is the J-gov continuing to use the Sarin gas attack as a justification for not fulfilling its civic duty?
GuruMick
Patricia....sleep well tonight....there were "plentiful trash bins " at the Expo.
I,d make up a "trash bin lullaby " but I would probably get moderated...
falseflagsteve
Wallace
Dunno bruv, was just stating what the other fella mentioned you see.
smithinjapan
Patricia Yarrow: "Or is the J-gov continuing to use the Sarin gas attack as a justification for not fulfilling its civic duty?"
It wasn't the Sarin gas attack -- they removed a lot of trash bins after 9/11 and the shoe bomber, and the rest when co-hosting the World Cup with South Korea in 2002 (along with all silverware in restaurants for a short time) because they said "foreign hooligans" might use them in terrorist attacks or to light fires, etc., should their team lose. They may well have used the gas attacks and terrorist attacks in other nations to KEEP them gone, but that's really because they save massive amounts of tax money by not having to go around and collect it. Of course, the recent excuse is "Japanese take their garbage (and that of others) home with them so we don't need public bins".
lostrune2
Going to Universal Studios is a better experience
1glenn
Wish I was there.
N. Knight
I didn't have any real queues or internet issues. My phone battery was fine like it is any other busy day.
It was great.
I've booked some pavilion space for a day for my company clients drinks and foods. Some country pavilions are offering that.