We toured Expo 2025 (関西万博) in Osaka this April, just a week after the gates opened. The crowds were thick and the queues long, but the visit was still well worth it. Entry to many pavilions is handled by a lottery, and we only landed a few coveted slots. Even so, missing some interesting exhibitions wasn’t a deal‑breaker—the striking exterior designs alone made the trip worthwhile.
Enjoy a tune while browsing. Click to see our other posts about the Expo – The Grand Ring, Eateries Part 1 and Part 2 and Pavilions Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.
From the 188 pavilions present at Expo 2025 (as of April), we have selected a number that distinguished themselves through their architecture and presentation. The accompanying country descriptions are sourced directly from the official Expo website. The cover image for this post features the pavilions of France, the USA, and the Philippines, arranged from left to right.
The Japan Pavilion has the cleverest design—the structure’s massive, circular gold-rimmed roof gives the illusion that it pierces the sky—especially on overcast days—enhancing the architectural drama and reinforcing the idea that the building is emerging through a portal or “hole in the sky.”
There are 3 types of participation by countries and private organizations: Type A -countries plan and build their own distinctive pavilions; Type X: the expo association builds the pavilions; and Type B and C – The expo association provides buildings that countries use to set up booths or rooms. As of the start of the expo in April 2025, 47 nations used Type A pavilions and 5 used Type X.
South Korea is the first pavilion we visited since they did not require a reservation. Relatively simple, the pavilion is essentially a box with a huge bright video screen at the front end.
The design of the Ireland Pavilion is based on the triskele, an ancient Celtic motif used in Irish art and craft. The sculpture titled Magnus RINN, standing six meters tall, combines bronze, oak, and gold leaf, symbolizing harmony and shared cultural values between Ireland and Japan.
The Singapore Pavilion, also known as the “Dream Sphere”, is an immersive space showcasing Singapore’s future-forward aspirations.
Next to the Singapore pavilion is another pavilion with a spherical theme – Creating A New Dawn Together on Common Ground. The Netherlands pavilion is a rectangular structure with a glowing sphere at its center—a symbol of a “man-made sun,” representing clean, limitless energy based on hydropower. Its facade is adorned with undulating slats that evoke the movement of flowing water.
The Italy Pavilion embraces the theme “Art Regenerates Life.” Inspired by the Renaissance Ideal City, it features a theater, portico, piazza, and garden—symbols of Italian urban identity.
There was a DJ/rapper performing to entertain the people lining up to enter the pavilion. We bought snacks from the food truck which are just visible on the right side of the pavilion.
The ocean and the sun are the symbols that shape the architecture of the Spanish pavilion. The exhibition references the Kuroshiro current in the North Pacific that is useful as a shipping lane which saves time and fuel usage, as Spanish ships used the Kuroshio current to efficiently sail from the Philippines toward Japan and the Americas (Manila Galleon trade route).
The building concept of the Belgian Pavilion is “water” having 3 layers in the building, and the top being water in its “gaseous state”. Their restaurant was super popular with a very long line.
Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland have joined forces and participate with a joint Nordic pavilion, a 17 m high wooden structure.
Yumeshima (夢洲) is an artificial island in Osaka Bay, developed in 1988 to create a new city center. It has since been repurposed to host Expo 2025. Below is a photo of the mural at Yumeshima station depicting the name of the island written in Kanji and depicted in bonsai form.
We used the East Gate every day to enter the exhibition as it is located adjacent to the Yumeshima Station, the terminus of the Osaka Metro Chūō Line, which was extended to the island and opened on January 2025. Our hotel was conveniently located at Hommachi 本町駅 in central Osaka, merely 7 stations from Yumeshima.
More photos to come in Part 2.