We went to see Expo 2025 (関西万博) in Osaka, Japan in April 2025, about a week after its opening to the public. This is our first post about this event. Enjoy a tune while browsing.
Our first glimpse of Expo 2025 was the Grand Ring (大屋根リング). We saw the Grand Ring from Osaka Bay when we were on a Sunflower cruise (the Kurenai) sailing from Beppu to Osaka. It was around 6:30am when the photo was taken.
Click on any of the images to see a larger version.
We passed Yumeshima (夢洲), the man-made island on which Expo 2025 is situated, about 2 weeks before the opening on April 13. It will close on October 13. So if you like what you see in our later posts about this event, you may still have time to visit it.
The Grand Ring at Expo 2025 in Osaka stands as a monumental architectural achievement, symbolizing the event’s theme of “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”.
The sculpture is “Cycloid III” by Mariko Mori (森 万里子).
We love the Grand Ring and Ms. Mori’s works.
Here is an official video showing off the monument at night.
Designed by renowned architect Sou Fujimoto (藤本 壮介), the Grand Ring is a 2-kilometer-long circular structure with an external diameter of 675 meters.
Standing between 12 and 20 meters tall and spanning 30 meters in width, it encompasses a building area of over 61,000 square meters. It has been certified on March 4, 2025 by Guinness World Records as the largest wooden architectural structure globally.
The construction integrates traditional Japanese ‘nuki’ (貫) joinery techniques, commonly used in temples and shrines, with modern engineering methods to enhance seismic resilience.
Approximately 70% of the timber used is domestic, including Japanese cedar and cypress, while the remaining 30% comprises imported Scots pine.
We noticed this “joint” on a pillar. Is this the product of sashimono (指し物) ?
Serving as the main circulation route around the Expo site on Yumeshima Island, the Grand Ring provides sheltered walkways that protect visitors from the elements. Its rooftop Skywalk offers panoramic views of the Expo grounds, Osaka Bay, and the surrounding cityscape.
Certain sections of the Grand Ring feature a distinctive two-tiered elevated walkway design. The upper level, known as the Skywalk, is elevated approximately 12 meters above ground, offering visitors expansive views of the Expo site and Osaka Bay.
Beneath this, a slightly lower tier provides an additional elevated path. Between these two tiers, a white material spans the sloping space, creating the visual effect of the upper walkway floating above the structure.
One striking section of the Grand Ring extends over the water, partially encircling a corner of Osaka Bay.
This portion is closed to the public underneath, reserved for vehicle access, but it transforms into a spectacle of its own—especially when illuminated at night and when vehicles run beneath it.
It provided a dramatic backdrop for the “Midnight Rainbow” water and laser light show, and from the elevated walkway, visitors could enjoy a unique vantage point to view the show from the opposite side.
While at Expo 2025, the Grand Ring quickly became our go-to refuge, meeting and resting spot. We especially appreciated the abundance of benches—one of the few places we could take a break without waiting in line, unlike the busy pavilions. Its wide canopy shielded us effectively from both the rain and the sun, yet letting in a breeze from Osaka Bay providing some comfort during our 3-day, 9-hour per day visit.
Beneath the Ring, we found essential amenities like water refill stations, ozone bottle-sanitizing stations, restrooms, and vending machines—though these did attract queues. The space also served as a hub for electric wheelchair rentals and parking. Most impressively, the Ring acted as a natural landmark, visible from nearly anywhere on the grounds, helping us stay oriented and never feel completely lost. We cannot think of Expo 2025 without the Grand Ring.
Originally intended for dismantling post-Expo, discussions are ongoing regarding the preservation of the Grand Ring due to its architectural significance and public appeal. While maintenance and redevelopment plans are being considered, a final decision has yet to be made.
We sincerely hope that the organizer and Osaka city find a way to repurpose at least a portion of this monument which have been used and appreciated by thousands of visitors.
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