Osaka–Kansai Expo 2025: How I Visited 22 Pavilions in One Day Without Reservations

With only about one month left until the closing, last-minute demand is rising for the Osaka–Kansai Expo 2025 in Japan. This report shares how I, a first-time visitor in September, made the most of a single day at the Expo.

Pre-visit preparation and the writer27s background

I27m a male writer in my 20s living in the Kanto region of Japan. By chance, I ended up spending a full weekday (the second week of September) at the Expo. In terms of basic knowledge, I knew about the headline pavilions, but my understanding of the reservation system and access was only 22it sounds complicated.22

That said, I27m reasonably confident in my stamina and can walk around all day. I prefer acting alone and don27t like doing the same thing as everyone else. I27m registered on photo-sharing apps but don27t post much26mdash;I27m not big on self-promotion. However, I27m highly curious and not picky about trying new things.

I learned I could go to the Expo about 10 days before my visit. I couldn27t enter the two-month lottery or the lotteries/registrations 7 and 3 days prior, so I went without any pavilion reservations.

Luckily, I secured the East Gate 9:00 a.m. entry slot. I decided to focus on same-day registrations and pavilions that don27t require reservations.

East Gate: Taking the first train to Yumeshima Station

I wasn27t too worried about having no reservations, but since I27d be spending the whole day, I wanted to see as many pavilions as possible. I aimed for the first train arriving at Yumeshima Station.

Boarding the first Osaka Metro Chuo Line train at Honmachi, the rear cars near the stairs/escalators at Yumeshima were crowded enough that the hand straps were all taken. The crowding intensified, and eventually boarding became difficult and door operations took time. Still, as someone from Kanto, my impression was that it wasn27t as packed as the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line during the morning peak rush these days.

Upon arrival at Yumeshima Station, people surged toward the stairs and escalators. The photo shows the station just after opening, but imagine the entire space filled with people. It wasn27t exactly a calm scene.

Still, if you dawdle you27ll lose the benefit of getting up early, so I did a full-speed speed-walk to the entry queue. Some people were running, but it27s dangerous and wastes energy at the very start of a long day26mdash;better not. I even saw people fall; it felt a bit like a battlefield.

Around 5:40 a.m., I lined up at the East Gate and felt I was roughly 1002d200 people from the front. We stayed here until about 7:00 a.m. Everyone sat on portable stools or leisure sheets, and the line itself didn27t feel tense.

Around 7:00 a.m., we were guided toward the security checkpoints. The line moved slowly, and we queued by each of the 20-plus security gates for general visitors. I ended up in the third row from the gate fence, close enough to see the security setup and staff preparing inside the venue. You can sit here as well, but the sun rises and temperatures climb. By tacit understanding, you can leave your bag to step away for the restroom.

By about 8:30 a.m., we advanced right up to the security machines and the crowd was organized for immediate screening. That said, the way lines were formed differed by gate; some were messy while others had two neat lines matching the two X-ray machines per gate. I was able to get into the latter.

That day, security screening started a few minutes before 9:00 a.m., and entry began. I passed the check as about the fifth person through and was able to scan my QR code smoothly at the entry terminal.