【大阪関西万博】ルート付き！18パビリオン巡ってみた！人気グルメも6つ堪能🍽️🌍｜大阪万博1泊2日Vlog
Hello everyone! We’re currently on our way to the Osaka-Kansai Expo. There was too much to fit into text, so this time we’ll present it with narration. This video is quite long, so we’ve included a table of contents. Feel free to skip ahead to the parts you’re most interested in. As usual, we’ll share the total travel expenses at the end. Here’s our schedule for Day 1. Day 2 starts later in the video (at 43:24). We visited 12 pavilions, and 4 gourmet food spots. The only things we reserved in advance were the Mizusora Restaurant and the Inochi Pavilion. That’s the Pavilion of Dynamic Equilibrium of Life. We arrived at Yumeshima Station around 8:30 AM, which was 30 minutes before the gates opened. It was a weekday just before Golden Week. Even so, there were about 86,000 visitors that day. And that number doesn’t include staff or affiliates. Seeing the huge crowd, we realized 30 minutes early wasn’t nearly early enough. In the end, we didn’t get into the venue until around 9:30. We were tempted by the Myakumyaku statue and gift shops, but we held back and power-walked through the East Gate Zone. We finally caught sight of the Grand Roof Ring. As we passed under it, the first things that caught our eye were the French Pavilion and the good ol’ USA Pavilion. The line for the USA Pavilion was already crazy long. And right next to it, the French Pavilion also had a massive queue. But the line moved smoothly, and we were inside the French Pavilion in about 10 minutes. The theme of the French Pavilion is “Hymn to Love.” This red line represents the Japanese legend of the red string of fate. Then we entered the Louis Vuitton section. The walls were lined with Louis Vuitton trunks. With mirrors above and below, it was made to look like the trunks extended infinitely. This sculpture is a work by Rodin. Moving to the next area, we saw pure white trunks arranged in a circle, rotating like satellites. Monograms and outer space scenes were projected onto the trunks and the background. We watched an original video performance called “Pas de Trois.” It was filmed on the rooftop of the Pompidou Center. The large screen, with its beautiful dance and music, created an immersive experience. Next, we were guided outside to what looked like a small garden. Everyone was tapping around the edge of the pond, and I wondered what they were doing… Turns out, pressing buttons around the rim released air bubbles that created ripples in the water. Then came the grape-themed area. Next up was the Christian Dior section. It was extremely popular. A sign read, “Here you can experience the lines, volume, and light and shadow of the toile.” “Toile” refers to a prototype garment sewn from plain fabric. Shadows cast onto the all-white clothing really brought out the details beautifully. The scent of J’adore was simply enchanting… A display featuring Miyajima in Hiroshima and Mont-Saint-Michel. Both are World Heritage Sites standing above the sea. Also shown were Notre-Dame Cathedral and Shurijo Castle, both of which suffered fires in the same year. The exhibit concluded with CELINE. The French Pavilion was packed with impressive exhibits. If you’re a fan of high-end brands or love museums, you’ll really enjoy it. As soon as we exited the pavilion, we saw a souvenir shop. They were selling pricey clothes from Saint James. Next, we headed straight to the bakery we had our eye on. To buy bread, you need to line up in a specific queue. Not the one near the exit—but the line to the right of the entrance. Look for the sign with the bread symbol. We probably waited around 20 minutes. The French Pavilion bakery is Maison Kayser. Prices were way higher than at department stores. But we still bought some anyway. We decided to eat them at the Pop-Up Stage East area. The red croissant cost 702 yen. This croissant is an Expo-exclusive item. The ham and cheese baguette sandwich cost 1,620 yen. “Each bite costs over 100 yen!” “Mmm!” “So good!” “The butter is really packed inside.” “Totally!” “You’re right! So much butter inside.” “This is seriously delicious!” The pain au chocolat was 648 yen. “This one’s amazing too.” A small café latte cost 702 yen. The bread was tasty, but whether it was worth the price… eh, debatable. After we got home and went to Starbucks, it suddenly felt so affordable in comparison. We walked under the Grand Roof Ring, heading toward the Germany Pavilion. The water refill station had a crazy long line. Even though it’s free, with that wait we just bought bottled water from a vending machine. We arrived at the Germany Pavilion. The line was way too long, so we gave up. The Korea Pavilion next door looked easier to get into, so we lined up there. First, we were led into this square booth. You answer questions on the screen and record your voice. About 25 minutes later, we entered the main exhibit area. The first room used AI to turn our recorded voices into light and music. It was an empty square space, and we were surrounded by strangers. It felt like we were in a Korean drama, about to start some kind of death game. In the second area, there was a device where you blow into a horn-like thing and bubbles fall from above. The walls were embedded with appliances and electronics, as if frozen in concrete. It reminded me of a Korean drama set in a post-apocalyptic world. The final room showed a heartwarming story of a grandfather and grandson, set to K-Pop, projected across three walls. After exiting, we found a Korean food area and a beautiful souvenir shop. So many cute and stylish items—it really lifted my spirits. The day we went happened to be Turkey’s National Day, and there was live music in the plaza. There were lots of dashing older men who looked like Masumi Okada. The traditional Turkish outfits and music were super cool. Next, we entered Commons Pavilion F. Commons F features exhibits from Armenia, Brunei Darussalam, and Kazakhstan. The digital content there felt well crafted and thoughtful. If you ask the staff questions, they’ll kindly explain things in detail. The line for Azerbaijan was huge… We joined the Thailand Pavilion line because it seemed to be moving fast. Outside the pavilion were decorative flowers and elephant statues. They made the wait feel a little more pleasant. We got in after waiting about 25 minutes. The moment we entered the Thai Pavilion, the air was filled with the scent of spices. It totally made us crave Thai food. 😋 First, we watched a film that introduced the many charms of Thailand. The Thai Pavilion’s mascot and the staff were absolutely adorable. They showcased cutting-edge Thai medicine and healthy Thai cuisine made with herbs and local ingredients. Outside the exhibit area, there was a glass-walled kitchen. You place your food order after exiting the pavilion. There was also a souvenir shop. I wanted to try the food and buy souvenirs too… But with a limited budget and stomach space, I had to hold myself back. I later found out they offer free massages at the Thai Pavilion! Apparently, you can get a ticket for the massage. If anyone knows how or where to get one, please let us know in the comments! We went back to the German Pavilion, hoping to try the restaurant. The pavilion still had a one-hour wait, but the restaurant only had a 30-minute line, so we decided to have lunch there. The interior was beautiful. We ordered Nuremberg-style grilled sausages – 1,700 yen. The portion was smaller than we expected. I had imagined a snappy sausage like Schüblig or Schauenstein—but it was totally different. “Such a complex flavor.” We also tried Westphalian-style Pfefferpotthast. It cost 4,800 yen. It’s a slow-cooked beef stew. “It had a fruity sweetness to it.” I was expecting something like a classic beef stew, but the taste was completely different. It had beets and pickles in it, giving it a light tanginess. A refreshing and tasty stew. The beef had a texture kind of like whale meat. It was a flavor you definitely don’t find in Japanese cuisine. Taka ordered a Hofbräu white beer. It cost 2,000 yen. “Ahhh!” “That’s the taste!” “The same flavor I had back in West Germany!” Taka once traveled around the world with friends when he was younger. He said the beer he had in Germany back then was so good, he’s never forgotten it. As for me, I had a tiny bottle of Wilkinson. I wondered if Wilkinson was German, but turns out—it’s not. I thought the chair I was sitting on was surprisingly comfy, and I noticed a QR code on the back, so I scanned it. It turns out the chair was made by a German company called Mobello (or something like that). When I checked their website, they were having a 75% off sale because they were closing their US warehouse. Even then, the price was still close to 100,000 yen. There was a souvenir shop inside the restaurant, and they were selling Circular-chan goods too. They even sold the same tableware and beer mugs used in the restaurant. At the register, we were given some Haribo gummies. I didn’t realize Haribo was a German candy. This footage is from the next day—we spotted someone in a Circular-chan costume. Maybe because it’s hosted in Japan, many pavilions featured cute mascots. You could find adorable characters everywhere—it was a lot of fun. The weather started looking a bit sketchy. Here’s how the west side of Ringside Market looked around 2:30 PM. It was packed with people. By 2:30 PM that day, Tech World was reservation-only. They started accepting general admissions after 5 PM. We saw that the Iida Group & Osaka Metropolitan University Pavilion had just a 30-minute wait, so we gave it a shot. In reality, we were inside after just 20 minutes. First, we watched an introductory video. In the main hall, there was an enormous diorama of a futuristic city. This is a toilet of the future. It analyzes your gut health using your poop. There were also zones where you could experience futuristic homes and restaurants. We skipped the Music Australia Pavilion—it looked like a long wait. As we passed by, I caught a whiff of animals. Taka insisted it was just my imagination. I swear there really was a smell! We asked the guy at the Indonesia Pavilion how long the wait was. He said, “Five minutes.” The woman next to him gave a “Wait, really?” kind of look. I was pretty sure he was lying, but the line didn’t look like a full hour, so we decided to try anyway. They were handing out free coffee. It had a clean taste and was actually really good. And sure enough, we got inside in about five minutes. Turns out, the guy wasn’t lying after all. Sorry for doubting you! At the entrance, there were masks with a variety of facial expressions on display. When the doors opened, we were greeted with a tropical rainforest-like scene. Scattered around were sculptures of endangered animals. They were created by Indonesian artists. As we went deeper, images were projected across the floor and walls. The footage featured Indonesia’s nature, cultural heritage, dance, and traditional instruments. Portraits of Indonesian people were also on display. These were works by Indonesian artist Davy Linggar. You could also view the rainforest scenery from an upper level. From the outside, this part of the pavilion is shaped like the bow of a ship. They also had traditional martial arts displays, as well as weapons and tools. Indonesia is made up of over 17,000 islands. There are hundreds of ethnic groups and languages across the country. This area featured traditional Indonesian textiles. The final part was a short film by director Kamila Andini. It showed people preparing for a festival together. And on the day of the festival, everyone watching a puppet show. The puppets themselves were incredibly beautiful, and yet they were shown only in silhouette—it was quite mysterious. After exiting, there was a café and souvenir area. The interior design was gorgeous—I was totally enchanted. The lighting fixtures were especially beautiful. I really wanted some of the bags and hats. 🥺 Even the clothing labels were super cute. It was a great opportunity to experience Indonesia’s art, culture, history, and nature. I definitely recommend the Indonesia Pavilion. This is the India Pavilion. It looked amazing. When we visited, it wasn’t open to the public yet. But it seems to be open now—lucky for those who get to visit. This beautiful building is the Uzbekistan Pavilion. It also had quite a line of people waiting. This is the Serbia Pavilion. We stepped a bit outside the Ring to go see the Gundam. The Yoshimoto Pavilion had become a popular rest area for students. There was a huge crowd in front of the Gundam. We tried to get a same-day reservation for Gundam but had no luck. Apparently, same-day tickets for the Gundam Pavilion are released in four waves throughout the day. We didn’t know about that system, so unfortunately we missed our chance to go. We also went to see the Myakumyaku statue. There was another massive crowd here too. Next, we headed to the Belgium Pavilion. The exterior was adorable. We waited about 50 minutes to get in. At the entrance, we stepped into a cylindrical space surrounded 360° by lush greenery. Thin streams of water flowed quietly from the ceiling. An animation played showing golden lines appearing on cracked walls. This represents the Japanese art of “kintsugi.” Kintsugi is a traditional Japanese technique where broken pottery is repaired with lacquer and gold powder. Belgium is famous for waffles and Godiva chocolates— but it’s also a global leader in vaccine research and production. In fact, mRNA vaccines are manufactured in Belgium. The pavilion highlighted cutting-edge medical and biotech innovations, as well as ideas for a more sustainable future. We passed through a plain-looking corridor that seemed like it was meant to be something more. Above us, there were handmade flowers in the colors of the Belgian flag. These flowers were actually made by children in Belgium. If you look closely, you can see little handwritten messages on them. This area showed a video about engineers. It had a striking 3D feel, like dolls were really standing there. After the video, we went upstairs to the restaurant. I really wanted to try a waffle, so we gave it a shot. I was hoping to try the one with brown cheese on top, but later I realized that was from the Nordic Pavilion, not Belgium. The longest line we waited in was actually for the Belgian restaurant. It didn’t look crowded, so we thought we’d be seated quickly—but that was wishful thinking. We ended up waiting an hour. There were plenty of empty seats, but we weren’t being called—very confusing. You place your order by scanning the QR code on the table. I ordered the Liège waffle with ice cream. It cost 1,480 yen. You can get waffles from a food truck too, but I really wanted the one with brown cheese, so I insisted on dining at the restaurant. Well, turns out this wasn’t the place for that waffle. “I just really wanted something sweet.” “This is seriously delicious!” “The waffle itself is sugar-coated.” “Oh, this part’s got a bit of saltiness to it.” “The ice cream is amazing.” Hot coffee: 700 yen. I think it’s pronounced “Rombouts Coffee”? It’s a Belgian brand. It’s fun how many international pavilions serve their country’s signature products. You can also go up to the rooftop of the Belgium Pavilion. By late afternoon, it started to feel chilly. I wanted to visit the Belgium Pavilion’s gift shop too, but a rope blocked the passage from the exhibit area to the shop, so we couldn’t enter that way. It looked like we’d have to line up outside again to get in. The gift shop was so popular that the line was huge, so we gave up. By late afternoon, we finally went up to the Grand Roof Ring. It wasn’t noticeable from below, but once we were up there, it was super windy and cold. Looking down at the Italy Pavilion, we saw an insanely long line. Looks like it’s best to reserve a spot for the Italy Pavilion. By the way, we visited the Italy Pavilion on Day 2, so if you’re curious, check the table of contents and jump to that section. In the evening, the Singapore Pavilion had a smooth flow of visitors—it looked easy to get into. We also visited the Singapore Pavilion on Day 2, for your reference. The Netherlands Pavilion, which we were hoping to reserve same-day, had a huge crowd. Later that night, we saw on the news that the Dutch Prime Minister had visited. We didn’t know, so we skipped reserving anything else and focused on that—big mistake! We headed up higher on the Ring walkway. This area looks like it offers decent sun protection. It’s actually pretty chilly. I wonder if it feels cooler up here in the summer too… Now let’s head to our reservation at Mizusora. This is the Mizusora Highland Restaurant. Mizusora offers set menus and full-course meals using domestic ingredients. They also serve beer, wine, and cocktails developed by Suntory. The restaurant’s interior features Daikin’s cutting-edge air conditioning technology. We made our reservation well before the Expo even started. Even though we booked the most affordable course, they seated us at a great table by the window. Maybe because we booked super early? They served Suntory natural mineral water. Taka ordered the Mizusora Ale—900 yen. It’s an original beer made exclusively for the Expo. I ordered a non-alcoholic cocktail called Forest Holiday. It was 1,200 yen. It was really delicious. We went with the “Wind Plate” course and added the hamburger steak option for an extra 800 yen. The appetizer was a chilled “Junama” tomato potage. Next, tartines with Hakushu bacon and zucchini. Then, carpaccio of farm-raised sea bream from Ehime and aromatic vegetables. The tart tomato flavor was so refreshing and tasty. “So good.” “I can really taste the basil!” “Mmm!” “The bacon is insanely good.” The main dish was a hamburger steak made from Apple Wagyu Shinshu beef and Shinshu rice-fed pork, with onion-based Chaliapin sauce. The seasonal mixed rice featured sakura shrimp and broad beans from Yui Port in Shizuoka. To be honest, the hamburger steak tasted like it might not have been freshly grilled here. Sorry if I’m wrong. But Taka was happily eating and said it was delicious. “Yep!” “The meat is sooo good!” “The onions, you know—” “They’re sweet and perfect.” The seasoned rice was also delicious. The Grand Roof Ring and Water Plaza looked beautiful as the sun began to set. At first, I thought maybe we should’ve had lunch here and visited pavilions in the evening instead… But after walking around so much, enjoying dinner in a calm and cozy spot felt like the right choice. Originally, we planned to have dinner at Mizusora and then watch the water show from center stage. But we didn’t win the advance lottery for center viewing. So we grabbed a spot along the edge to watch from wherever was open. The reflection of the Grand Roof Ring on the water was stunning. The fountain show began. From the side, though, it felt a bit too far away to be truly impressive. We didn’t stay for the whole show and instead wandered off to see if there was any pavilion we could still get into. The UK Pavilion was reservation-only by then, so we couldn’t enter. The closer you got to the center of the water show, the more packed the crowd became. We wanted to see the nighttime view of null2, but with the water show going on, it was way too crowded to enjoy it leisurely. Here’s what it looked like watching the water show from the center. It was so packed you could barely see the lower parts of the show. Still, if you really want the full water show experience, viewing from the center is definitely best. We had reserved the “Inochi Dynamic Equilibrium Pavilion” three days in advance, so we wandered around the Signature Pavilion area. “The Proof of Life” exhibit had last-minute slots available three days prior, so we tried our luck without a reservation—but it turned out to be reservation-only. “Dialogue Theater: The Proof of Life” does have a free-entry zone, called the “Forest Gathering Place.” The yellow uniforms worn at this pavilion were designed by Akira Minagawa from minä perhonen. You can see the participants of the Dialogue Theater inside the opposite building. The building was constructed using materials from two closed-down schools. We found some nostalgic wooden chairs. If you look closely, they’ve been modified so the height can be adjusted. There was something called a “shared empathy experience.” Taka and I gave it a try. It seems to measure the number of scent prompts and the highest empathy level reached. I thought something smelled nice around here—maybe it was coming from this? As our reservation time approached, we headed to the Dynamic Equilibrium Pavilion. This was our first time entering a pavilion by reservation. Before going in, you need to show your reservation QR code. It’s quite dark inside, so be careful where you step. You can see the whole installation better from the wall side rather than near the light particles. Leaning against the wall gives you a more comfortable view—depending on the spot. The particles of light represented the evolution of life. I thought, “Maybe I’m just one little flicker of light like that.” By the time we left the pavilion, it had started to rain. We headed toward the East Gate, thinking we’d pop into any pavilion that was still open. We ended up passing by null2 again. No matter how many times I see it, I never get tired of it. We didn’t win the lottery for null2 and couldn’t get a same-day reservation either—what a shame. …As we were walking in front of the pavilion, someone called out saying we could enter now without a reservation! What incredible luck! It seems you view the installation from behind glass walls. Soon, loud sounds and visuals started, and we were drawn right into the world of null2. null2 looks awesome—both inside and out. Taka said null2 was his favorite pavilion. But I thought it was different from what I’d seen on the news—weren’t you supposed to make your own avatar? I also thought you’d be able to go into the center area, not just view it from outside. Later we found out there are two modes: Dialogue Mode and Installation Mode. What we experienced was Installation Mode. Apparently, Dialogue Mode has a more philosophical element to it, while Installation Mode is more immersive—like a mix between a theme park and an art museum. By the way, the music playing in null2 sounded nothing like the background music I added to this video. We were able to get into the Czech Pavilion next to null2 without waiting. Because it was raining, the rooftop area was closed. The Czech Pavilion features a wooden spiral structure with Bohemian crystal accents on the exterior. Bohemian crystal is a type of glass made in the Bohemia region of the Czech Republic. Unfortunately, it was nighttime and raining, so we couldn’t really see the decorations clearly. The walls were decorated with unique illustrations and video art. There were drawings by the Osaka governor, Mr. Nakata, and even Prime Minister Ishiba. A sculpture by Alphonse Mucha! But my eyes were drawn to the glass sculpture next to it,
and I only noticed it later. It was a piece by Czech glass artist René Roubíček. This quirky Czech character René was born from that artwork. A photo of Myaku-Myaku and René together—too cute to handle! I wish I could’ve had a non-alcoholic René cocktail on the rooftop… With this weather, of course, the drone show was canceled that night. We just didn’t have luck with the weather. Happens to us all the time. We just barely made it into the international organizations pavilion in time. We rushed through to see everything. By around 9 PM… Most of the pavilions had already closed. After 9 PM, it’s probably best to enjoy the nighttime views of the pavilions from outside. The East Gate was packed on our way out. We got on the train without waiting, but then something awful happened. The train came to a stop! We were stranded at Osaka Port Station. These two old folks couldn’t take it anymore,
so we ended up taking a taxi back to the hotel (¥4,000 😭). Later on the news, we saw that around 4,000 people had been stuck waiting at Yumeshima Station. We were completely wiped out—took a bath and went straight to bed. By the way, we stayed at “Tabist Uni Hotel Midosuji Hommachi.” By the way, we stayed at “Tabist Uni Hotel Midosuji Honmachi.” It’s just a 3-minute walk from Honmachi Station. We booked it two months before the Expo started. It was 7,000 yen per night, per person. The room and bathroom were super tiny—but everything was very clean! Since the bathtub was so small, Taka-san, who’s quite tall, just used the shower. No pajamas provided, but it came with all the basic amenities we needed. Good morning! It’s Day 2 of Expo 2025 Osaka–Kansai. Learning from Day 1, we arrived at Yumeshima Station around 8am. Here’s our plan for Day 2. We’re hitting 6 pavilions— —and trying food at 2 spots. It’s fewer than Day 1, but that’s because we left by 3pm. We reserved 9am entry again through the East Gate. Arriving early let us join the first round of bag checks. The trick is to pick the line with the fewest people—every second counts! Thanks to that, we were inside the venue by 9:05am. Visitor count that day was about 81,000—not including staff and officials. Slightly less than the day before. We made a quick reservation at 9:20am for the “Future City” exhibit near the West Gate,
so we hopped on the e-Mover to get there. We boarded the bus from the East Gate South stop. The one we got on was a regular bus that doesn’t require a reservation. It costs 400 yen per ride, same price for adults and kids. There’s also a self-driving bus, but it seems like you need a reservation for that one. You can buy tickets at a kiosk right at the bus stop. It accepts credit cards, IC transport cards, QR payments—pretty much all digital options. There’s staff nearby, so even if you’re unsure, no worries! We were so busy trying to make same-day reservations on the bus that we couldn’t enjoy the scenery at all… But we managed to successfully book the Italy Pavilion—phew! We got off at the North Terminal of the West Gate. There were hardly any people around here. And right in front of us—we spotted Kura Sushi! We wanted to reserve a spot at Kura Sushi… But we just assumed we’d definitely win the pavilion lottery… So we waited to book the sushi until after we got our pavilion times—and by then, it was already fully booked. You used to be able to book via the official app two weeks in advance… But now, for the Expo Osaka-Kansai branch, you can book 30 days ahead. Back in early April, if you accessed the app right at midnight, you could snag a reservation. But when we tried in early June—even right at midnight—the 30-day slots hadn’t appeared yet. After trying over and over, the slots finally popped up about 10 minutes later! But actually getting through the reservation process? That was a whole different challenge… The Future City Pavilion is right next to Kura Sushi. There were even school kids on a field trip lining up to get in. This pavilion is a joint project between the Expo Association and 12 private companies. Each company brings its own expertise and creativity to the table, offering hands-on experiences. We reserved the version that includes entry to the interactive theater. Before entering, you first connect to a dedicated website to get set up. Once that’s done, you’re ready to head into the theater. An SOS call from a boy from the future! You choose the kind of future you want—using your smartphone. Then you’re greeted by four giant heads near the company exhibits. If you walk around to the back, they come alive with animated scenes. Miyakumyaku was popping up all over the place! Oh! This is the one I really wanted to see—CORLEO! There were lots of school groups from elementary and junior high at this pavilion. And this—this is the one I was dying to try! The Aerial Sensory Device. You can actually see it in 3D without wearing any glasses. When I reached out toward the whale, it felt like I was touching it—so surreal! Once we left the pavilion, we ended up in a place that looked just like an airport. There was a big crowd gathered there… And there it was—the flying car we’d been dying to see! You can check the operating schedule for the flying car on the Expo website. Here’s what Future Life Village looked like around 10:30 AM. By this time, the crowds were really starting to build up. There were so many school groups today—seriously! Now we’re at Marketplace C in the Wind Plaza area. Hardly anyone was here. So we decided to grab a late breakfast here for now. And yep… it’s pricey here, too. Maybe because it was still early, not all the food stalls were fully stocked yet. We went to check out the food trucks outside. But those were expensive, too. I went with 6 takoyaki from Kukuru. 900 yen. Taka-san got the beef curry—1,200 yen. Yesterday, we accidentally bought the wrong waffle from the Belgium Pavilion… So today we’re heading to the Nordic Pavilion for the right one—with brown cheese on top! We’re now in front of the West Gate. It’s all students here. I wanted a Miyakumyaku figure, so we stopped by the souvenir shop. Fingers crossed we get the 551 HORAI capsule! The shop was pretty crowded, so we decided to open our capsule later. Now let’s see if we got lucky! We’re heading inside the Grand Roof Ring. It’s just past 11 AM now. As usual, there’s a big crowd around the Miyakumyaku statue. It’s a total hit! Same with the Gundam. We made it inside the Grand Roof Ring. And once again, there’s a huge line at the Belgium Pavilion. But the line was a little shorter than yesterday. Next up—the Netherlands Pavilion. By lunchtime, every pavilion had lines forming. Now we’re in the Signature Zone. This one’s called “Adventure of Life Circulation.” Just noticed—there’s barely a line at the non-reservation area. So this is where the full-body 3D scan by null2 was! I could honestly stare at the outside of null2 all day. Right next door is the Czech Pavilion. I thought there was a line… …but it turned out to be people waiting for the restaurant! We spotted Rene, the Czech Pavilion character! Next to the Malta Pavilion is the Nordic Pavilion. It didn’t look crowded and no reservation was needed, so we hopped in line. While we waited, the guide kept us entertained with fun little chats. Someone visiting even guessed all the country flags correctly—impressive! The gift shop was packed with Nordic brands. I thought the guide’s outfit was super cute—and turns out, it was Marimekko! And her pants? From H&M, she said. That bench over there? From HAY. And at the entrance—casually placed—was a Dream Chair by Tadao Ando × Carl Hansen & Søn. Inside the exhibit, a spiral wall of floating papers greeted us. It’s inspired by the Japanese concept of ensō, showing stories and videos with Nordic themes. The comfy-looking chairs were “Nawabari” from BoConcept. And on the way out, we were given free water—nice touch! In the gift shop: Moomin merch, FUGLEN coffee beans… Even those super thin HAY tote bags. So many tempting Nordic design goods! On the way to the café, we spotted reindeer pelts. We were lucky to get into the restaurant in about 10 minutes! The green chairs and tables were by HAY. And the wooden ones were from Carl Hansen & Søn. Though I don’t think the seats we got were the same ones they mentioned. Just a guess, though. We had to wait a bit in line to place our order. Here’s what the menu looked like. The prices weren’t listed here. Finally! I got to try the waffle with brown cheese I’d been dreaming of. Since Taka-san loves peanut butter, we also ordered this dessert called “Semla” that has almond cream. The can it came in was super cute. Semla and coffee—perfect combo. The coffee was from FUGLEN. I didn’t know it was a coffee shop from Norway! The Semla looked a little different from the photo, but let’s give it a try. “Do I just take a big bite?” “Try taking the top bun off and dipping it in.” “Nope.” “No, no, no.” “Gotta go in with a full bite!” “You’re gonna crush it!” “Huh?” “Yeah, that’s gonna spill for sure.” So we ended up arguing over how to eat it. I had to stop Taka-san from taking a huge bite with my intense stare 😅 “Just as I thought—zero sweetness!” “There’s something inside, though.” “Almonds.” “This thing…” “It’s really not sweet?” “It tastes familiar, but I can’t put my finger on it.” “It’s almond inside, for sure.” “This is almond? Really?” “Hmm, there’s a bit of cinnamon in it.” “Yeah, it tastes like there’s cinnamon too.” He says cinnamon, but it’s actually cardamom. If you’re expecting something super sweet like a Maritozzo or a Starbucks treat, think again! At first, I thought, “Is this medicine?” It smelled gingery but unfamiliar—like nothing I’d tasted before. But the more I ate, the more I liked it. Totally addictive. The Nordic-style sweet waffle came with Norwegian brown cheese, raspberry jam, and Icelandic yogurt. “It feels kind of soggy…” “Ahh, how am I supposed to eat this?” “It’s cheese.” “Oh, cheese?” “Yeah, not butter.” “The chewy texture is kinda like the Belgian waffle from yesterday, but…” “It’s definitely different.” “Even the shape of the waffle.” “Let’s try it with the brown cheese.” “Yeah.” “Without the sugar coating, I think the Belgian one tastes better.” “If you pile on the jam, it feels more like a dessert though.” “But with cheese, it’s more like a meal?” “Yeah, there’s a bit of saltiness to it.” Once we actually tried it, we realized it’s totally different from Belgian waffles. Taka-san loves sweet treats, so he’s all about the Belgian ones. But I actually really liked this one, too. The waffle itself wasn’t sweet, so it felt more like a meal to me. And the cheese wasn’t too strong at all. I’m glad I got to try it—totally satisfied! Time to open up our Miyakumyaku capsule toy! We got it! The 551 HORAI Miyakumyaku—so lucky! Now we’re heading back toward the Italy Pavilion. Hoping the Angola Pavilion is open today! This one’s the UK Pavilion. Is this long line for the café, maybe? The flowers here are so beautiful. It was still too early for our Italy Pavilion reservation, so we decided to visit the Singapore Pavilion first. The exterior is covered in scale-like panels—like dragon skin! Each panel has a unique texture when you look up close. While waiting in line, you can scan a QR code to access a game featuring Merli. Great way to pass the time. The flow was smooth—we got in after waiting only about 10 minutes. Inside, we were greeted by a paper forest—it felt magical. You can use your finger to draw your dreams as words or pictures on a round display. Then scoop up your drawing with your hands and toss it into the air. The spiral path continues on through the space. Above, the ceiling turns into a planetarium-like screen filled with animation. And there they are—everyone’s dreams appear on the screen! As we exited the exhibit, we stepped into the Dream Forest area. There was a souvenir shop and even a bar. Sadly, we didn’t get to meet Merli. We found a café at the bottom of the stairs. The Singapore Pavilion had excellent flow—no bottlenecks, and it was genuinely fun. Highly recommend! Now we’re off to the Italy Pavilion, which we booked earlier today. The inside looks just like the Colosseum! If you have a reservation, line up to the left side of the building. That sculpture totally reminded me of the Laputa robot from Studio Ghibli. Everyone seemed to be sniffing something here… Maybe it’s perfume? Inside the Colosseum-style area, various Italian products were on display. I saw the perfume from earlier and decided to try it, too. But once you enter the Colosseum, the pace moves quickly, so there wasn’t much time to explore slowly. Once inside, a huge screen played a movie. I had no idea the screen would open up like a door—totally missed filming that moment! With a beautiful transition, we were led into the exhibition area. Straight ahead—Farnese Atlas! A marble sculpture from the 2nd century.
It’s being shown in Japan for the first time. Someone nearby asked a staff member, “Is this the real one?” To be honest… I was wondering the same thing. Maybe it was just so pristine, it didn’t feel real at first. There were rows of ceramic hearts on display. They all looked similar, but each one had slight differences, I think. A portrait of Ito Mansho. One of the four “Tensho Embassy” boys who traveled to Europe during Nobunaga’s era. This sculpture—feels like it’s capturing the wind itself. The day before our visit, Pope Francis of the Roman Catholic Church passed away. Under Caravaggio’s The Burial of Christ,
people had laid many bouquets of flowers. That’s when congestion began inside the exhibit. Turned out the crowd was for Leonardo da Vinci’s sketch exhibit! The route was designed so everyone had to line up to view it. After that, we took an elevator up to the rooftop. There was a beautiful rooftop garden waiting for us. Even the garden featured art installations. We could see a long line of people waiting for the restaurant. The Italy Pavilion recently added a new piece—Michelangelo’s Resurrected Christ sculpture! The pavilion is packed with valuable artworks—it’s absolutely fascinating. But even inside, there are areas that get really congested, so be prepared. Also, the gift shop still wasn’t open yet, which was a bit of a letdown. Around 2:30 PM, the Uzbekistan Pavilion already had a long line. We’ve arrived at the Saudi Arabia Pavilion. The traditional white Saudi garments were so elegant. The line seemed to be moving quickly, so we decided to join it. Such an exotic and atmospheric garden. They even have a lemon tree! This is the Saudi Plaza. Looks like they have projection mapping shows here at night. Inside the building, you walk through seven themed exhibitions. 3D printing to restore coral reefs??? Ink with no harmful substances??? Maybe it’s about artificial coral reefs??? After the exhibition area, we entered a luxurious-looking gift shop. Didn’t realize Saudi Arabia had manga artists too! The café we wanted to try had a huge line, so we gave up. Since it was almost time to head home, we started walking toward the East Gate. The Luxembourg Pavilion around 3 PM. Fingers crossed the Nepal Pavilion opens! We exited the Grand Roof Ring. Now heading to the Osaka Healthcare Pavilion’s free access area. There were no lines, so we breezed right through. The right line was for the Reborn Experience route (requires reservation). This display was about a cardiac muscle sheet. Here’s the “future human washing machine” developed by Science Co., known for Mirable. They do live demonstrations five times a day. Then we explored the Future of Food and Culture area. At that time, there weren’t many people in line to buy food. The Miyakumyaku eye drops were super cute! And that wraps up our one-night, two-day trip to the Osaka-Kansai Expo. We visited 18 pavilions in total. And tried food at 6 places. That’s a lot, considering we were moving at a pretty fast pace. If you want to take your time, you’ll probably need to visit fewer pavilions. And the crowds are only going to get bigger from here. What struck me most about the Expo was… The way participating countries showcased their own cultures while also embracing Japanese culture—it really made me feel happy. Every country’s staff uniforms were so cute, too! The prices were a bit high, but the souvenirs, cafés, and restaurants were all charming and fun. I hope they’ll hold a big mascot character festival before the Expo ends! Finally, here’s a breakdown of what we spent: Day 1 for two people: about 27,000 yen Day 2: around 16,000 yen Total: 43,000 yen This doesn’t include transportation or hotel costs. Wishing all of you a wonderful time at the Expo, too! Thanks so much for watching!
大阪関西万博へ1泊2日で行ってきました！18パビリオン、グルメは6つを堪能してきました。抽選予約は全てはずれ、３日前予約をなんとか取り、当日予約がとれたのはイタリアパビリオンだけの状態でしたが、結構たくさん周れました。左上に現在地が表示される地図付きで、ルートもわかりやすく紹介しています🗺️✨
eMoverや現状のくら寿司の予約方法などミニ情報やパビリオンの展示に関する情報も紹介しています。
これから大阪万博に行く方の参考になれば嬉しいです🌈
—————-
大阪関西万博
1泊2日
—————-
【１日目】
00:00 – イントロ（東ゲート）
02:02 – フランス館
05:41 – フランス館パン屋
07:59 – 韓国館
09:16 – トルコDay演奏
09:57 – コモンズF館
10:34 – タイ館
12:32 – ドイツ館レストラン
16:08 – 飯田グループ×大阪公立大学共同出展館
17:21 – インドネシア館
21:26 – ガンダム像ミャクミャク像
22:18 – ベルギー館
24:06 – ベルギー館レストラン
26:23 – 大屋根リング
28:22 – 水空レストラン
31:23 – 水上ショーの位置の見え方
33:04 – いのちのあかし 森の集会所(自由入場エリア)
34:35 – いのち動的平衡館
36:05 – null2（インスタレーションモード）
38:18 – チェコ館
39:55 – 国際機関館
40:25 – 夜のパビリオン
41:43 – 帰りの電車が止まる
42:14 – ホテル就寝
【2日目】
43:12 – ２日目イントロ（東ゲート）
44:13 – eMoverに乗る
45:22 – くら寿司の予約について
46:22 – 未来の都市 参加型シアター入場付き
48:14 – 空飛ぶ車
48:51 – 風の広場マーケットプレイスCで食事
51:56 – 北欧館
53:42 – 北欧館レストラン
57:43 – シンガポール館
01:00:25 – イタリア館
01:03:48 – サウジアラビア館
01:06:03 – 大阪ヘルスケアパビリオン (自由入場エリア)
01:07:12 – 旅費総額とエンディング
——————-
📍夢洲駅
https://maps.app.goo.gl/rFBHGhS5yA7Cckr68
📍Tabist ユニホテル 御堂筋本町
https://maps.app.goo.gl/bM3KZDxx2g9TBFQL7
——————-
ご注意
2025年4月時点の情報です。
個人の感想です。
——————-
#大阪万博
#osakaEXPO