Expo 2025 Osaka with Kids
Last Updated on April 21, 2025 by Kay
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If you’re a parent like me, you’re thinking of going to Expo 2025 in Osaka with your kids but may be wondering what the right pavilions to visit are. For those feeling overwhelmed with the prospect of having to do a ton of research, don’t worry, I’ve done it for you.
In this article, I’ll cover what you need to know about visiting Expo 2025 Osaka with children, kid-friendly pavilions, and what my family is planning on seeing.
Table of Contents
What is Expo 2025 Osaka?
Expo 2025 Osaka is an event that showcases pavilions from countries around the world, as well as innovations. This event is held in a different country every five years.
Last time (2020), it was held in Dubai, and in 2030 it will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
When Is Expo 2025 Osaka?
Expo 2025 Osaka runs from April 13th, 2025, to October 13th, 2025. The opening hours are from 9 AM to 10 PM.
How to Get to Expo 2025 Osaka?
Expo 2025 Osaka is located in Yumeshima, an island along Osaka Bay.
You can get to the Expo Site via the following:
- Catching an Osaka Metro train to Yumeshima Station
- Catching a JR train to Sakurajima Station and then taking a shuttle bus (note that you need to make a reservation for the shuttle)
- Taking a shuttle bus from the following stations
- Car (you will need to take a shuttle bus from the parking lot)
- Ferry
Kid-Friendly Pavilions at Expo 2025
The Osaka Expo grounds are massive, and some pavilions require reservations, which is why it’s important to plan which pavilions you want to visit in advance. It is possible to get into some pavilions without a reservation but this requires waiting, and some wait times can be more than two hours long.
So if you have kids, I highly recommend trying to make a reservation in advance for your desired pavilions.
The Osaka Expo grounds are broken up into different color-coded zones. When deciding which pavilions to make reservations for, make sure you don’t reserve two pavilions that are far apart too close together. Give yourself ample time to get from one to another if they’re spread apart or stick to one area, especially with kids, because they can be slow (and get hungry, need potty breaks, etc).
For instance, it’s probably not the best idea to book a pavilion in the East Gate Zone and right after have another to visit in the Future Life Zone.
I will explain more about the reservation system in the following section.
You should also note how long each pavilion experience takes. Most are around 35 to 40 minutes long but some, like Gundam, are 50 minutes or even longer!
It’s also important to know that most people, apart from those arriving by ferry, will enter the Osaka Expo grounds via the East Gate.
When it comes to child-friendly pavilions, I think all of them are worth visiting with kids.
However, some are more fun and interactive than others, so for the best pavilions to take your children to, look no further than these:
Playground of Life: Jellyfish Pavilion
Location: X03 (Forest of Tranquility Zone)
⭐️ You need a reservation
As suggested in the name, this pavilion consists of different parts, including a play mountain where both kids and adults can play to their heart’s content.
Panasonic Group Pavilion “The Land of NOMO”
Location: E06 (East Gate Zone)
⭐️ You need a reservation
This pavilion was made with children in mind, specifically Generation Alpha (my daughter’s generation!).
Kids get to explore the pavilion and interact with it using crystals. They are also able to visit a virtual world where images they’ve created using their imagination come to life! (It reminds me a bit of teamLab Borderless in Tokyo, which my daughter really enjoyed.)
Gas Pavilion Obake Wonderland
Location: W03 (West Gate Zone)
⭐️ You need a reservation
I feel like this is something my daughter would really enjoy because it involves cute obake (ghosts). Visitors wear goggles in order to see ghosts that are different shapes, colors and sizes. I watched a review on Japanese television about it and kids seemed to love it.
However, it’s important to know that the goggles seem to come in one size. This means that they don’t have goggles suitable for children under the age of seven. Children ages six and under will get a handheld device rather than goggles, so the experience might not be as immersive or fun.
Since my daughter is five years old and thus too young for the goggles, we won’t be making a reservation for this pavilion, unfortunately. I think she might feel bad seeing her parents wearing the goggles and getting a more immersive experience than her. But if there isn’t much of a wait time and we can enter without a reservation, we might consider going.
Osaka Healthcare Pavilion: Nest for Reborn
Location: E02 (East Gate Zone)
I think the concept of this pavilion is pretty cool because you’re able to see what the future might be like in the year 2050! This includes seeing what YOU might look like 25 years from now, too! Who knows how accurate it’ll be, but I think my family will get a kick out of looking at our future selves. I’m especially curious to see what my daughter might look like when she’s… 30?!
Gundam Next Future Pavilion
Location: W07 (West Gate Zone)
⭐️ You need a reservation
If your kids like Gundam or giant robots, they will probably enjoy the immersive videos and demos at the Gundam Pavilion. There’s a life-sized Gundam statue as well! The statue is outside the pavilion, so you can see it without a reservation.
A Spectacular Show of Water and Air
Location: P40 (Future Life Zone)
⭐️ You need a reservation
This is a daily light and water show that’s held at the Water Plaza after the sun sets. It looks quite grand so kids will be mesmerized. Note that there’s music so just be warned in case it might be too loud for your little ones.
I also recommend taking your kids to your country’s pavilion! I’m hoping I can take my daughter to the Canada pavilion where she’ll be able to take a look at Canada’s nature in winter. However, some pavilions, including Canada, require a reservation.
You can find a list of pavilions representing countries around the world here.
⭐️ Kay’s Tip: Make sure you and your kids keep your eyes out for Pokemon statues throughout the Osaka Expo venue!
How to Reserve Tickets and Lottery System Guide
Tickets can be purchased from the official Expo 2025 Osaka website. The cost ranges from 3700 yen to 6700 yen for adults and 1000 yen to 4200 yen for children. Kids ages three and under are free.
Depending on the pavilion, you will need a reservation to get in, and some require that you apply in advance for a lottery that’ll determine whether or not you need a ticket.
The lotteries range from three days in advance all the way to two months!
When it comes to pavilions that require a reservation via lottery, you can apply for up to five, but you can only win three at most.
You will need to choose a time slot for each pavilion when you apply to the lottery, so make sure you give yourself ample time to get from one pavilion to another. We gave ourselves about an hour between each.
Keep in mind that the order you apply for each pavilion is your preference order as well. This means that the first pavilion you apply for is your number one choice, and the second is your second choice. So it might not be the best idea to apply for pavilions close to each other one after another if they’re not all your top choices.
We only managed to snag one reservation for a pavilion via the lottery, and it was our 5th (last) choice! This was for a weekday.
My friend who went to the Osaka Expo on the weekend didn’t win a single lottery for her desired pavilions, so I recommend trying to go on a weekday if possible.
You will also have two other chances to snag a reservation, starting from three days before your visit and then on the day. Note that you can only reserve one pavilion each time.
Some pavilions do not require reservations, thankfully, so you can come and go as you please. However, depending on the popularity of the pavilion, you may need to wait.
If your plans change, you’re able to change the date of your Expo ticket up to three times. However, you’ll need to reapply for pavilions that require reservations. I also recommend trying to avoid going to Osaka Expo when it rains because the pavilions get full very quickly and some even leak! (Hopefully they’ll fix that soon.)
Kid-Friendly Activities In Osaka
As a mom living in Osaka for several years with a young daughter, trust me when I say I know the best spots to take kids, from babies up to school-age children.
Of course, if you’re going to the Expo, you will want to visit Universal Studios Japan (USJ) as well since it’s located nearby. My daughter and I have annual passes for USJ, which is why I highly recommend reading my detailed article filled with tips and helpful information about everything you need to know before you go to USJ with kids.
I also suggest reading the following articles about everything you can do in Osaka with kids:
Everything I’ve written about in these articles has been tried and tested by me and my daughter.
Where to Stay Near Expo 2025 Osaka with Kids
For kid-friendly accommodation closest to Expo 2025, I recommend staying at the following hotels:
🚃 15 minutes from Yumeshima Station
🤱 Provides rental cribs (depending on the room type)
👧 Provides children’s amenities (slippers, pajamas, toothbrush, bed guard)
🚃 18 minutes from Yumeshima Station
🤱 Provides rental cribs (limited number so ask in advance)
👧 Provides children’s amenities
Staying somewhere near Universal Studios Japan (I have listed family-friendly hotels here) is another option, although it may be expensive due to being close to the theme park.
It’s also easy to get to the Expo from Osaka Station via a shuttle bus, which I why I suggest these hotels as well:
All of these hotels provide amenities for kids, such as toothbrushes and pajamas.
For information on other areas to stay in Osaka with kids, read this article.
FAQ
Is there a place to eat at Expo 2025 Osaka?
Yes, there are various food carts, cafes, convenience stores, and restaurants.
Can I bring luggage to Expo 2025 Osaka?
No, you cannot. Please leave large suitcases and other luggage at your hotel or a station locker.
Are strollers allowed at Expo 2025 Osaka?
Yes, strollers are allowed! You can rent strollers as well.
Are there nursing rooms?
Yes, there are nursing rooms and places to change diapers at Osaka Expo.