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Japan Part 3: Osaka Sightseeing and the World Expo

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As the final part of my weekly Japan travel series before flying home, I'll take you to Osaka and the World Expo! The first half of this features the Umeda Sky Building, Osaka Castle, and the famous Dotonbori, while the second half features the World Expo in Yumeshima Island.

Umeda Sky Building



Opened in March 1993, it is one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks. It features two towers with an observation deck located on top of it. An engineering innovation on this was that the sky deck was raised from the ground to the top by a series of hydraulic elevators. After visitors are taken up by elevator, guests then go through a portal-like escalator to the observatory deck, standing 170 meters above the ground.

Osaka Castle



Originally built from 1583 to 1597 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the castle witnessed multiple conflicts and wars. After it fell in 1868, it was eventually restored in the early 20th century and now serves as one of the city’s most important landmarks. Although you can freely roam the immediate vicinity of it, a ticket is required to access the main tower (as well as the observation deck on the eighth floor), which I did in 2023.

Dotonbori



Of course, a visit to Osaka would never be complete without a visit to Dotonbori. One of the most popular shopping districts, you’ll see the famous Glico Man billboard, one of the city’s most popular symbols, as well as try boat cruises along the river for only 1,500 yen. It is also the go-to for those looking for restaurants in the city, which is dubbed as “Japan’s kitchen”.

My Ichiran ramen dinner meal at Dotonbori!

Speaking of food, one of my favorite Japanese restaurants is Ichiran, where you get to have a dining experience like no other. It is just you and your food. Having a sense of privacy makes Ichiran one of the most unique dining experiences that you should try.

A visit to the World Expo

The main highlight of my school's study tour to Japan was that we got to experience the World Expo in person. Such a fair involves the participation of many countries, showcasing their cultural and innovational exhibits in one location. World fairs are held once every five years; the last one was held in Dubai in 2021-22 (originally 2020), and the next will be in Riyadh in 2030.


Held at Yumeshima Island, off the mainland, the world’s fair opened on April 13, 2025. This was the first time I got to experience a fair of an unprecedented scale. Ticket prices can be found here, and must be purchased digitally.

There's a five-minute daytime fountain show that takes place in this particular area every hour.

The Grand Ring, designed by Sou Fujimoto, is the centerpiece of the expo, and is recognized by the Guinness World Records as the largest wooden architectural structure.

TRAVELER's NOTES:

  • Have your credit cards, transit cards, and e-wallets ready with you, since everything inside the expo venue is CASHLESS.
  • Some pavilions require reservation in advance; while most do not. For pavilions requiring reservation, you can register in advance or onsite; it is best to do it in advance so that you'll not run out of slots.
  • Due to the popularity of some pavilions, expect long lines up to 1-2 hours at most.

Pavilion #1: Philippines



Designed by Carlo Calma, the pavilion's facade resembles a weaved artwork.


Inside the pavilion, visitors are treated to a projection mapping show before the main exhibit, which comprises of 18 hand-woven art pieces representing each of the Philippines’ 18 regions. Interestingly, visitors can “Dance with Nature” in front of an interactive screen.


At their shop, you can buy Filipino products like the pamaypay or anything else Pinoy!

Watch my YouTube short video about it here:

Pavilion #2: Cambodia


After walking along the Grand Ring, I visited my next pavilion: Cambodia. I opted to visit pavilions with less people lining up at the time because I was feeling tired, but anyway.



Cambodia is a country in Southeast Asia known for its famous tourist attractions like Angkor Wat and many other temples. Its capital is Phnom Penh. Its official religion, Buddhism, has been a major source of cultural inspiration of Cambodian culture. It is also known as the "Kingdom of Wonder".


Pavilion #3: Singapore


The last pavilion I got to visit is that of Singapore. Known as “The Dream Sphere”, as evidenced by the spherical red design of its exterior, visitors are treated to a series of art exhibits and designs showcasing Singapore’s innovations.




Soon after, visitors can write their dreams at this interactive station named “Create your dreams”. Soon after going up the ramp, an audio-visual show wraps up the experience.




We were scheduled to return to the expo venue the following day, but we called it off due to inclement weather in the interest of our personal safety. Nevertheless, we spent the last night of our Japan trip in Dotonbori.

Final thoughts

With its exhilarating innovations, vibrant and diverse culture, and an extraordinary sense of safety, cleanliness and politeness, Japan places itself as one of the world's best countries for tourists. I am grateful for the opportunity to join my teachers, schoolfriends, and classmates in this memorable trip.

The next blog of this multi-part series is about my flight back home. See it here.

For more updates, visit my blog site and subscribe to my YouTube channel, Enzo's Travel Journals!

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