Nmya~chi! Tuna (@miyakojimalife_) (*’▽’)
Time sure flies—half of 2026 has already passed. I had been planning to write an article about the World Expo, but before I knew it, summer ended, fall passed, the Expo ended, winter passed, and the year flew by in the blink of an eye—and here we are…
Even though I’ve been thinking, “Maybe I’m done with this…,” I started this blog to document the joy of traveling with my family and preserve our memories, so I’ll keep writing—even if it’s a bit late (Fumizuki, 2026).
In this article, based on my actual experience visiting the Osaka-Kansai Expo,
- The hotel where I stayed
- Total actual expenses
- Pavilions I Visited
I’ll review it, complete with photos. (Better late than never.)
I hope this serves as a helpful reference for people considering moving to the island or those originally from Miyako who want to return home—for example, to answer questions like, “How much does a family trip from Miyakojima cost?”
I Actually Went to the Osaka-Kansai Expo
This Trip’s Itinerary
This time, I went to the Osaka-Kansai Expo for a 3-night, 4-day trip.
- Departure Point: Okinawa Miyako Airport
- Destination: Osaka Itami Airport
- Number of people: 5
- Dates: August (3 nights, 4 days)
- Number of days staying at the Expo: 2 days
We spent the entire day exploring, from morning until night, but the venue was much larger than I had imagined, and two days weren’t even enough to see everything.
My wife and kids were thrilled to be visiting Osaka for the first time, and they were excited and full of energy the whole time. Seeing them so happy made me smile.
My first impression upon arriving at the venue
When I actually arrived at the venue, the first thing I noticed was just how massive it was.
It felt far more expansive than what you see on TV or social media, and it had an atmosphere reminiscent of attending an international event.
What particularly impressed me was,
- Architectural Designs of the International Pavilions
- A sense of being in another world
- Nighttime Illumination
.
On the other hand,
- The distance traveled is quite long.
- Measures to beat the heat are essential
- The wait times at popular pavilions are quite long.
I’m glad I looked into that in advance.
A review of the place I stayed at this time
Basic Information About the Private Home Where I Stayed
This time, I stayed at a “private home in Nishi Ward, Osaka City.”
I made the reservation on Airbnb. This was my second time using Airbnb.
- Accommodation fee: 45,057 yen
- Nearest Station: Kujo Station (about a 10-minute walk)
- To the Expo venue: About 40 minutes (by train and bus)
It was conveniently located near the station and the shopping district, which was a big help for us traveling with children in the lower grades of elementary school.
Things I Liked About Staying There
Here are the three things I particularly enjoyed during my stay:
1. Easy to get to
It was about a 10-minute walk from the station, which was a distance even the kids could easily manage.
One thing I unexpectedly liked was that the walk to the station went through a covered shopping arcade. Just having the summer sun blocked made a big difference. I imagine it would have been even more helpful if it had been raining.
2. There are supermarkets and convenience stores nearby
The supermarket was about a minute’s walk away, and the convenience store was only about three minutes away, so it was easy to go shopping.
Since the area around the supermarket is a shopping district, we had breakfast and dinner at restaurants and bakeries there.
3. Very affordable prices
Hotel prices in Osaka skyrocketed during the Expo, but we managed to keep our costs down considerably compared to those rates.
Since it was a detached house, the spacious living area was a real plus for us as a family with children.
I’d like to use this again the next time I visit Osaka.
Total Travel Costs for the Osaka-Kansai Expo Revealed
How much did transportation cost?
The transportation costs for this trip are as follows.
| Contents | Amount |
|---|---|
| Airplane (family of 5) | 116,268 yen |
| Bus fare (Itami Airport – Namba Station) (Sakurajima Station – Expo Site) |
6,430 yen |
| Train fare (5 people × 2-day unlimited ride pass) | 8,500 yen |
Total: 131,198 yen
Hotel expenses, food expenses, souvenir expenses, and miscellaneous expenses
| Contents | Amount |
|---|---|
| Hotel costs | 45,057 yen |
| Food expenses | 40,000 yen |
| Cost of souvenirs | 27,197 yen |
| Miscellaneous Goods | 17,375 yen |
| Expo Tickets (5 people × 2 days) | 37,000 yen |
Total: 166,629 yen
What is the actual total amount?
The total cost of this trip to the Osaka-Kansai Expo was,
“297,827 yen”
That was it.
For a family of five taking a flight for a 3-night, 4-day trip, isn’t that pretty good?
However, since this is based on my credit card statements, there were actually quite a few places where I paid in cash, as well as transportation costs. In reality, I might have spent about 40,000 more…
- A once-in-a-lifetime event
- Experience the cultures of various countries
- See the technology of the future
Considering that, I was extremely satisfied.
A photo tour of the pavilions I actually visited
The Pavilion I Recommended Most
Personally, what left the strongest impression on me was “Italian Pavilion“That’s it.”
The exhibits inside were truly impressive, and it was there that I felt the “history and culture of other countries”—a hallmark of the World’s Fair—most strongly.
In particular,
- The Farnese Atlas Sculpture
- Caravaggio’s The Entombment of Christ
- Michelangelo’s Resurrection of Christ
- Da Vinci’s Handwritten Notes
The exhibition was wonderful. After all, these are works you can’t see unless you go to Italy.
Since we had reviewed the exhibits with the kids beforehand, everyone was staring intently at the real things.
On a separate note, I was surprised when my eldest daughter started talking fluently about things she surely hadn’t studied beforehand.
When I saw the sculpture of Atlas, it suddenly reminded me of a myth I read back in kindergarten.
I found myself wondering, “Who is this child… whose child is she…?”
Since she loved stars, she seemed to have memorized the contents of the picture book. It’s a memory from seven years ago, so there might be some inaccuracies, but even so, a child’s memory is amazing.
The Italian Pavilion, filled with exhibits on par with National Treasures, is truly spectacular.That’s it!
By the way, I waited in line for six hours… I got in line in the morning and didn’t get in until the evening… but it was totally worth it!
I focused entirely on the Italy Pavilion at the Expo, and I’m glad I got in line right after arriving.
List of Pavilions Visited
Since we didn’t win the lottery for either advance reservations or same-day reservations, our family decided to wait in line for as long as it took to get in.
Compared to the six hours at the Italy Pavilion, the rest was a breeze! ← My sense of time is all messed up.
By the way, the pavilion I visited was
- Italian Pavilion
- German Pavilion
- Polish Pavilion
- French Pavilion
- Austrian Pavilion
- Australia Pavilion
- Pasona Pavilion
That was it. I went to a few other places as well, but I don’t have any photos of them, and my memory is a bit fuzzy.
The German Pavilion’s flyer is cute.
I had no idea until I got there, but the circular brochure at the German Pavilion was so cute!
They glow in various colors, start singing for some reason—they’re just so adorable. Here’s our family’s full lineup of five “Circular” members.
In each area, there was a point where the tour guide began speaking, providing explanations about the facility.
She was delighted because it looked like Kirby, the character on the handheld fan her daughter had.
Even outside the German Pavilion, the Circular Mascot was hard at work. It must have been tough out there in 35 degrees…
The grand piano in the Austrian Pavilion
For piano lovers, the Bösendorfer at the Austria Pavilion was simply irresistible!
Although it is one of the world’s three major piano manufacturers, it was exhibiting a grand piano featuring Katsushika Hokusai’s ukiyo-e print “The Great Wave off Kanagawa.”
The price is 49.94 million yen! A limited-edition piano—only 16 in the world.
It was super cool!
By the way, the pavilion’s exterior was designed to resemble sheet music—it was absolutely amazing.
The iPS Heart at Pasona Hall
The Pasona Hall, which showcases cutting-edge technology, was also interesting.
The iPS heart was truly amazing. I can’t believe they can actually create something like this… It’s just incredible (my vocabulary is limited).
I was also deeply moved by the video exhibition featuring Astro Boy.
Videos were projected onto moving blocks, which was really interesting.
A Roundup of Instagram-Worthy Spots
There were quite a few photo-worthy spots at the Expo venue.
What I particularly recommended was,
- Ooyane Ring
- Nighttime Illumination
- Exteriors of the International Pavilions
.
The night view of the pavilion from the Ooyane Ring was absolutely stunning.
The skyscrapers of Osaka visible in the distance also gave it a sense of being in another world, which was nice.
Personally, I think the Grand Roof Ring was truly the face of the Expo. It looked stunning no matter what time of day it was.
A large, ring-shaped roof reminiscent of the Colosseum.
It was lovely at night, but it was also very picturesque during the day. It was nice to see the elderly couple getting along so well.
The pavilions and exhibits were incredibly stylish. The entire venue was immersed in art.
Summary | What Was the Osaka-Kansai Expo Really Like?
My impressions from actually visiting
In conclusion, I felt that the Osaka-Kansai Expo was a “once-in-a-lifetime event.”
Of course,
- Waiting time
- Costs
There were some challenging parts, too.
Even so,
- Cultures Around the World
- Future Technology
- A sense of escapism
Being able to experience that was one of the unique charms of the World Expo.
The best part was being able to spend this time with my family.
I was finally able to write the Expo article, and all those photos paid off… (It took over a year.)
Thanks for sticking with me until the end, Tandy-ga (´･ω･)(´_ _) Tandy♪
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