※以下の記事を海外向けに翻訳したものです。
First time visiting the expo but don't know which pavilions can be reserved?
Which pavilion reservations are most difficult to get?
Bought tickets but don't know which pavilions to reserve...
For those people, I've compiled the reservation difficulty levels for pavilions based on my multiple visits to Osaka Expo. (The situation changes daily, so I'll update as I learn more.)
What You'll Learn from This Guide
- Reservation difficulty levels ★1~★5 for all reservable pavilions
- Reference waiting times when visiting without reservations
- Latest reservation methods like the Gundam system and on-site information
The reservation difficulty levels are based on my actual experiences, so please use them as reference only.
Pavilion Reservation Difficulty ★5
| # |
Pavilion |
Difficulty ★ |
Wait Time (No Reservation) |
Notes |
| 1 |
EXPO SAUNA TAIYO NO TSUBOMI |
★5 |
Reservation only |
Swimwear required, very limited slots |
| 2 |
Osaka Healthcare Pavilion(XD Hall)Monster Hunter Bridge |
★5 |
Reservation only |
Gundam System: Same-day slots released at 9:00, 12:30, 16:30 |
| 3 |
Osaka Healthcare Pavilion（Main Building）Reborn Experience |
★5 |
Reservation only |
Gundam System: Same-day slots released at 9:00, 12:30, 16:30 |
| 4 |
Italy Pavilion (~15:00/15:00~) |
★5 |
3-6 hours |
Can wait 6 hours without reservation. No advance booking after June? |
| 5 |
GUNDAM NEXT FUTURE PAVILION |
★5 |
Reservation only |
Gundam System: Same-day slots released at 12:00, 13:00, 17:00, 19:00 |
| 6 |
GAS PAVILION OBAKE WONDERLAND / XR Goggles |
★5 |
Reservation only |
Complete reservation system |
| 7 |
SUMITOMO Pavilion |
★5 |
2-3 hours |
Popular - afternoon queues may be cut off |
| 8 |
Signature Pavilion OCHIAI Yoichi 'null²' |
★5 |
Reservation only |
Gundam System: Same-day slots released at 9:00, 12:00, 14:00, 17:00 |
| 9 |
Panasonic Pavilion 'The Land of NOMO' |
★5 |
Reservation only |
Complete reservation system |
The extremely popular Italy Pavilion can require 6-hour waits without reservations. I recommend visiting with either advance reservations or same-day reservations.
[May 26, 2025 Update] Official reservations are only available until 5/31, so reservations likely won't be possible from June onwards. When I tried to make a 7-day advance lottery reservation for June 7th, the Italy Pavilion was nowhere to be found. From June onwards, lining up early in the morning may be the only option. Conversely, with no reservation slots, wait times for walk-ins might actually decrease!
High-difficulty pavilions including:
- XD HALL "Monster Hunter Bridge"
- Osaka Healthcare Main Building Reborn Experience
- GUNDAM NEXT FUTURE PAVILION
- Signature Yoichi Ochiai "null²"
use the "Gundam System" with different same-day reservation release times. More high-difficulty pavilions will likely adopt the Gundam system going forward!
Pavilion Reservation Difficulty ★4
| # |
Pavilion |
Difficulty ★ |
Wait Time (No Reservation) |
Notes |
| 10 |
"Under the Midnight Rainbow" Presented by DAIKIN SUNTORY (Viewing Seats) |
★4 |
Main area reservation only |
Reserved seats by lottery. Some arrive 1 hour early for positioning |
| 11 |
Signature Pavilion ISHIGURO Hiroshi "FUTURE OF LIFE" |
★4 |
Reservation only |
Gundam System: Same-day slots at 12:15-25 |
| 12 |
Japan Pavilion (3-area tour) |
★4 |
Reservation only |
Gundam System: Same-day slots at 9:00, 11:30, 13:30 |
| 13 |
Electric Power Pavilion |
★4 |
Reservation only |
Gundam System: Same-day slots at 12:05-15 |
| 14 |
PASONA NATUREVERSE |
★4 |
Around 2 hours |
iPS heart is must-see |
| 15 |
Netherlands Pavilion Common Ground |
★4 |
Reservation only |
Only pavilion visitors can access Miffy goods and cafe |
| 16 |
MITSUBISHI PAVILION JOURNEY TO LIFE |
★4 |
Reservation only |
Movie theater style with curved display for immersion |
| 17 |
NTT Pavilion |
★4 |
Reservation only |
World's first performance by Perfume using IOWN |
| 18 |
TECH WORLD Pavilion |
★4 |
Around 1 hour |
Taiwan private pavilion |
| 19 |
Signature Pavilion MIYATA Hiroaki"Better Co-Being" |
★4 |
Reservation only |
Resonance experience in forest |
| 20 |
State of Kuwait Pavilion |
★4 |
1-2 hours |
Final planetarium is must-see |
| 21 |
Canada Pavilion |
★4 |
1-2 hours |
Slow-moving lines, better to reserve |
| 22 |
POLAND PAVILION (Exhibition) |
★4 |
1-2 hours |
Create your own digital flower |
| 23 |
Serbia Pavilion |
★4 |
1-2 hours |
Can enter by waiting without reservation |
| 24 |
KOREA PAVILION |
★4 |
1-2 hours |
Can enter by waiting without reservation |
| 25 |
POLAND PAVILION: CHOPIN CONCERT |
★4 |
Reservation only |
3 times daily, fills up immediately |
| 26 |
Advanced Air Mobility Station |
★4 |
Around 1 hour |
Complete reservation, small capacity |
| 27 |
'Future City'with admission to a participatory theater |
★4 |
Reservation only |
Theater is popular |
| 28 |
Signature Pavilion KAWAMORI Shoji"Live Earth Journey" Deep Vision |
★4 |
Reservation only |
MR/13+ years old |
| 29 |
Signature Pavilion KAWAMORI Shoji"Live Earth Journey" ANIMA! |
★4 |
Reservation only |
Floor vibration musical |
| 30 |
Signature Pavilion KOYAMA Kundo "EARTH MART" |
★4 |
Reservation only |
Experience future food and life cycles |
Ao and the Rainbow Parade is becoming increasingly popular through TV and social media. I had front-row seats on expo opening day! If you arrive right at reservation time, you'll have to stand, so arriving 30 minutes to 1 hour early gets you better seats.
[May 26, 2025 Update] Japan Pavilion has also adopted the Gundam system, adding 11:30 and 13:30 slots to the original 9:00 slot.
Pavilion Reservation Difficulty ★3
| # |
Pavilion |
Difficulty ★ |
Wait Time (No Reservation) |
Notes |
| 31 |
DYNAMIC EQUILIBRIUM OF LIFE Produced by FUKUOKA Shin-Ichi |
★3 |
Reservation only |
Journey of life evolution with 320,000 lights |
| 32 |
KANSAI PAVILION (Exhibition) |
★3 |
Reservation only |
Might not see everything in one visit |
| 33 |
Women's Pavilion in collaboration with Cartier |
★3 |
Reservation only |
Weekday afternoons allow queue entry |
| 34 |
Thailand Pavilion (General Admission) |
★3 |
30 minutes-1 hour |
Same-day slots often available |
| 35 |
Australia Pavilion - Chasing the Sun |
★3 |
30 minutes-1 hour |
Cafe recommended |
| 36 |
'Future City' Participatory Theater No admission |
★3 |
Reservation only |
Experience exhibitions only |
| 37 |
Signature Pavilion NAKAJIMA Sachiko 'Playground of Life: Jellyfish Pavilion' |
★3 |
Underground: reservation only; Ground: no reservation needed |
Very popular with children |
Difficulty ★3 pavilions are relatively easy to get 3-day advance reservations or same-day reservations. For first-time users of advance or same-day reservations, targeting these pavilions initially might be wise.
Pavilion Reservation Difficulty ★2
| # |
Pavilion |
Difficulty ★ |
Wait Time (No Reservation) |
Notes |
| 38 |
Signature Pavilion KAWASE Naomi 'Dialogue Theater - sign of life -' |
★2 |
Reservation only |
Same-day slots often available |
| 39 |
BLUE OCEAN DOME |
★2 |
Reservation system, but can enter if space available |
Same-day slots often available |
| 40 |
YOSHIMOTO Pavilion waraii myraii |
★2 |
Sometimes no wait to enter |
Same-day slots often available |
| 41 |
Joint Pavilion Iida Group × Osaka Metropolitan Univ. |
★2 |
Reservation only |
Hidden cafe only accessible to pavilion visitors |
Difficulty ★2 pavilions are also relatively easy for 3-day advance or same-day reservations. Even when same-day reservations are completely unavailable, refreshing the reservation screen often shows cancellation openings, so checking regularly can yield easy reservations.
I especially recommend "Iida Group × Osaka Public University Hall" - there's a hidden cafe only accessible to pavilion visitors with delicious cakes and drinks!
Pavilion Reservation Difficulty ★1
| # |
Pavilion/Event |
Difficulty ★ |
Wait Time (No Reservation) |
Notes |
| 42 |
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement Pavilion |
★1 |
Sometimes no wait to enter |
Almost no wait in evenings |
| 43 |
UN Pavilion |
★1 |
Reservation system, but can enter if space available |
Almost no wait in evenings |
| 44 |
United Arab Emirates (UAE) |
★1 |
No wait to enter, no reservation needed |
Almost no wait |
Difficulty ★1 pavilions basically don't require reservations. I recommend using precious reservation slots for difficulty ★2 and above.
UAE is recommended - the bamboo fragrance when entering was wonderful, with many local staff making it feel like being overseas.
Conclusion
This summary of reservation difficulty and wait times reflects the ever-changing expo situation, so I'll continue updating regularly.
While this focused on pavilions requiring reservations, many overseas pavilions including the USA, India, France, and China can be entered by waiting in line without reservations!
Combine reservations and walk-ins strategically to create wonderful expo memories ✨
