Thursday, July 10, 2025 - Osaka World Expo

 We breakfasted in the hotel bakery; savory and sweet delicasies and sitting at the windowe watching people - a great start to the day PLUS I had already made a coffee latte in our room which saved me some yen. Hotel amenities are plantiful; from additional coffee and tea packages  to sunscreen and razors and even hard candy; this is a luxury.

The metro ride to the location of the Osaka Expo was about 45 minutes, with one transfer.  Kenji had it all figured out.  A long walk to the entrancein the hot, moist air was unpleasant; however we were greeted with smiles and I was grateful that we four didn't have to stand in a long line, for Kenji had already purchased our tickets online Pasadena; our entrance time was 11 am, and we arrived after that time.

Long lines were the story and disappointment for us.  We saw 30 plus minute waits in lines. so we looked for pavilions to visit with shorter wait times.  The national pavilions were located inside a circle constructed of wood and which was on three levels so that people could go to a higher level and look out below.  The circle itself was about two miles in length.  Under the circle of wood were benches where people could sit and rest. The cirle itself was an intricate construction and quite creative in its design. 

Kenji and I agrd there were too many people on the expo grounds in order to enjoy it.  We didn't obtain a map of the area until we left, and we had to pay for it! Each nation's pavilion had a unique design, and they were very creative. Staff and volunteers were outside each pavilion directing visitors. Lines were organized neatly, and yet, crowds overflowed the lines and made it difficult just to walk from one pavilion to another.  One building, called the Commons, contained exhits of nations which chose not to build a separate building.  My paviion exhibition preference was the United Arab Emirates. It felt open and inviting to walk around however one chose rather than in one line, as it was in the Turkey pavilion.

It rained late afternoon, and we took refuge in a large cafe and shared a mango-flavored shaved ice in a large bowl. Several  pavilions also closed temporatily. So, we had additional snacks:edamame, dumplings, and tempura, and noodles and meat in a tasty sauce.  We tried to visit a couple more pavilions and decided the crowds were just too thick and the waits too long. After the lengthy ride back to the hotel from the island where the expo was located we purchased some wine and popcorn and snacks. While enjoying them I was amazed at the number of non-national pavilions, too: the European Union, the UN, the International Red Cross, etc.  It was disappointing, yet happy that we and I had seensomething of the expo.  We wondered what the crowds would be lile on the weekend and at the beginning of school holidays, July 30.  The expo began in April and concludes in October. We mentioned that returning in Octobert the weather and crowds might be more manageable.


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