Beautiful Nights at Expo 2025: Why Visitors Stay After Sunset

The sun had blazed down on Osaka all day, and as it sank beyond the horizon, only a faint crimson lingered in the sky. About 20 minutes after sunset, the pavilions at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, began to glow against the deepening dusk. Transformed from their daytime appearance, the grounds invited visitors to explore and enjoy their nighttime charm.

The Grand Ring After Dark

At the heart of the site, the Expo's iconic Grand Ring looked even more striking after dark. The roof ring is recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest wooden structure in the world. As the surroundings faded into shadow, its endless lattice of beams stood out in sharp relief.

Expo 2025's 'Grand Ring' Gets Guinness World Record for Largest Wooden Structure

*A nighttime view of the Belgium Pavilion (left) and the spheres of the Singapore Pavilion.*

When the Water Plaza's fountain show ended, the calm surface of the water mirrored the Grand Ring, creating an enchanting scene. A gentle sea breeze made the atmosphere even more mesmerizing.

*The large roof ring is reflected in the waters of the Water Plaza.*

Sunset Beer Terrace

Near the East Gate, the Osaka Healthcare Pavilion's outdoor dining area, Reborn Terrace, glowed with paper lanterns. Its Future Food zone keeps some stalls open until 9:30 PM, extending the evening experience.

On the opposite side of the venue, Sunset Beer Terrace opened in late July near the West Gate. There, visitors can enjoy a meal in the open air while watching the sun sink below the horizon.

*MYAKU-MYAKU lanterns illuminate the Reborn Terrace at night.*

A Visitor's Nighttime Routine

For one Tokyo-based IT worker, the nighttime atmosphere was an unexpected delight. On her first visit during a business trip in late June, she enjoyed it so much that she purchased a summer pass. Now, since her work takes her to Osaka almost every week, she heads straight to the Expo grounds after finishing her day.

*The sphere of the Netherlands Pavilion seems to float as it lights up.*

"You can catch the sunset right away. As you walk around, it gets cooler — it's really nice. Plus, there are fewer people at night, so you can enter pavilions without waiting in line." She has never made a reservation, yet her stamp book already holds 47 pavilion stamps.

The Iida Group × Osaka Metropolitan University pavilion, covered in specially processed Nishijin brocade fabric, shifts colors under the lights | Visitors pose with the illuminated MYAKU-MYAKU statue.

Previously, night tickets allowed entry only after 5 PM. Under the current Twilight Campaign, however, visitors can enter from 4 PM. "We want people to enjoy the appeal of the Expo in the cooler evenings and at night," said an official from the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition.

(Read the article in Japanese.)

Author: The Sankei Shimbun