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Expo ’70 Commemorative Park

  • Things to do
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Time Out says

The Osaka World Expo in 1970 was the first world’s fair to be held in Asia and it turned out to be a great success. The event took place in the hills of Senri outside of the city of Osaka and featured 77 countries and regions, with more than 64 million people visiting during its six-month run. Today, the Expo site is preserved as Expo ’70 Commemorative Park, where you can explore the legacy and history of the event as well as visit museums such as the Japan Folk Crafts Museum and the National Museum of Ethnology.

One of the highlights is the Tower of the Sun, an installation by the avant-garde artist Taro Okamoto. About 70m tall, it was built as part of the theme pavilion for the 1970 Expo and was open to visitors during the event, after which it was closed for renovations. However, it reopened in 2018 and you can now enter the tower on tours (priority for those with advance reservations; ¥720, ¥310 for children of elementary and junior high school age, in addition to the park entrance fee of ¥260/¥80). Inside, you can see the 41m-tall ‘Tree of Life’ installation, which was designed by Okamoto and tells the story of evolution.

The park also encompasses an expansive Japanese garden and the Rose Garden for Peace.

Details

Address
Senri Banpaku Koen, Suita
Osaka
Transport:
Banpaku Kinen Koen Station (Osaka Monorail Main, Saito lines); Koen-Higashiguchi Station (Osaka Monorail Saito line)
Opening hours:
9.30am-5pm / closed Wed (Thu if Wed is a holiday)

What’s on

Expo Garage Sale

Expo ’70 Commemorative Park is home to two of Osaka’s most popular and best-attended flea markets, one in its Festival Square and one in its East Square. The Expo Garage Sale is noted for the wide range of goods its vendors sell. Expect handmade items, accessories, antiques, bric-a-brac, and plenty of second-hand and vintage clothes.  Most importantly, expect bargains. The organisers pride themselves on the market being a true-to-its-name ‘out of the garage’ sale. That means you’ll need to bring cash, and that bargaining – albeit politely – is encouraged. If you prioritise low prices over being particular about the products, know that in the afternoon, the crowding calms down and many of the amateur vendors lower their prices.  The market also attracts food trucks, and the park has several cafés and restaurants so there are plenty of options for a picnic in the park. The Expo Garage Sale takes place up to three times a month but on irregular dates and is subject to weather conditions, so make sure to check the website for an up-to-date schedule.
  • Markets and fairs

Outdoor Park

Love the outdoors, or know someone who does? Make a beeline for Outdoor Park, an annual event at Expo ’70 Park that combines al fresco activities with a stacked gear market. Held on the weekend of May 30 and 31, this year’s festival features a bouldering booth, a forest adventure course, bungee-trampoline rides, slacklining and a children’s trampoline area. With a full crew of retailers exhibiting gear for camping, fishing, rock climbing and hiking, expect everything from fishing rods and windbreaker jackets to hammocks and camper vans in the market area. Visit for the love of the outdoors, but stay for the festival food, as it includes gourmet fare like barbecued pulled pork, ‘California Spice Chicken’, delicious burgers, and sweets like churros, strawberry smoothies and soft serve. Enjoy these with live music and performances, which run throughout the day. Tickets cost ¥800 (free for children of elementary school age and younger). Note that a separate admission fee applies for Expo Commemorative Park: ¥450 for everyone of high school age or older (younger children get into the park for free).
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