Tips for Enjoying the Osaka Expo Without Reservations

I visited the Osaka Expo recently. I booked my ticket a week in advance for entry through the West Gate at 9:00 AM. Here’s what I managed to reserve beforehand: - Miraculously secured one ticket for the Sumitomo Pavilion. - Two tickets for the Australia Pavilion, booked without much thought as they were the only ones available. ◾️ One Week Before Reservation I managed to get one ticket for the Sumitomo Pavilion. Although I applied for two tickets, I only got one because the changes I made later didn’t apply to the second ticket. ⚠️ If you need to make changes, ensure you update both tickets simultaneously or make identical changes afterward. If you select a ticket and modify it, only one ticket will be updated. → My first-choice time slot for the Sumitomo Pavilion was 11:05 AM, which I luckily secured. I also applied for other time slots around this period but didn’t get any. It’s tough, but it’s worth applying as tickets are almost impossible to get on the day of the event. ◾️ Three Days Before Reservation This is on a first-come, first-served basis starting at midnight. However, the system gets crowded closer to the start time, making it hard to access. Log in at least an hour earlier and keep interacting with the system to avoid getting disconnected. Popular pavilions fill up instantly. Prepare a list of pavilions you want to apply for and click without hesitation if you see availability. Even less popular pavilions will have a wait time of about 30 minutes on the day, so having a reservation makes a big difference. ◾️ West Gate Bus Reservation The bus costs 350 yen one way. Morning slots, especially around 8 AM, are highly competitive, so book immediately after securing your ticket. If you can’t get a reservation, check frequently as availability may open up last minute. I managed to secure an 8:20 AM bus ticket while on the train on the day of the event. I boarded the bus before 9 AM and entered the venue around 9:30 AM. Despite having minimal pre-booked tickets and a delayed start, I focused on entering pavilions even if the wait times were long. I visited France, the USA, Canada, Australia, Qatar, Belgium, Spain, and the Sumitomo Pavilion without overexerting myself. I also queued for food at Belgium’s food truck and Spain’s restaurant, waiting over 30 minutes at each. Reflecting on the experience, the USA and France pavilions consistently had long wait times and likely operated until evening, so it might be better to visit them later in the day. I wanted to visit Jordan and Austria, but by the afternoon, they had already imposed entry restrictions and closed. Smaller pavilions require extra attention; it’s better to visit them in the morning when crowds are lighter. Interestingly, Italy had longer queues than the USA on this day, possibly the longest overall. For international pavilions, you can usually enter if you’re willing to wait. For pre-booking, I recommend focusing on Japan-related pavilions.