Osaka 2025: tips for cultural outings beyond the World Expo

After 55 years, the Japanese city of Osaka will again host the World Expo, the world's largest exhibition, which will run until October 13, 2025. The host city is charming and relaxed, better known for its cuisine, entertainment, and nightlife. Just a short distance from Tokyo by bullet train, it also offers a wide variety of stores spread across streets, galleries, and shopping centers, as well as modern attractions and a historical heritage, with Osaka Castle being the highlight. Held every five years, Expo 2025 will be the last before 2030, the year set by the United Nations as the deadline for its member countries to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The adopted theme, Designing Future Society for our Lives, aligns with the role of a key platform for achieving the SDGs. A JNTO - Japan National Tourism Organization indicates three tours in Japan that connect with the exhibition's subthemes: Saving Lives; Empowering Lives; and Connecting Lives. Check it out!

Funaya, the village of "boat houses"

The funaya, or "boat houses", in the small town of Ine in Kyoto Prefecture form a village of traditional fishermen with a unique building structure. Overlooking the ocean, the houses seem to float on the sea. Visitors immerse themselves in the serene atmosphere of everyday life in Ine by taking walks, boat taxi rides, and electric bike tours. As the town is primarily residential, there are fewer restaurants and other facilities. Nonetheless, it is an excellent area to savor fresh and unique fish and seafood from the fishing village. Local agencies offer talks for tourists to deepen their understanding of life in Ine, encouraging longer stays and interactions with locals. This provides more authentic and enriching experiences with Japanese culture, including contemplation of the people's bond with the sea and coastal lifestyle. The experience in the funaya represents the subtheme Saving Lives, as local culture and economy are preserved through sustainable tourism.

Kabuki Hall: all of Japan's cuisine in one place

Located in Tokyo, Kabuki Hall is a sophisticated, ultra-sensory food court with a festival atmosphere on the second floor of the entertainment complex Tokyu Kabukicho Tower. This tower houses 10 restaurants serving "soul food" (typical dishes) from all over Japan in a festive atmosphere, surrounded by cultural events and traditional art performances, as well as state-of-the-art lighting and sound equipment. Every Sunday, the Tokyu Kabukicho Tower hosts festival groups and art exhibitions, and once a month it serves as a stage for karaoke competitions. Some restaurants are open 24 hours.

Kabuki Hall is included in the subtheme Empowering Lives, as it contributes to the maintenance of traditional and diverse Japanese cuisine. The food court mainly serves residents, which provides a precious opportunity for tourists to enjoy genuine cuisine while interacting with local patrons in a spontaneous and natural way.

Local connection: in the rhythm of Awa Odori

A few hours from Osaka, traveling by bus or train, you can connect with one of Japan's most exciting traditions: dance festivals with their charming costumes and choreography. Awa Odori is a traditional dance from the city of Tokushima, also the name of the festival that attracts about a million tourists every August. Throughout the year, the Awa Odori Kaikan (Hall) offers daily performances by various groups, fostering visitor integration with dance lessons and demonstrations of traditional instruments, aided by English translation. This experience, by its interactive nature, places Awa Odori under the subtheme Connecting Lives of Expo 2025. In addition to a museum about the art of Awa Odori and a souvenir shop, the Awa Odori Kaikan features a stunning attraction. A cable car departs from the fifth floor of the building, heading to the top of Mount Bizan, the symbol of Tokushima City, where an unmissable panoramic view can be enjoyed.