Once Japan’s centre for rice trading, and briefly the Imperial Capital, Osaka is a cosmopolitan, electronic and gastronomic hub of Japan. Located at the mouth of Osaka Bay, it is known as “The Nation’s Kitchen.” Locals have an insatiable appetite for everything delicious, from fresh morning markets to decadent culinary nightlife. There is always something new, fun and typically tasty happening in Osaka.
Looking ahead to 2025, Osaka is already putting together an incredible schedule of can’t-miss experiences, sure to delight both locals and visitors interested in Japanese culinary traditions, pop-culture and art. If you’re adding Osaka to your travel itinerary in 2025, this edition of the JNTO newsletter features a few of the headline attractions you’ll want to make time for.
Sights, Sounds, and Pounds (of Chanko) Await in Osaka
Osaka Expo 2025 is shaping up to be the most exciting Expo ever. The theme is “Designing Future Society for Our Lives” and includes sub-themes of lifestyle, including diet and exercise, and extending the human lifespan. Over 165 countries are participating in the Expo, which will be held from April 13, 2025 to October 13, 2025, on an artificial island in Osaka Bay called Yumeshima, with beautiful scenic views of the Seto Inland Sea. The Expo will be sustainable and cashless and will feature virtual, digital and green elements for an incredible confluence of design showcasing Japan as a beacon for enriching and improving our quality of life around the world.
Universal Studios Japan is launching two new amazing anime-inspired experiences from the globally popular and captivating series One Piece and Jujutsu Kaisen. These Fan-Fest Nights are set to begin April 25, 2025, and will join events based on Star Trek, Back to the Future, Dungeons & Dragons and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Hanshin Contents Link Corporation is offering a new limited-time program called, “Sumo Practice Experience with Chanko Hot Pot,” at The Sumo Hall Hirakuza Osaka, in which a 90-minute program, conducted entirely in English, leads participants through sumo demonstrations by former professional sumo wrestlers, followed by a hands-on practice session and a savoury Chanko Hot Pot (the soothing soulful soup enjoyed almost daily by sumo wrestlers).
Off-the-wall fun like the Osaka Go Karting Tour with Funny Costume awaits you. Choose your costume, buckle up and tour the town in your own go-kart! Osaka teamLab Botanical Gardens, an outdoor night museum simulating immersive ecosystems, dazzles admirers as it seeks to change how humans perceive artwork and the environment.
Onwards from Osaka
As if the compelling reasons to visit Osaka listed above weren’t enough, the city is also the best base from which to venture out and explore the Chūgoku Region in the west of Honshu. Trains arrive and depart throughout the day to whisk you away to Hiroshima, Okayama, Shimane, Tottori and Yamaguchi Prefectures.
Discover immaculate gardens, matcha culture, and the magic of Kagura theatre in Shimane. Surf the Tottori sand dunes and explore the natural wonders of the San’in Geopark and National Park. Relax in Yamaguchi’s unique natural landscapes and the calm of the Seto Inland Sea. Explore World Heritage Sites and bike through scenic townscapes and castle towns in Hiroshima.
Immersive yourself in Okayama’s scenic samurai towns, traditional craftwork classes from earthenware to Japanese sword-making, or hand-picking the juiciest, sweetest premium fruit for which Japan is renowned, from luscious pearly-white peaches to gigantic bunches of muscat grapes and fairy tale-perfect strawberries.
Say “Hi!” to Kansai
Only a short Shinkansen ride from Tokyo, there’s no better time to experience Osaka, the Kansai region and everything beyond, than in 2025. You can learn more about Japan and start planning your trip to Osaka at https://www.japan.travel/en/ca/.
