Nestled in Osaka’s northern suburbs lies a rare escape from the hustle and bustle of a metropolitan area with a population of over 18 million.

On weekends, in particular, locals and tourists alike stroll through gardens, laze about on grassy hills and generally just leave the city behind.

While the world might remember the 1970 Osaka Expo for its introduction of early cellphones, the display of moon rocks collected by NASA’s Apollo astronauts or the eerie Tower of the Sun by Taro Okamoto, for residents of Kansai, the expo’s legacy is the sprawling 260-hectare Expo Commemorative Park.

As the 2025 Osaka Expo closes its doors after a six-month run that — despite myriad issues ranging from an overnight subway suspension to marathon queues and stifling summer heat — was nonetheless a resounding success in terms of attendance and finances, attention is now turning to the future and one key question: How will this expo be remembered?

Given the diminishing excitement for World Expos compared with their heyday and concrete plans to turn some of the site into Japan’s first casino resort, whether the 2025 edition’s legacy can match that of its predecessor is far from clear.

Still, organizers are hopeful that the technological advancements that were on display and the expo-related infrastructure that will remain — including 200 meters of the iconic Grand Ring — will leave a mark in the public consciousness and that the expo, the first to be held after the COVID-19 pandemic, will be remembered fondly.

Osaka Expo Secretary-General Hiroyuki Ishige speaks during an interview last week. | JIJI

“Especially for the local community, successfully completing such a major event is a tremendous source of confidence and pride,” Osaka Expo Secretary-General Hiroyuki Ishige said during a news conference last week.

“I believe this achievement could have a significant impact not only on future economic activities but on various other endeavors as well.”

Highs and lows

When the expo closes its gates for good on Monday night, it will be cause for celebration — and perhaps a big sigh of relief — on the part of organizers that the 184-day mega-event went off without major incident.