Osaka Expo ‘70 Park

The Expo '70 Commemorative Park (万博記念公園, Banpaku Kinenkōen) is a very large, public park in Osaka, located about 30 minutes north of the city center. The spacious grounds hosted the Japan World Exposition in 1970, the first of its kind in Asia, which exhibited over 75 pavilions to show off the wonders of the world's countries and cutting edge corporations. Today, the grounds have become a popular destination for enjoying nature, sports, museums and seasonal flowers.

After the completion of the World Expo, the grounds were converted into the Expo Commemorative Park and opened to the public. The grand pavilions made way for newly planted forests, gardens and wide lawns and plazas lined by flowering plants and trees. Around 5000 cherry trees, especially along the southeastern plazas, turn the park into one of Osaka's most popular cherry blossoms spots when they bloom, usually in early April.

A few of the Expo's original installations remain for visitors to enjoy today. These include the Tower of the Sun, a 70 meter high artwork that looks over the park's main entrance and serves as its most recognizable icon; the Dream Pond, where visitors can rent boats and paddle around sculptures erected in the water; and a large Japanese landscape garden. In addition, one former pavilion was preserved and converted into the Expo 70 Pavilion. It now serves as a memorial museum about the expo.

Some other museums are also found around the park including the National Museum of Ethnology, which has a huge exhibition of artifacts from all around the world, and the Japan Folk Crafts Museum with a permanent collection of ceramics, textiles, paintings and other arts and crafts. Both museums also host temporary, special exhibitions.

More recently, a large shopping and entertainment complex, called Expocity, was opened just outside the park's main gate. The mall itself is a 3-story indoor shopping center with over 300 stores, selling a variety of Japanese and international brands including fashion, cosmetics, household goods and sports equipment. There is also a food court and a restaurant zone.

The shopping mall is surrounded by several other attractions, including Japan's largest Ferris wheel, a cinema and the innovative Nifrel aquarium which features art-like displays and a design without barriers that lets animals and humans commingle.