Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai sneak peek: guide to the best ‘signature pavilions’ at the World’s Fair

Produced by pioneering roboticist Hiroshi Ishiguro, the Future of Life pavilion explores the evolution of AI, medical advancements and environmental technology, presenting a narrative that stretches from 50 to 1,000 years into the future.

Inside, you’ll encounter cutting-edge robots inspired by Deme, a vintage robot that made waves at Expo 1970 Osaka, as well as lifelike androids that are spookily similar to humans. The exhibition invites guests to imagine the vast potential of humanity shaped by technological progress.

The Earth Mart pavilion immediately catches the eye with its distinctive thatched roof. Helmed by screenwriter Kundo Koyama, this installation centres on food. Designed to resemble a supermarket, the exhibition invites visitors to reflect on how much ‘life’ they consume in their everyday choices through a series of thought-provoking, interactive installations.

Film director Naomi Kawase’s contribution to the Expo invites visitors to transcend boundaries through dialogue and broaden their perspectives by way of impactful conversations. The ‘theatre room’ in the pavilion serves as a venue for dialogue between strangers on topics that change daily. By encouraging conversation, the exhibition aims to uncover the roots of fear and division and help us to take steps toward mutual understanding. The pavilion is constructed from repurposed materials from disused school buildings in Nara and Kyoto, evoking the innocence and openness of childhood.

For a refreshing change of pace, visit the Better Co-Being pavilion, produced by data scientist Hiroaki Miyata. Nestled within the serene Forest of Tranquility, the open-air installation offers a calming retreat surrounded by nature. It features a diverse collection of artworks built around the idea that the richness of life and society emerges not from individuals alone, but through co-creation.

Designed by the acclaimed architecture firm SANAA – known especially for the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa – the pavilion has no roof or walls. Instead, the structure and artworks blend seamlessly with the natural surroundings, offering a new vision of ‘co-being’ in harmony with the environment.

Media artist Yoichi Ochiai’s striking installation features a mirrored exterior that vibrates and warps, distorting the senses. Inside, kaleidoscopic visuals generated by AI are projected onto reflective surfaces, immersing visitors in a surreal environment that transcends everyday identity and reality.

By registering in advance with a dedicated app, visitors can have their avatars appear within the pavilion, allowing for interaction between their physical and digital selves. This mirror-like experience invites guests to reflect on their own existence – both in the real and the virtual world.

Other signature pavilions include ‘Dynamic Equilibrium of Life’, where biologist Shinichi Fukuoka reexamines the question ‘What is life?’ through the lens of dynamic equilibrium theory; ‘Life Earth Journey’ by animation director Shoji Kawamori, whose installation celebrates biodiversity through immersive animated exhibits; and ‘Playground of Life: Jellyfish Pavilion’ by jazz pianist and mathematician Sachiko Nakajima.