Expo Guide for Fans of Overseas Travel and Unique Goods

Not all areas of the Expo require long waits 🎶⁡
It seems many people assume everything involves long queues due to news reports.⁡
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This time, I’m sharing an Expo report tailored for people who:
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- Love overseas travel
- Enjoy browsing and buying unique goods and handicrafts
- Are more into arts and humanities than science
- Dislike waiting in lines
- Have limited physical stamina
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Note: My visit was on a day with an average attendance of 100,000 people, including weekends and weekdays up to May.⁡
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First off:
★ Expect things not to go as planned⁡
★ Treat waiting areas as opportunities to rest—enjoy the scenery, chat, or use your smartphone.⁡
★ Embrace the sense of escapism—it feels like traveling around the world for free.⁡
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For food, aim for dishes from countries not commonly found in Japan! While meals and goods are pricey, think of it as a unique experience you’d only get by visiting those countries 🎶⁡
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Arriving at the venue past 11 AM, here’s the order I explored:
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Lunch was initially planned at the Swiss Pavilion, but I couldn’t access the restaurant directly due to entry restrictions, so I had to change plans.⁡
Instead, I tried the takeout Lechona (rice with shredded pork) at the Colombia Pavilion, which was ranked as the #1 “world food to try” last year. It was... okay 😅 Maybe it’s different from the authentic version.⁡
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- Czech Pavilion △ About 20 minutes wait. Beautiful glass sculptures.⁡
- Fountain show by the pond (caught by chance) △⁡
- Romania Pavilion △ 30 minutes wait.⁡
Features video and live music. Intricate egg crafts were stunning.⁡
- Big Roof Ring ⦿ Climbed to the area with ocean views.⁡
- Netherlands Pavilion (reservation only) △ 25 minutes wait. Beautiful but brief. Many unclear sections.⁡
Takeout options:
Dutch meat-filled rice ball ○⁡
Cup soft serve topped with crushed stroopwafel ◎⁡
(Not sure if you can access the shop from the exit side.)⁡
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Compared to the Dubai Expo, where countries seemed to have larger budgets, I didn’t find anything as impressive in three major pavilions here.⁡
Ultimately, I felt the big pavilions weren’t worth the wait, so I shifted to exploring smaller, less crowded country exhibits.⁡
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- Commons D (a hall with booths from multiple countries, sometimes selling items) ◎⁡
Walking more is required, but you can spend time at your own pace on areas of interest.⁡
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- European Union Pavilion ○⁡
- Baltic Pavilion (Latvia & Lithuania) △⁡
- Algeria Pavilion △⁡
- Cambodia Pavilion ○ Lovely jasmine fragrance.⁡
- Tunisia Pavilion ◎ Features a ground-level café space and goods for sale.⁡
- Nordic Pavilion ✕ (Exhibits weren’t great, but you can touch reindeer fur near the shop. For those who haven’t visited Nordic countries, the rooftop restaurant has a foreign bar-like vibe ⦿. However, wine by the glass costs as much as a bottle, so opt for beer and food instead.)⁡
- Light and Fountain Show ⦿ While impressive, I had seen the larger-scale Dubai version, so I’d rate it ○. Starts at 7:30 PM (also at 8:30 PM, lasting 15 minutes).⁡
I watched it from the Nordic Pavilion rooftop through gaps in the walls, which allowed for a relaxed view 🎶⁡
People watching from ground level seemed packed into five layers, which looked tiring.⁡
- Drone Show ○ Starts at 9:00 PM. I viewed it from the Big Roof Ring, but any spot with visibility works.⁡
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By 8:45 PM, entry to pavilions, takeout areas, and the upper tier of the Big Roof Ring (outer side) closes.⁡
At 9:00 PM, the souvenir marketplace also shuts down.⁡
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While Expo news often highlights futuristic technology, it’s actually a great experience for fans of art museums and unique goods 🥰⁡
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Note: As of May 25, visitor numbers have increased, and even Commons D may have entry restrictions at times 😫⁡
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Likes make me super happy ♥⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡
Save this post if you want to visit or revisit it❣⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡