Moving Millions: Transportation & Infrastructure at Expo 2025 Osaka

10/31/25

World Expositions aren’t just showcases of culture and technology; they are cities-in-miniature. For six months, they must move millions of people safely, sustainably, and seamlessly. At Expo 2025 Osaka, transportation and infrastructure are not just behind-the-scenes logistics. They are part of the visitor story.

Arriving at Yumeshima

This Expo is hosted on Yumeshima, a reclaimed island in Osaka Bay. With no parking for personal vehicles, Japan has transformed this site into a hub for high-capacity transit access:

• The Osaka Metro Chuo Line extension delivers visitors directly to the East gate.

• The West gate supports bus shuttles that gather visitors from nearby piers to accommodate people arriving from ferry routes and regional park-and-ride lots to accommodate motorists from other points in the region.

• Airport links from Kansai International ensure smooth connections for international guests.

  
  

The message is clear: Transit is the way to get to and from the Expo, with infrastructure built not just for six months, but for decades of urban growth.

Mobility Within the Expo

Once inside, transportation is carefully choreographed and provided at multiple levels:

• EV shuttles and hydrogen-powered buses provide clean and quiet movement across the site.

• The Grand Ring provides an elevated walkway around the site and shaded pathways beneath the structure make walking more comfortable in the summer heat.

• Wide pathways and plazas provide space to accommodate the movement of visitors to and from the site’s many attractions.

• Freight logistics are designed to minimize daytime disruption, keeping visitor pathways uncluttered.

The Expo site is constantly in motion. Unless they are taking a break on a bench or waiting to get into a pavilion, visitors are likely to move in rhythm with the rest of the crowd.

Accessibility for All

At Osaka, mobility is about more than efficiency, it’s about inclusion.

• Designed to the current standard, treatments like truncated domes and guide strips provide tactile information for visually impaired visitors.

• In general, the site is very flat, allowing for easy movement for visitors that are rolling or have limited mobility.

• For those interested in motorized mobility, devices are available for rent.

All are welcome at Expos, and the Osaka Expo site design is an example of how that can be accomplished.

Lessons for Expo 2031 USA

As Minnesota prepares for Expo 2031, Osaka offers a model worthy of consideration:

• Treat transportation as experience, not just movement.

• Make clean energy mobility visible and engaging.

• Use horticulture as infrastructure for shade, cooling, and orientation.

• Build legacy-first systems that remain valuable for the community after the Expo ends.

  
  

At Expo 2025, the way you move is part of the story you remember. For Expo 2031, transportation will not just get visitors from A to B, it will connect them to the future.

- Jim Gersema, Expo 2031 Design Delegation, SRF Consulting Group