The site of the 1970 World Exposition, now a large park featuring gardens, museums, the Tower of the Sun sculpture by Taro Okamoto, and seasonal flower displays. The National Museum of Ethnology is located here.
Expo '70 Commemorative Park occupies the former grounds of the 1970 World Exposition in Suita City, Osaka Prefecture, a landmark event that drew over 64 million visitors and marked Japan's arrival as a major postwar economic power. The park's central and most recognizable feature is the Tower of the Sun, a roughly 70-meter sculpture by artist Taro Okamoto with faces on its front and back representing the past and present, originally built as the exposition's symbolic centerpiece and now the park's defining landmark, with its interior occasionally open to visitors for an additional fee. Beyond the tower, the park spreads across extensive gardens, including a Japanese garden and a large rose garden that blooms in April to May and again in October to November, along with several museums, most notably the National Museum of Ethnology, situated within the park grounds. A visit covering the tower, gardens, and a walk through the park takes three to four hours; adding a stop at the ethnology museum extends a visit to most of a day. Spring cherry blossom season and the autumn rose bloom are the most popular times, while weekday visits outside those peaks are noticeably quieter. The park is closed on Wednesdays.
Good to know
- Hours
- 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM (closed Wednesdays)
- Best time
- spring (cherry blossoms) or autumn
- Best for
- culture seekers, families, photography
Location
Senri Expo Park, Suita-shi, Osaka 565-0826
34.8040, 135.5286 View on map
Highlights
- Tower of the Sun, Taro Okamoto's roughly 70-meter Expo '70 landmark sculpture
- Extensive gardens including a Japanese garden and rose garden
- Rose garden blooming in April-May and October-November
- Home to the National Museum of Ethnology within the park grounds
- Cherry blossoms throughout the park in spring
Tips for visiting
- Tower of the Sun is the iconic symbol of Expo '70
- Rose garden blooms April-May and October-November
When to visit
Spring cherry blossoms and the April-May and October-November rose blooms draw the largest crowds; weekday visits outside those peaks are quieter, and the park is closed on Wednesdays.
Accessibility
The park's main paths are paved and largely flat, making the gardens and tower exterior accessible to wheelchairs and strollers, though the tower's interior exhibit involves stairs.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a visit to Expo '70 Commemorative Park take?
Walking the tower and gardens takes about three to four hours, extending to most of a day if combined with the National Museum of Ethnology.
Is Expo '70 Commemorative Park worth it for kids?
Yes, the open lawns, gardens, and the striking Tower of the Sun sculpture generally make for an engaging family outing.
Is photography allowed at Expo '70 Commemorative Park?
Photography is allowed throughout the outdoor park grounds, including of the Tower of the Sun exterior; photography rules inside the tower's interior exhibit vary.