Expo '70 Commemorative Park: Tower of the Sun, Minpaku, and NIFREL

This route covers the site of the 1970 Osaka Expo and the adjacent EXPOCITY. Starting from the living museum NIFREL, you will explore the "Tree of Life" inside the Tower of the Sun, travel around the world through Minpaku's exhibits, and visit the exposition's Japanese Garden. The entire route is walkable from the monorail stations and can be enjoyed in a single day.

History and Regional Appeal

In 1970, Japan World Exposition, Osaka (Expo '70), the first world's fair held in Asia, took place in Senri, Osaka. Under the theme "Progress and Harmony for Mankind," more than 64.21 million people visited during the 183 days from March 15 to September 13.

When the expo concluded, most of the pavilions were demolished and removed, but the Tower of the Sun designed by Okamoto Taro was preserved, and the grounds were transformed into the approximately 258-hectare Expo '70 Commemorative Park. The forest spreading around the original expo facilities was newly created on artificial ground that had been left bare of vegetation. In 1977, the National Museum of Ethnology opened on these grounds. In 2015, the large commercial complex EXPOCITY opened south of the park, housing the newly established NIFREL within its premises.

Major Highlights

• ​NIFREL​​: A "living museum" produced for the first time by Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan. Combining features of an aquarium, zoo, and art museum, its concept is "touching sensibilities." Zones are divided not by region or climate, but by biological characteristics such as colors and shapes, presenting animals in spatial exhibits where living creatures harmonize with lighting, music, and imagery.
• ​Tower of the Sun​​: An approximately 70-meter-tall tower built as a theme pavilion in the symbol zone of Expo '70. It features four faces: the "Golden Face" at the top, the "Face of the Sun" on the front, the "Black Sun" on the back, and the "Sun of the Underworld" inside. Inside stands the steel-framed "Tree of Life," approximately 41 meters tall, depicting the evolution of life from protozoa to dinosaurs and human beings. In 2025, it was designated as a national Important Cultural Property.
• ​National Museum of Ethnology​​: A museum of cultural anthropology and ethnology affectionately known as "Minpaku." Dividing the world into nine regions, the exhibits proceed east from Oceania around the globe and finally arrive in Japan, showcasing everyday utensils, festival gear, ritual musical instruments, and masks from cultures around the world.
• ​Expo '70 Commemorative Park​​: Within the park, visitors will find the EXPO'70 Pavilion, converted from the expo's Steel Pavilion into a memorial museum, as well as the Japanese Garden exhibited by the Japanese government during the fair. The Japanese Garden divides an elongated east-west parcel into four sections, showcasing garden styles representative of the ancient, medieval, early modern, and modern eras.

Recommended Route and Duration

The entire course takes approximately 6 hours. The nearest station is Bampaku-kinen-koen Station on the Osaka Monorail. First, experience the unique traits of living creatures at NIFREL inside EXPOCITY. Having lunch at EXPOCITY is also recommended.

From NIFREL, walk about 380 meters north and enter Expo '70 Commemorative Park through the Central Gate; the Tower of the Sun will stand right before your eyes. Admission to the interior of the tower requires advance reservation by the day before, and reservations are required for infants as well. Viewing the Tree of Life takes about 30 minutes, ascending stairs through six floors.

From the tower, walk about 500 meters northwest through the paid Natural and Cultural Gardens area to reach Minpaku. Minpaku has scheduled closed days, so check the official information before visiting. After viewing Minpaku, walk about 300 meters east to the Japanese Garden. You can also combine this with a visit to the Japan Folk Crafts Museum, Osaka, located north of the Tower of the Sun. For your return, exit via the Japanese Garden Gate to the Osaka Monorail Koen-higashiguchi Station, or return to the Central Gate to depart from Bampaku-kinen-koen Station.

Summary of the Experience

From a museum highlighting the individuality of living creatures to the interior of the expo's iconic tower, and on to tools of daily life from around the globe and Japanese gardens through the eras. Spend a full day experiencing the diversity of life and human culture within the forest created on the grounds of the world exposition held over half a century ago.