Expo 2025 Osaka: Five Reasons Why the Italy Pavilion Is So Popular—Paintings, Sculptures, Opera, and More
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At the “EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai Expo (2025 Japan International Exposition)” from April 13, 2025, there are “overseas pavilions“. The “Italy Pavilion” is now sometimes even called the “No. 1 most popular” pavilion.
The Italy Pavilion is well-liked because it has many interesting things for visitors to see. It allows people to experience Italian culture and climate without having to travel to Italy.
It wasn’t the main attraction at the beginning of the Expo, but it’s become very popular thanks to word-of-mouth on social media. Now, it’s a pavilion that gets a lot of attention.
As someone living in Osaka, I have summarized five reasons why the “Italy Pavilion” at “EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai Expo” is so popular.
If you’re thinking of going to the Osaka Expo, don’t miss it!
- Italy Pavilion: Hugely Popular Among Overseas Pavilions at the Osaka Expo
- Five Reasons Why the Italy Pavilion is Popular at the Osaka Expo
- Reason 1 for Its Popularity: Paintings
- Reason 2 for Its Popularity: Sculpture
- Reason 3 for Its Popularity: Opera
- Reason 4 for Its Popularity: Italian Garden “Italian Garden”
- Reason 5 for Its Popularity: Restaurant “Eataly”
- Is a Reservation Required for the Italy Pavilion at the Osaka Expo? Can You Enter Without a Reservation?
- If you’re going to the Osaka Expo, be sure to visit the Italy Pavilion!
Italy Pavilion: Hugely Popular Among Overseas Pavilions at the Osaka Expo
The “Italy Pavilion” is one of the most popular pavilions at “EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai Expo (2025 Japan International Exposition).” The theme of the Italy Pavilion is “Art Regenerates Life”.
The design was handled by the architecture firm “Mario Cucinella Architects”.
The architecture offers a modern take on the classic Italian building styles, like theaters, arcades, plazas, and Italian gardens. The “rooftop garden” is also beautiful, creating a visually enjoyable space.
Italy, a Catholic country, believes in biodiversity and individuality. The idea of “mutual recognition of diversity” is at its foundation.
Inside the wooden structure, which combines architecture, art, and nature, you can fully enjoy Italian culture and atmosphere. This earned it a reputation as a place where you can “get a taste of a foreign country on a mini-trip”.
Five Reasons Why the Italy Pavilion is Popular at the Osaka Expo
At EXPO 2025 Osaka, there are many “overseas pavilions“. The “Italy Pavilion” is the most popular one.
Many people are curious about why the Italy Pavilion is so popular and what makes it so attractive.
Here, I will talk about the five main reasons why the Italy Pavilion is so popular.
Reason 1 for Its Popularity: Paintings
(Source: EXPO 2025)
The Italy Pavilion is popular at the Osaka Expo for a number of reasons, but the main one is the “paintings“.
The Italy Pavilion is a global topic because visitors can see famous Italian paintings at the Osaka Expo site in Japan.
The main paintings you can view at the Italy Pavilion are as follows:
<Main Paintings Exhibited at the Italy Pavilion>
・Caravaggio “The Deposition of Christ”
・Four selected drawings from Leonardo da Vinci’s “Codex Atlanticus”
・Tintoretto “Ito Mancio” and others
It is a rare opportunity to see up close works like Caravaggio’s “The Deposition of Christ,” which is owned by the Vatican Museums. In the past, this work could only be seen by traveling to Italy.
There are also works that have never been publicly exhibited in Japan, making the pavilion especially popular among art enthusiasts. They say things like, “You have to see this!” and “The Italy Pavilion is so generous!”
Reason 2 for Its Popularity: Sculpture
(Source: EXPO 2025)
The second reason the Italy Pavilion is popular at the Osaka Expo is “sculpture”.
At the Italy Pavilion, you can see sculptures that are important to Italian culture. These are not just paintings.
<Main Sculptures Exhibited at the Italy Pavilion>
・Michelangelo “The Risen Christ”
・“Farnese Atlas,” a sculpture from the 2nd century AD
・Yago “Circulatory System”
・Liana Persico “pneumOS” and others
The “Farnese Atlas”, a marble sculpture from the 2nd century AD, is on display in Japan for the first time.
All the artworks on display are real, not copies. Visitors have been posting great reviews on social media. They say things like, “It’s truly precious,” and “The Italy Pavilion is a treasure trove of art”.
イタリア館🇮🇹は芸術の宝庫。アプリの予約のおかげで、待ち時間20分ほどで中に入れた☺️
写真は「ファルネーゼのアトラス」とミケランジェロの彫刻「キリストの復活」。本物の名作を間近で見られるのは圧巻！ #関西万博 pic.twitter.com/5yWpTMGpcL— ナナ (@oceanicnana) May 22, 2025
Reason 3 for Its Popularity: Opera
The third reason the Italy Pavilion is popular at the Osaka Expo is “opera“.
The Italy Pavilion has a “theater” where you can enjoy real opera performances.
There are also music and dance events, such as jazz and dance, every day. There is always something new to discover, no matter how many times you visit!
These events are usually held in the afternoon, during the “aperitivo” (pre-dinner drink) time, so many people plan their visit for this period.
The schedule for theater performances is regularly announced on the event calendar and venue guide on the official Osaka Expo website, so be sure to check it out.
イタリア館のオペラすげぇ！ pic.twitter.com/O7EGZ77vYX
— かわっち (@ITTOKU_55) May 19, 2025
Reason 4 for Its Popularity: Italian Garden “Italian Garden”
The fourth reason the Italy Pavilion is popular at the Osaka Expo is the “Italian-style rooftop garden”.
On the roof of the Italy Pavilion, there is a garden called the “Italian Garden” that looks like a traditional Italian garden.
The garden, with its sculptures, fountains, and greenery, is so beautiful that it catches the eye even from the top of the Grand Roof Ring.
It’s a place where you can “relax and take a breather,” even inside the Expo site. Many people who see the rooftop from the Grand Roof Ring become interested in the Italy Pavilion and think, “I want to go there”!
While it’s fun to experience cutting-edge technology, the “healing space” surrounded by nature where you can take a break is also one of the reasons for the Italy Pavilion’s popularity.
話題のイタリア館。展示も良かったが、個人的には屋上庭園が印象的だった。流れている音楽はクラシックな音素材と現代的な音素材が丁度よく調和している。庭園の雰囲気にも合っていて映画の中にいるような錯覚を覚える。おそらくこの万博の為に作られたのか、2025年の出来立てホヤホヤの曲。 pic.twitter.com/5tvq9uugXK
— 懸命なる投資家キョロちゃん (@a59322323) May 10, 2025
Reason 5 for Its Popularity: Restaurant “Eataly”
(Source: EXPO 2025)
The fifth main reason for the Italy Pavilion’s popularity at the Osaka Expo is the restaurant “Eataly”.
At the rooftop restaurant “Eataly”, you can enjoy Italian food and the beautiful scenery of the Italian Garden.
The food is delicious, and the wine is highly praised. People say things like “absolutely delicious” and “it’s amazing to dine while looking at the Grand Roof Ring”.
The restaurant is open from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and you can enter without a reservation.
If you go to the Osaka Expo, be sure to visit the Italy Pavilion!
#️⃣万博で食べたもの①
イタリア館のレストラン🇮🇹
カルボナーラがとっても美味❕❕
予約不要で並んですぐ入れた。
パターテ クロカッタンテっていう
地中海ソースにつけて食べる
じゃがいもも美味だった。#EXPO2025 #大阪・関西万博 pic.twitter.com/QhPG9PkVMc— ami (@amisnecosuki) April 26, 2025
Is a Reservation Required for the Italy Pavilion at the Osaka Expo? Can You Enter Without a Reservation?
(Source: L’ITALIA A EXPO 2025 OSAKA)
If you want to visit the Italy Pavilion at EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai (2025 Japan International Exposition), it’s a good idea to book your visit ahead of time.
You can enter the Italy Pavilion without a reservation, but it has become extremely popular due to positive reviews on social media. During peak times, you may have to wait in line for 2–3 hours.
Luckily, if you make a reservation through the Italy Pavilion app, you can choose your entry time as early as 15 minutes before your reservation time. This means you won’t have to wait to enter the pavilion.
This is a great benefit for those visiting with children who may have difficulty waiting in long lines, people who aren’t confident in their stamina, or anyone who wants to see the exhibits as smoothly as possible.
(Source: Google Play)
You can download the official Italy Pavilion app from the App Store (for iPhones) and Google Play Store (for Android phones).
If you’re interested, try making a reservation through the official app before your visit.
＞ Click here to download “Italy EXPO 2025 – Official App” from Google Play Store (for Android)
＞ Click here to download “Italy EXPO 2025 – Official App” from AppStore (for iPhone)
▼How to Use the Official Italy Pavilion App
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If you can’t make a reservation, it’s a good idea to try visiting on a weekday evening or on a rainy day. These times are known for having shorter wait times, even if you have to line up!
If you’re going to the Osaka Expo, be sure to visit the Italy Pavilion!
At EXPO 2025 Osaka, there are many pavilions, and the “Italy Pavilion” is getting a lot of attention.
The Osaka Expo is the only place where you can see famous Italian paintings and sculptures up close.
Don’t miss your chance to enjoy rare works of art, opera, Italian architecture, and food culture—experiences you rarely get to have.
If you have a season pass or summer pass, or if you plan to visit several times, it’s also recommended to spend a day just enjoying the Italy Pavilion!
