Osaka’s Issues and Anger Exposed at Expo Opening

The Anger of Accommodation Providers

Construction costs, maintenance fees, and operating expenses have significantly exceeded expectations, and as media scrutiny continues, the Osaka-Kansai Expo has opened, with more than 10 days already passing.

As of April 12, the Expo Association reported that ticket sales were far below the target of 14 million, remaining at just 9.7 million. Of these, over 6.4 million were purchased by companies and organizations, presenting a harsh reality.

Despite promoting a no-line Expo, long lines at entrance gates and pavilions were broadcast nationwide, leading to a series of happenings. According to a public opinion survey conducted by Mainichi Shimbun, 87% of respondents probably won’t go or won’t go, showing that interest hasn’t spread beyond the Kansai area and surrounding prefectures.

On the other hand, some industries have started to see tangible positive effects. One of the sectors benefiting the most from the Expo is the accommodation industry. Hotel prices in Osaka city have surged to 1.4 to 2 times the usual rates compared to regular times. Some hotels are even fully booked until May, with a noticeable price increase.

A hotel industry insider in the Osaka Minami area explains:

“Inbound tourists have flooded in, causing accommodation prices in major metropolitan areas to rise across the board, but Osaka has kept the increase relatively modest. This is because hotels had been expanding in anticipation of the Expo and increased inbound demand. The number of hotels was somewhat guaranteed, but as the Expo approached, bookings surged, leading to a shortage of rooms and rising prices. However, the price increase has stayed within reasonable limits.”

The hotels that had expanded were mostly high-end foreign chain hotels, but during the Expo, they raised their prices even further, making it difficult for average domestic travelers to afford. However, despite this, hotel staff are not exactly celebrating. A hotel employee in Osaka city laments:

“The Osaka Prefecture and city have repeatedly requested that we let them use our hotels for luggage storage because there’s no space available. We’re exhausted from handling this. It’s not just us, but other hotels are hearing the same thing. Our superiors are furious, saying, ‘Who do they think they are?’ Of course, not all hotels are willing to put Expo needs first”

Serious temperature difference

Voices of distress are coming from the passenger transport industry. The main access to the Expo site is via the Osaka Metro Chūō Line and shuttle buses. There is only one tunnel that connects the landfill site to the venue. Passengers tend to prioritize buses, which may be to the detriment of the taxi and hire car industries. An executive from a taxi company in Osaka expresses anger:

“To begin with, there are only 50 taxi spaces at the Expo venue. It is obvious that there will be more return trips than trips to the venue. As we anticipate an increase in usage as the weather warms up, will any improvements be made? Especially for overseas visitors, taxis are becoming harder to access around the Expo site.”

A hire car driver also shares his thoughts:

“We predicted a rise in corporate bookings for the Expo, but it was only a slight increase. There are bookings from companies in the Kansai region, but from other areas, to be honest, growth has been slow. I can feel the temperature difference between Osaka and other regions.”

However, an employee of a company exhibiting at the Expo has not lost hope:

“Negative reports have been prominent, so there was a lot of anxiety, but with the excitement in local Osaka, the initial momentum isn’t bad. I just hope this enthusiasm spreads beyond Osaka and grows nationwide.”

As the Expo Association claims, if small improvements are made continuously, increasing convenience and spreading the local excitement nationwide, it will be a success.