After the Expo Ends, Organizers Throw All-Night Festival Event

The All-Night Expo was a huge hit

On October 13, 2025, the Osaka-Kansai Expo, which had been overflowing with various attractions and events, officially closed. Over the course of its 184-day run, approximately 25 million visitors from Japan and abroad came to the Expo grounds.

Around 8 p.m. on the closing day, visitors who watched the final fireworks and drone show left the site with smiles and tears, reluctant to say goodbye, forming long lines toward Yumesu Station on the subway and the bus and taxi terminals. Meanwhile, at pavilions such as Thailand, Spain, and the Czech Republic, DJs and music events were held, and general visitors stopped to enjoy the festivities until the very end.

By 10 p.m., when the site was officially closed, security repeatedly instructed any remaining visitors to leave. Amid this, staff and related personnel began moving toward various pavilions. After the Expo closed, an “All-Night Expo” was held for all personnel who had supported the event, including pavilion staff, Expo Association officials, security guards, and cleaning staff.

The All-Night Expo had been quietly planned several days before the closing. Popular pavilions like Italy and the Czech Republic set up DJ booths in front of their buildings, served alcohol, and transformed into a full-on club-like festival.

The area in front of the Italy Pavilion, in particular, was packed with people, and the drink booths were completely overcrowded. Bartenders repeatedly announced for people to step back to manage the crowd.

Just before midnight, police officers from the Expo security team, plainclothes officers, and Expo Association staff gathered in front of the Italy Pavilion. As some personnel began worrying that the crowd might be dispersed for being too rowdy, an Expo Association representative stepped onto the DJ booth and made an announcement:

“Thank you all for your hard work. Sorry to interrupt your fun. It appears that some people here may not be authorized personnel. The police will now check whether everyone has a staff ID. If you don’t, please be aware that the Expo has officially closed and you should head home.”

After the police conducted ID checks and confirmed that everyone present was authorized personnel, the excitement at the venue surged even further.

The officers resumed their patrols and left the area, but shortly after, an ambulance arrived beside the Italy Pavilion. It was dispatched for a suspected case of acute alcohol poisoning. One staff member, who had been lying under the large roof ring, was placed on a stretcher and taken into the ambulance. Another ambulance arrived soon after, as additional cases required the emergency team’s attention.

The Final Night of the Expo Showed a Range of Emotions

After 9 p.m., the vending machines throughout the Expo, including those in staff-only buildings, were either sold out or out of service. While alcohol was still available, many staff members could not buy water or other drinks, leaving those sensitive to alcohol struggling. In front of the Italy Pavilion, the ground was sticky in many places, likely from spilled drinks, and paper cups and other items were carelessly left on top of fire alarms.

Moving away from the Italy Pavilion, crowds were also gathering in front of the Brazil Pavilion. A DJ event was being held inside, and the crowd outside formed a line to enter.

Nearby, at the signature pavilion “Jellyfish Pavilion,” numerous staff members had gathered and were enjoying themselves. At the Czech Pavilion, free beer was being served, and the open space in front became a stage where people sang passionately and danced together, creating a lively atmosphere.

Elsewhere, under the large roof ring and on benches throughout the site, people were seen napping while waiting for the first subway trains, chatting in groups about the Expo, dancing with foreign pavilion staff, and even confessing love. Many staff members clearly enjoyed the Expo’s final night to the fullest.

At the same time, some pavilion staff quietly continued dismantling exhibits, showing that the last night of the Expo displayed a wide range of emotions and activities.

One staff member, speaking while sharing drinks, said:

“I worked every day except holidays for the past six months. It was truly a mix of laughter and tears. What surprised me most was that I wore out multiple pairs of socks from all the walking! I’ve never had such an experience before—both my body and mind were working at full capacity. I made friends regardless of nationality, gender, or age, and being able to work in such an environment—aside from the heat—was an amazing experience. It’s hard to think that this place will no longer exist.”

These days, both general visitors and Expo staff are feeling a sense of Expo loss. In particular, in the Kansai region, the Expo’s influence can still be seen in many places.