OSAKA EXPO VISITORS SURGE PAST BREAKEVEN; 28.2M EXPECTED BY CLOSE
Late momentum lifts attendance
The Osaka-Kansai Expo said attendance has surpassed its breakeven point, with daily visitors topping 200,000 for 17 straight days this month. Organizers now expect about 28.2 million total visits before the fair ends on Oct. 13. After a slow start, social media buzz and weekend programming drew families and tourists, boosting pavilion wait times and retail sales at the Yumeshima site. Transport agencies added trains and buses to ease congestion.
What it means for tourism
The strong finish supports Kansai’s visitor targets ahead of autumn holidays and 2025’s year-end travel window. Hoteliers and retailers in Osaka report higher occupancy and spending near the bay area. Urban planners will analyze crowd-flow lessons for future events, including Expo-legacy park usage. Analysts say the late surge may help justify public investments tied to the Expo and improve Japan’s broader tourism narrative into 2026.
