Planning a trip to Japan in 2025? You’ll want to add these five must-see events and destinations to your itinerary!

[Osaka] Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan

Part of a grand tradition of world’s fairs and international expos, the 2025 Osaka World Expo will be held on Yumeshima Island in Osaka, with the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.” The event is looking to highlight innovations in health, sustainable development, and technology, but there are sure to be plenty of small surprises and novelties as well. More than 150 countries and regions will be participating, showcasing cutting-edge technology side by side with cultural traditions, creating a unique space where visitors can experience cutting-edge prototypes, explore the cities of tomorrow, and immerse themselves in a blend of tradition and innovation.

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World expos are enormous events, and the Osaka Expo aspires to be a stepping stone for humanity to work together toward a brighter future. Plan a trip to the Kansai region throughout the spring, summer, and early autumn with a visit to the Expo to see what exciting ideas are being dreamed up in 2025!

Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan
1 Yumeshimanaka, Konohana Ward, Osaka
Dates: April 13, 2025 ~ October 13, 2025
Official Website (en)

[Osaka] Universal Studios Japan’s Donkey Kong Expansion

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Unveiled in the last weeks of 2024, the brand-new Donkey Kong area within Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan is big news for theme park lovers and Nintendo fans alike!

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The new area has recreated a lush, green jungle in the middle of the park, inspired by the vibrant world of Donkey Kong and all his friends. The highlight of the area is a thrilling roller coaster where you can careen across the park in a mine cart from the Golden Temple, but fans can also enjoy a variety of Donkey Kong-themed food options and exclusive merchandise. Now that the Nintendo Museum is open to visitors in nearby Kyoto and the Universal Studios Super Nintendo World area is bigger than ever, a trip to the Kansai region should be part of the travel plan for any Nintendo lover visiting Japan.

Super Nintendo World, Universal Studios Japan
2-1-33 Sakurajima, Konohana Ward, Osaka
Official Website (en)

[Kagawa] Setouchi Triennale 2025 (Setouchi International Art Festival)

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The Setouchi Triennale is a modern art event held on the islands of the Seto Inland Sea, spread across the region from popular travel destinations like Naoshima to many lesser-known islands. First launched in 2010, this roughly 100-day celebration of contemporary art spans three seasons (spring, summer, and autumn), with the heart of the festival moving from region to region as the months pass.

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This international art festival is not only a chance to admire striking works from contemporary Japanese and international artists, but it also presents a unique opportunity for visitors to enjoy the landscape and culture of the Setouchi area. Guided by art, travelers can explore the islands to experience Setouchi’s natural beauty, history, and culture, while meeting the artists, local residents, and volunteers who make it all happen. The Setouchi Triennale is set to attract a million visitors from Japan and abroad, making it one of the nation’s most notable art events, and the 2025 festival (the first one post-pandemic) promises more to enjoy than ever!

Setouchi Triennale 2025
17 islands and coastal areas on the Seto Inland Sea
Dates:
Spring: April 18 ~ May 25, 2025
Summer: August 1 ~ August 31, 2025
Autumn: October 3 ~ November 9, 2025
Official Website (en) | Official Instagram

[Tokyo] TeamLab Planets (Toyosu Expansion)

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Tokyo’s TeamLab Planets digital art museum in Toyosu was originally a temporary installation, but after years of a series of long-term extentions and almost as many new additions, the museum has cemented its place in the Tokyo sightseeing scene. With the new major expansion that opened January 22nd, 2025, it’s safe to say that TeamLab Planets will be one of Tokyo’s must-see destinations for years to come.

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This new renovation and expansion has increased the facility to 1 1/2 times its former size, introducing a variety of new areas including the Athletics Forest focused on physical interactivity, the creativity-minded Future Park, and the Catching and Collecting Forest – like entering the world of Pokemon through a digital safari. In the past, TeamLab Planets had a reputation for being slightly more angled towards adults than its other Tokyo counterpart, TeamLab Borderless. With these new additions, Planets is making a clear step towards welcoming visitors of all ages, encouraging family visits. On the other hand, the new “Tea and Sake in Spontaneous Order” cafe might be an effort to appease adult visitors, offering drinks in an atmospherically dim space filled with plants, mirrors, and moody lighting.

TeamLab Planets
6-1-16 Toyosu, Koto City, Tokyo
Official Website (en)

[Okinawa] Junglia Okinawa

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Junglia is Japan’s newest theme park, nestled in the stunning scenery of northern Okinawa’s warm, green woodlands. Set against the backdrop of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Yanbaru, this new park is looking to offer visitors an escape from city life, relying on Okinawa’s natural beauty to provide a luxurious getaway, and plenty of jungle adventures. The park will feature over a dozen different attractions highlighting Okinawa’s unique island jungle environment, soaring above the treetops in a hot air balloon or zipline to take in the breathtaking views, or even embarking on a wild dinosaur safari to meet prehistoric creatures, or soar above the jungle in a hot air balloon or zipline. Guests who stay at the on-site hotel can also enjoy the “Spa Junglia” onsen facilities, and stargazing amidst Yanbaru’s lush forests after dark. The park is due to open at the end of July 2025, so many details are yet to be revealed, but travelers planning a trip to Okinawa this year have a lot to look forward to.

Junglia Okinawa
654-32 Gogayama, Nakijin, Kunigami District, Okinawa
Official Website (en)

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^{Original Article in Chinese by Shan Tseng
English Edition by Sophia Appelbaum}