For the First Time in 48 Years, the Inside of the Tower of the Sun is Open! Osaka Expo '70 Commemorative Park
Japan's World's Fair (the Osaka Expo) was held in 1970 as the first event of its kind in Asia. In one part of the Theme Pavilion stands the 70-meter-high Tower of the Sun, designed by artist Taro Okamoto.
After undergoing extensive renovations, the interior of this tower, which had been closed following the Expo, is open to the public for the first time in 48 years!
This article will introduce the highlights of this tower and its surrounding areas.
The first features to note are the Tower of the Sun's 3 external faces. The shining golden face at the top, representing the future, is the Golden Mask. The Face of the Sun, expressing the present, is on the front of the tower. On the back side is the Black Sun, which stands for the past.
Until now, only the outside of this tower could be appreciated.
However, after undergoing renovations and earthquake resistance construction, the interior of the tower was completely opened to the public on March 19, 2018!
Must-See Spots in the Tower of the Sun (1): The Underground Sun
Besides the 3 faces in the exterior of the Tower of the Sun, there was a 4th sun face in the Underground Exhibition Room in the Theme Pavilion. However, no one knew what happened to it after Expo '70 ended.
In conjunction with the opening of the tower's interior, this face has been reconstructed as The Underground Sun!
With a radius of 3 meters and a total length of about 11 meters (including its corona), you can feel the full impact of this giant Sun!
Images of the Expo '70 Underground Exhibition Room are displayed on projection mapping in this room.
Must-See Spots in the Tower of the Sun (2): The Tree of Life
From the Prologue Space at the Underground Sun, proceed further inside and the 41-meter-high Tree of Life will appear. This tree is an expression of respect for life and the throbbing power that gives birth to it.
Various models of living things are displayed on the branches and trunk of this tree.
At the base are protists such as amoebas and sea lilies, and further up the tree are fish and reptiles. At the top of the tree, models of mammals such as macaques and Cro-Magnon humans are displayed to represent the progress of life's development.
If you climb the stairs, you can look at them up-close.
This work of art is so creative! It's hard to imagine it was made 48 years ago.
※Advance reservations are necessary to enter the Tower of the Sun. For enquiries, please go here
Check Out the Flowers of Summer!
In the extensive grounds of the Expo '70 Commemorative Park, the flower-viewing spots are very popular. No matter what time of year it is, you can appreciate flowers in season.
In the approaching season of summer, from July through August, those are Lotus and Sunflowers.
＜The Japanese Garden's Lotus Pond＞
The lotus is a lovely, magical flower that blooms not on soil but in the water.
Having a lifespan of 4 days, lotus flowers open their petals with the sunrise and close them before noon.
Lotus flowers bloom most beautifully on their second day, early in the morning (at about 6 am).
In the pond at Japanese Garden of the Expo '70 Commemorative Park, 26 species of about 1,200 pink and white lotus flowers can be seen and appreciated.
The bridge in the middle of the pond, surrounded by flowers gloriously blooming on the water, makes the perfect photograph!
*The number of lotus varieties noted in the Lotus Pond is the number at the time of park maintenance.
- Lotus Season
- from the beginning of July to the end of August
- Early Morning Lotus Appreciation
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(the Park opens at 6 am)
Friday, 6/29 - Sunday, 7/1; Friday, 7/6 - Sunday, 7/8;
Friday, 7/13 - Monday, 7/16 (National Holiday)
Visiting in the morning is recommended.
＜The Expo '70 Commemorative Park Sunflower Festival＞
Vivid yellow sunflowers are reflected in the blues skies of summer.
At the Expo '70 Commemorative Park, about 10,000 sunflowers of 22 varieties will be in full bloom.
Among their various colors and shapes, there are sunflowers named after world-famous artists such as Matisse and Monet.
When we look at them, the beautifully blooming sunflowers give us energy.
Events will also be held to coincide with this season.
- The Festival Period
- Saturday, July 21 - Sunday, August 31, 2018
Basic information on Expo '70 Commemorative Park
- Address
- Senri Bampaku Koen, Suita City, Osaka
- Access
- 5 minutes on foot from Bampaku-Koen Station on the Osaka Monorail
- Hours
- 9:30 am - 5:00 pm (Last admission 4:30 pm)
- Closed
- Wednesdays (When it falls on a National Holiday, the park will be closed the next day. However, there will be no closures in October or November.)
- Admission
- Adults 250 yen, elementary and junior high school students 70 yen
- URL(English)
- http://contents.goodlucktripjapan.jp/rd/11851/en.php