logo
2025 Expo Osaka: 30,000 Visitors Left Behind at Venue; Osaka Metro Apologizes at Press Conference

2025 Expo Osaka: 30,000 Visitors Left Behind at Venue; Osaka Metro Apologizes at Press Conference

Yomiuri Shimbun2 days ago
Osaka Metro held a press conference Thursday morning to explain how the Chuo Line, which directly connects to the Osaka-Kansai Expo site, was suspended on all lines Wednesday night.
Osaka Metro officials apologized at the beginning of the press conference, saying, 'We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused to visitors and other concerned parties.
The cause of the trouble was a power outage on the transmission rail used to operate the trains between Cosmosquare and Osaka Port stations. Operation stopped around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, just before the Expo closed, and resumed about eight hours later at 5:25 a.m. Thursday.
According to the Japan Association for the International Exposition, some 30,000 people were left behind in and around the venue, forcing many to spend the night there.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

The Most Beautiful Fall Foliage Spots in Osaka
The Most Beautiful Fall Foliage Spots in Osaka

Tokyo Weekender

time14 hours ago

  • Tokyo Weekender

The Most Beautiful Fall Foliage Spots in Osaka

It's never too early to start fantasizing about autumn in Japan, a time when the air is crisp, streets are blanketed in golden-brown leaves and cozy hojicha drinks start popping up at cafes. While Kyoto may be the Kansai region's most famous destination for autumn leaves, Osaka offers its own unique and stunning spots. From the picturesque Minoh Waterfall to the iconic ginkgo-lined Midosuji Street, here are some of the most beautiful fall foliage spots in Osaka. List of Contents: Osaka Castle Park Midosuji Street Expo '70 Commemorative Park Minoh Park Katsuoji Temple Hoshida Park Daisen Park's Japanese Garden Daiitokuji Temple A Note on Timing Related Posts Osaka Castle Park While Osaka Castle Park is a beautiful site to visit year-round, it's especially breathtaking in the fall, when its ginkgo trees turn a brilliant golden yellow. You'll also find fiery-red maples of several varieties all around the historic castle grounds, as well as seasonal blooms like the orange and white blossoms of fragrant olive trees. Midosuji Street Midosuji Street, a boulevard running through the heart of Osaka, offers a distinctly urban take on autumn foliage. The 4-kilometer avenue is transformed by the changing leaves of the approximately 970 ginkgo trees that line both sides of the street, creating a corridor of yellow that extends from the Kita (Umeda) district in the north to the Minami (Namba) district in the south. japanese garden Expo '70 Commemorative Park Often simply referred to as 'Expo Park,' this park — the site of the 1970 World Exposition — is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. In autumn, the abundant vegetation creates spectacular autumnal scenes. Stroll around the park and admire Japanese maples, ginkgoes and sycamores, or enjoy a picnic with a book. Prime viewing spots include Momiji-dani (Maple Valley), the Japanese garden and the natural and cultural gardens, where you'll also find hundreds of thousands of multicolored cosmos flowers from mid-October to early November. Minoh Park Part of the expansive Meiji-no-Mori Minoh Quasi-National Park, Minoh Park is the perfect day trip destination from central Osaka — it's only a 30-minute subway ride away via the Midosuji Line. The park is home to Minoh Waterfall, which is most beautiful during the autumn, when it's framed by vibrant red, orange and yellow leaves. Make sure to try momiji tempura (fried Japanese maple leaves), a local specialty. Katsuoji Temple Further up the mountain from Minoh Waterfall is Katsuoji, a treasured local spot for both foliage viewing and its hundreds of daruma dolls, its main distinguishing feature. This Buddhist temple sits on over 260,000 square meters of land and is famous for granting kachi-un — winner's luck — to patrons about to face an important test, job interview or other challenge. Read more about Katsuoji and Minoh Park in our guide to Minoh city . hoshida park Hoshida Park For a more adventurous autumn experience, head to Hoshida Park in Katano city to hike lush trails. The mountainous foliage spot is famous for the Hoshi no Buranko, a magnificent 280-meter-long suspension bridge that sits 50 meters above a forested valley. From this vantage point, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the vibrant autumn colors, with the crimson leaves of the maple trees blanketing the surrounding hillsides. Daisen Park's Japanese Garden Located in Sakai city, the Japanese garden in Daisen Park is the perfect serene setting to enjoy fall foliage. The traditional circular garden built around a central pond is shrouded in enchanting shades of red and gold in the fall, a scene that's beautifully reflected in the water. In November, you can also admire delicate chrysanthemums, cultivated by members of a local chrysanthemum association. The garden regularly hosts tea ceremonies and workshops, so check out its website before heading over. courtesy of jnto Daiitokuji Temple Perched atop Mount Ushitaki, Daiitokuji is famous for its incredible autumn foliage. It's accessible via train and bus from Osaka Station, but it takes about 2 hours to reach. The temple is part of the sacred Katsuragi Shugendo pilgrimage trail, and although much of the original complex was destroyed by warfare, the vermilion tahoto (two-tiered treasure pagoda) — a National Important Cultural Property — remains a centerpiece. Against a backdrop of crimson leaves, the pagoda is truly stunning. Visitors can also explore a hiking course behind the temple, which winds through waterfalls and suspension bridges. A Note on Timing While the leaves turn at a slightly different time each year, you can typically expect to see peak colors in Osaka around mid-November to early December. Japanese speakers can check sites like Koyo Walkerplus for location-specific estimates. Related Posts Minoh City: An Enchanting Day Trip From Osaka With Beautiful Fall Foliage Kyoto Fall Leaves at Night: 7 Must-See Japanese Maple Illuminations The Ultimate Guide to Autumn Foliage In and Near Tokyo

Expo organizers say they handled rail suspension ‘appropriately'
Expo organizers say they handled rail suspension ‘appropriately'

Asahi Shimbun

time20 hours ago

  • Asahi Shimbun

Expo organizers say they handled rail suspension ‘appropriately'

A father and son from Nara Prefecture rest in the Osaka Healthcare Pavillion at the Osaka-Kansai Expo around 2 a.m. Aug. 14. (Emiko Arimoto) OSAKA—Despite anger expressed by stranded visitors, Osaka Kansai Expo organizers gave a generally positive assessment of their on-site response to a service suspension on the sole rail link to the site. While apologizing for the confusion, the organizers said they could 'adapt to the circumstances.' 'At the end of the day, no major accidents occurred,' Jun Takashina, deputy secretary-general of the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, told a news conference on Aug. 14. 'I believe that, fundamentally, we were able to handle the situation appropriately.' Many visitors spent the night at the expo venue after a power outage halted the entire service on Osaka Metro Co.'s Chuo Line on the night of Aug. 13. Many of those who were unable to return home expressed dissatisfaction with the expo organizers, particularly concerning how information was communicated. Takashina acknowledged such issues as the timing of information releases. 'When we look at individual details, there are various points to reflect on,' he said. 'We intend to thoroughly review them and make improvements.' Osaka Metro notified the association of the suspension around 9:30 p.m. on Aug. 13, when many expo visitors were heading home, association officials said. Within 15 minutes, the association restricted departures from the East Gate, which directly connects to Yumeshima Station on the Chuo Line, and urged visitors to remain inside the expo venue. The organizers said they were concerned about the risk of a crowd crush. When the Chuo Line was halted, about 30,000 people were in and around the venue. After 10 p.m., a shuttle service began between Yumeshima Station and the neighboring Cosmo Square Station. But the association feared a potential safety hazard if people rushed toward Yumeshima Station. To prevent the risk, the association allowed those already near the station to leave, while continuing to urge others to remain inside the venue. The organizers initially did not anticipate a prolonged suspension. It was only around midnight when they switched to what they called a 'disaster-level response' after concluding that a full-service resumption was unlikely and that visitors would be stranded. Expo pavilions were asked to accommodate visitors inside. But even under the disaster-level response, distribution of bottled water to visitors did not begin until 4 a.m. on Aug. 14, more than six hours after the suspension started. Some pavilions did not open their doors until 3 a.m., waiting for instructions from the association. The expo is being held on Yumeshima, a manmade island in Osaka Bay. The latest incident again highlighted the vulnerability of transportation access to the venue, which had been pointed out before the expo opened in April. When the Chuo Line was suspended on the night of April 22, about 4,000 people were stranded at Yumeshima Station. Back then, it took the expo organizers about 20 minutes to grasp the situation, and communications with Osaka Metro were identified as an issue. This time around, information on the suspension was shared within three minutes. The expo site also experienced a problem when a powerful earthquake struck near Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula on July 30. A tsunami advisory was broadcast after the expected arrival time of the waves. With typhoon season continuing, a review of countermeasures for transportation disruptions and natural disasters remains a priority until the expo closes in October. (This article was compiled from reports by Kazuhito Suwa, Yoshiko Sato and Yuiichi Nobira.)

Osaka subway suspension leaves many World Expo visitors stranded
Osaka subway suspension leaves many World Expo visitors stranded

NHK

time2 days ago

  • NHK

Osaka subway suspension leaves many World Expo visitors stranded

The only subway line serving the venue of the 2025 World Expo in Osaka was suspended due to a power outage late on Wednesday, stranding many visitors. The Osaka Metro Chuo Line was out of service from around 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday. The reason for the power outage is unknown. The suspension forced the closure of Yumeshima Station, the nearest stop to the Expo venue, leaving large crowds unable to leave. Shortly before midnight, access to the station was restored, and trains began running to the next station. But many visitors remained stuck. Emergency officials say one person with a leg injury and 33 others complaining of feeling sick had been taken to hospital as of 1:30 a.m. on Thursday. Some visitors unable to return home stayed overnight in pavilions opened as emergency shelters. The Osaka prefectural government and the organizer of the exposition distributed water and food. Full service on the Chuo Line resumed shortly after 5 a.m. on Thursday. One visitor in his 40s said he and his family slept under the Grand Ring, a huge wooden structure serving as the symbol of the Osaka Expo. He said they checked the live camera to monitor the crowds and stayed away from the station. He added they decided at around 1 a.m. to remain in the venue. He said some restaurants and pavilions stayed open and his family could obtain water easily. He also said there was a breeze so the heat was not as bad as he had expected. The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition said the venue would open an hour later than usual on Thursday at 10 a.m.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store