Guide to the Aichi Expo 2005 - World Fair - includes getting to Aichi Expo, main zones, Aichi Expo tips and things to avoid, plus Aichi Expo accommodation.
Aichi Expo 2005 (愛知万博 Aichi Banpaku) is the site of the World's Fair for 2005, in the Aichi prefecture of Japan, near the city of Nagoya. The Aichi Expo will run from March 25 to September 25.
Understand Aichi Expo 2005
Aichi Expo 2005 is Japan's first expo since the 1970 Osaka Expo and built along somewhat more modest lines than its predecessor, which was judged a great hit with 64 million visitors. The Aichi Expo's theme is Nature's Wisdom and its mission is, according to the official site:
- We must come together and share our experience and wisdom, in order to create a new direction for humanity which is both sustainable and harmonious with nature.
(Aichi Expo 2005 overview -- by jpatokal)
In Japanese this is expressed with the snappy but near-untranslatable official pun-slogan Ai-chikyūpaku (愛・地球博), which means something along the lines of "Love the Earth Expo" while keeping Aichi in there.
Great care has been taken to built the pavilions out of recycled or recyclable materials and to provide environmentally friendly transportation in the Expo area, but some have still questioned the ecological sense of razing vast tracts of virgin forest for the site and spending 340 billion yen ($3.3 billion) on a six-month extravaganza that will be dismantled after it is over.
Getting to Aichi Expo
|
Beating the crowds
The Japanese are masters of organization, but an Expo strains even the best infrastructure. Some chokepoints to beware of:
|
By plane
Chubu International Airport is the nearest airport. The fastest route from the airport is to take a train to Kanayama (金山) station and transfer to Expo Shuttle service, which takes 68 minutes (plus transfer time at Kanayama) and costs ¥1920.
By train
During the Expo, you can board special Expo Shuttle trains directly from Nagoya station to Banpaku Yakusa (万博八草) station (3 times per hour, 38 min). From here, you can transfer to the Tōbu Kyūryō LINIMO (東部丘陵リニモ線) magnetic levitation linear motor line to Banpaku Kaijō (万博会場駅) station, located near the North Gate of the main Nagakute area of the Expo (3 min). Special discount return tickets are available for ¥1300, and they also allow a ¥200 discount on the Kiccoro gondola service.
Alternatively, take the Higashiyama subway line to terminus Fujigaoka (25 min), then transfer to the LINIMO line (12 min) for a total of ¥630 one-way.
By bus
Direct buses run from Nagoya station (¥1000/1500 one-way/return) and other major cities in the vicinity to the East Gate of the Expo site.
By car
There is no parking of any kind allowed at or near the Expo site. Instead, organizers recommended parking at one of four designated park and ride areas (¥2500-3000/day) and taking complimentary shuttle buses to the site.
Get around
Transport around the Expo site is provided by a host of unusual systems, but few of them are free.
Aichi Expo 2005 IMTS system -- by jpatokal
By IMTS
The Intelligent Multimode Transit System (IMTS) shuttle, basically a networked train of automated minibuses, connects the North Gate, the West Gate, the Convention Center (Messe) and the Expo Dome together. Rides cost ¥200 a pop.
By tram
The Global Tram system shuttles around the Global Loop connecting the country pavilions together. Rides cost ¥500.
By gondola
There are two cable car gondola lifts set up in the Expo. The Morizō Gondola connects the Nagakute and Seto areas together, and is free, while the Kiccoro Gondola travels from the northeast to the southwest corner of the Nagakute area and charges ¥600 one way for the panoramic views offered.
By bus
A comparatively normal-looking and for once free fuel cell hybrid bus also shuttles between the Nagakute and Seto areas.
By bicycle taxi
Three-wheeled passenger taxis operating the old-fashioned way by somebody pedalling the metal carry people around the site for ¥300 per trip.
See Aichi Expo
Same-day tickets cost ¥4600/2500/1500 per day for adult/junior/child respectively. Discounted senior, student, group and evening admission tickets are also available. The Expo is open from 9:30 to 21:30 daily, although some sections (notably the Seto Area) may close earlier.
Access to some of the more popular events and pavilions is capacity controlled. You can make up to two advance reservations online at least 2 days before you go, but inexplicably this requires possession of a physical ticket and you cannot make reservations with an online advance ticket. After entry into the Expo, you can make a single same-day reservation, at least 2 hours before desired time of entry.
The grounds are divided into two areas and eight zones:
Aichi Expo - Nagakute Area
The Nagakute Area (長久手会場) is the heart of the Expo.
(Aichi Expo 2005 Singapore pavilion -- by jpatokal)
Aichi Expo - Global Commons
The traditional country pavilions featuring the contributions of 120 countries, subdivided into 6 zones. A 2.6-kilometer walkway named the Global Loop connects them all together and can be covered on foot in an hour.
- German Pavilion (Zone 3), [1] . Features a ride in drop-shaped vehicles through a storm.
Aichi Expo - Central Zone
The centre for events and performances.
- Global House, [2] . Home to the 18,000-year-old Yukagir Mammoth.
Aichi Expo - Japan Zone
Promotional propaganda courtesy of the governments of Aichi, Nagoya City, the Chubu region and the national government of Japan.
- Japan Pavilion Nagakute, [3]. Features the world's first completely hemispherical 360° "Earth Vision" panorama theatre.
Aichi Expo - Toyota & Hitachi Pavilions -- by jpatokal
Aichi Expo - Corporate Pavilion Zone
Where Japan's companies come out to play.
- Hitachi Pavilion, [4] . Features a virtual reality safari of endangered species, using 3D headsets and hand sensors for interaction.
- Toyota Pavilion, [5] . One of the most popular pavilions, packed with futuristic cars and wacky robots, including the famous all-robot brass band.
- Mitsui-Toshiba Pavilion, [6] . In the "Futurecast" system, visitors' faces are scanned on entry and instantly used in the "Grand Odyssey" animated movie shown inside.
Aichi Expo - Interactive Fun Zone
NGOs and assorted tree-huggers.
Aichi Expo - Forest Experience Zone
- Satsuki and Mei's House. [7]. A faithful life-size recreation of the house featured in the hit animation movie My Neighbor Totoro. This is the hardest of all Expo sites to visit, as a maximum of 800 visitors per day are allowed on 30-minute tours. There is a special quota for up to 40 foreign visitors per day, but mailed applications must be sent a minimum of one month in advance. Alternatively, you can attempt to apply like the Japanese do via the Lawson convenience store's Loppi system, but the odds of success this way are even lower.
Aichi Expo - Seto Area -- by jpatokal
Aichi Expo - Seto Area
The Seto Area (瀬戸会場) is the smaller and quieter of the two sides, promising a meeting place for man and nature instead of grand spectacles. Note that the Seto Area closes at 17:30 every day, earlier than the rest of the Expo.
- Civic Pavilion
- National Government/Aichi Prefecture Exhibition
- Satoyama Trail Zone — a trail in a forest
Do
In addition to the regular pavilions, many special events are scheduled for the Expo, including concerts, plays, sports events, lectures and more. A limited selection:
- April 2-3: Laurie Anderson, EXPO Dome
- April 4: Grand Sumo Tournament, Mountain of Dreams (Corporate Zone)
- April 12: Sarah Brightman, EXPO Dome
- July 22-August 3: Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble, EXPO Dome & other sites
Buy
Response to the Expo itself has been a little lackluster, but the Expo's lovable mascots Kiccoro and Morizō [8] have become a huge hit. Available in souvenir shops everywhere.
Eat & Drink
In a bald excuse for profit grubbing, you are strictly prohibited from bringing drinks in bottles onto the grounds, as according to the organizers this could lead to terrorism. Drink cartons, on the other hand, are A-OK.
Food was previously also prohibited, the excuse being the risk of food poisoning, but after a complaint from Japanese prime minister Junichiro Koizumi you are now allowed to bring in homemade packed lunches.
Magically immune from food poisoning and terrorism are the 38 restaurants, 4 convenience stores and bazillion vending machines on site.
Aichi Expo Accommodation
There is no lodging available on site, but Nagoya is not far away, see our Nagoya hotel guide for a detailed list of accommodation available to suit most budgets and at discount prices.
A special program offering homestays for Expo visitors in the homes of ordinary Nagoya families has been set up. Costs are only ¥1000-3000 per night with two meals, but the application process is fairly bureaucratic — you must be sponsored by an organization such as a university and you must mail your application at least one month in advance — and after all that trouble you may end up in a remote suburb.
