The 2025 World Exposition officially opened its doors on Sunday April 13th in Osaka, Japan, with Monaco’s Pavilion already emerging as one of the most celebrated attractions during preview days. Despite heavy rain, enthusiastic visitors flooded the site early in the day, many heading straight for the Ring – the massive structure encircling the pavilions of 160 participating countries.
Located at position C10-01 in the ‘Connecting Lives’ zone, Monaco’s installation quickly became one of the most visited sites of the day. At peak times, two long queues formed outside the Pavilion, with the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer wine tasting salon overwhelmed by visitor demand. In total, more than 150,000 visitors came to discover Expo 2025 Osaka on its opening day.
The Monaco Pavilion, designed under the theme ‘Take Care of Wonder’, invites visitors on an immersive journey showcasing both the globally recognised image of the Principality and its commitments to sustainability. The pavilion ends with a cathedral-like space with animated screen walls that take visitors on a journey to the depths of the ocean.
Japanese Emperor Naruhito inaugurated the Expo on Sunday, expressing his hope for that the event “will offer the peoples of the world the opportunity to respect not only their own lives but also the existence of others,’’ according to Monaco Matin. Organisers have already sold 8.7 million tickets in advance and aim to welcome 28 million visitors over the six-month duration of the Expo, which will run until 13th October.
At the heart of this international showcase is a human adventure for 13 young Monaco residents aged 21 to 25. All hired to bring the Monaco Pavilion to life and welcome visitors from around the world to the artificial island of Yumeshima in Osaka Bay, they represent the future generation of Monaco’s ambassadors. These young representatives—including William, Charlotte, Téo, Elijah and Naomi—all applied in 2023 with a dream of participating in a unique adventure at the centre of a global event.
Pavilion’s architecture
The pavilion’s architects, Jérôme Hein (The A Group) and Nicolas Fedoroff (Atelier Pierre), designed the space to make the exterior as relevant as the interior. They developed a garden blending Japanese style with Mediterranean plants, specifically olive trees. As a guiding thread, they chose the rose, echoing the Princess Grace Rose Garden, with the flower and its curves marking the visitor’s path through the exhibition.
For those unable to make the journey to Japan, the Monaco Pavilion team has developed a QR code that allows for free interactive and immerse virtual tour of the pavilion from any screen.
Among the highlights of the 2025 World Expo are a Martian meteorite, 32 Hello Kitty sculptures disguised as algae, and a tiny beating heart cultivated from stem cells being presented for the first time.
While some might question the environmental impact of building temporary structures for such global gatherings, the expo organisers have indicated that the site will be repurposed after the event to house a hotel complex with a casino.
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Photo Credit: Direction de la Communication / Manuel Vitali (Monaco Info)