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Experiencing Fog at Expo 2025 Osaka: A Day of Inspiration, Culture, and Innovation
Intro
Last month, I had the opportunity to visit Expo 2025 in Osaka alongside my colleagues Karla and Washi. Despite the rainy weather, we were excited to explore the fog installations featured across the pavilions, and the fog did not disappoint.
As a venue development partner, it was especially meaningful to see how fog was being used throughout the Expo grounds. For those of us working closely with fog and mist technologies every day, seeing familiar patterns of spray in such a creative, immersive environment was exciting. It was a proud moment to witness how something so technical can be transformed into something visual and sensory, enhancing not just temperature and comfort but also mood and memory.
For those unfamiliar, Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan is a global event that brings together countries, organizations, and innovators from around the world to showcase ideas and solutions for a better future. The theme, “Designing Future Society for Our Lives,” focuses on how technology, sustainability, and cross-cultural collaboration can create a healthier, more connected world.
A Walk Through Culture & Creativity
We spent most of the day walking through the expansive site, taking in each country’s pavilion. From immersive light and fog displays to gentle mist clouds along the walkways, the experience felt like a true blend of art, engineering, and sustainability. The rain might have soaked our shoes, but it added to the ambiance, mixing naturally with the fog in a way that made the whole Expo feel even more atmospheric.
One of the most memorable stops on our visit was the “Better Co-Being” Pavilion, where outdoor art displays are arranged as part of an immersive tour experience. Visitors walk through a curated path, guided by an interactive app that offers different interpretations of each piece. Fog is sprayed throughout the space to enhance the visuals, adding atmosphere and helping tie the whole experience together.
The tour wraps up with a light show projected onto a large globe, where the color and animation are based on the tour group’s collective responses. This makes each show unique. We loved seeing fog used in this way. It was simple but impactful and a great example of how this kind of technology can shape how people experience space.
Reflecting on Fog’s Potential
As we explored the pavilions, I found myself thinking about how far fog has come. What was once seen as a niche industrial tool is now being used in environmental design and public spaces. Whether it is improving visitor comfort, enhancing architecture, or helping reduce airborne particles and static in sensitive environments, fog is more than just mist. It is a tool with wide-reaching potential.
Sharing this experience with colleagues from different regions made it even more meaningful. Each of us brought a slightly different perspective, but we all walked away with the same sense of inspiration (and maybe a few too many photos of fog).
Final Thoughts
Expo 2025 Osaka is more than a showcase of cutting-edge technologies. It is a celebration of creativity, culture, and collaboration. Getting to see familiar technology interpreted in such thoughtful and creative ways was a true highlight.
If you get a chance to visit, consider doing a little “fog tour” of your own and try to squeeze in all the pavilions featuring fog. It was a fun way for us to explore the Expo through a different lens and appreciate how widely and creatively fog can be used.
-Hanna Binford, Ikeuchi USA Chief Marketing Officer