Expo '90

Overview

The International Garden and Greenery Exposition (Kokusai Hana to Midori no Hakurankai, commonly known as "Hanahaku" or "EXPO'90") was an international horticultural exposition held over 183 days from April 1 to September 30, 1990 (Heisei 2) at the Hanahaku Memorial Park Tsurumi-ryokuchi in Tsurumi Ward, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture. Held as an AIPH-certified A1-class event (the highest rank) and as a Special Exposition under the BIE (Bureau International des Expositions) Treaty, it stands as a historic event drawing 23.12 million visitors as Japan's first full-scale international horticultural exposition.

History

The International Garden and Greenery Exposition was planned as a commemorative project for the 100th anniversary of Osaka City's municipal incorporation in 1990, and was held as a full-scale international exposition certified by both the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) and the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE). Its theme was "Capturing the Relationships among Flowers, Greenery, and Human Life: Toward the Creation of a Rich and Fulfilling Society for the 21st Century," aimed at promoting harmony between nature and humanity, urban greening initiatives, and international exchange of horticultural cultures. The venue at Tsurumi-ryokuchi had originally been a municipal park of Osaka City, and after the exposition's conclusion was redeveloped as Hanahaku Memorial Park Tsurumi-ryokuchi, which continues today as a beloved recreational area for Osaka residents. The success of this exposition greatly contributed to the subsequent spread of horticultural culture and the promotion of greening movements in Japan, becoming the starting point of a lineage continuing to the GREEN×EXPO 2027 scheduled to be held in Yokohama.

Highlights

The exposition was composed of exhibits by 83 countries and international organizations, 212 domestic and foreign corporations, and 55 prefectural and municipal governments, bringing together traditional horticultural cultures from around the world alongside cutting-edge greening technologies. Among the facilities built for the exposition, some remain accessible for viewing at Tsurumi-ryokuchi today, including the "Tower of Life" (an 85-meter-tall memorial structure later mentioned in popular culture) and "Sakuya Konohana-kan" (which continues to operate as a botanical garden). During the run, horticultural shows from countries around the world, flower parades, concerts, and cultural exchange events were held daily, welcoming approximately 23 million visitors in a historic success.

Event Details and Access

The venue is Hanahaku Memorial Park Tsurumi-ryokuchi (2-163 Ryokuchi Kōen, Tsurumi Ward, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture). Access is approximately 1 minute on foot from Tsurumi-ryokuchi Station on the Osaka Metro Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line. The park is currently open year-round, and facilities remaining from the exposition such as Sakuya Konohana-kan (adult admission 500 yen) can be visited. The exposition itself concluded in 1990.

Surrounding Attractions

In addition to Tsurumi-ryokuchi Park, central Osaka offers diverse tourism resources including Osaka Castle and Osaka Castle Park, the Namba, Shinsaibashi, and Dōtonbori commercial districts, Shinsekai and Tsutenkaku, Kaiyūkan Aquarium, and Universal Studios Japan. The suburbs feature Expo '70 Commemorative Park (the site of the 1970 Osaka World Expo with the iconic Tower of the Sun), and combined tours with the ancient capitals of Kyoto and Nara are possible. The 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo will be held on Yumeshima, continuing Osaka's lineage as a "city of expositions" leading to the GREEN×EXPO 2027 in Yokohama.

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