Expo ’70’s Night Sky Becomes Art
Fireworks, music and drone art transform Expo ’70 Commemorative Park as the fifth edition draws a second Tower of the Sun across the Osaka night sky.
One Tower of the Sun apparently isn’t enough.
On November 21, the unmistakable face of Taro Okamoto’s landmark will appear again — this time drawn in light by drones above the real tower — as The Expo Night Sky Becomes Art returns to Expo ’70 Commemorative Park for its fifth edition.
Then come the fireworks. About 15,000 of them.
This isn’t Osaka’s traditional summer hanabi experience. The show is built as a piece of nighttime entertainment, synchronizing fireworks with music and three-dimensional drone art across the sky. For 2026, the audience moves to East Plaza, giving the pyrotechnics room to stretch across a wider field of vision in what organizers describe as a great “wall of fireworks.”
The Tower of the Sun provides the unmistakable centerpiece. Created by artist Taro Okamoto for Expo ’70, the 70-meter landmark has watched over these grounds for more than half a century. This year, drones will recreate it in the night sky for the first time, placing a glowing Tower of the Sun above the original — a distinctly Osaka collision of Expo history and 21st-century spectacle.
The event itself is much younger. First staged in 2022, The Expo Night Sky Becomes Art has grown into an annual autumn production, drawing more than 100,000 visitors across its first four editions. Its fifth outing brings the spectacle back with reserved seating throughout the viewing area and a range of vantage points, from panorama seating to premium front-row and dedicated camera areas.
There is reason to arrive long before the first firework. Ramen EXPO opens its 2026 season at Festival Plaza on the very same day, while the Hokusetsu Cultural Festival brings performances and booths from communities across northern Osaka. Ramen service runs until 16:00, then returns from 20:00–22:00 exclusively for fireworks ticket holders — meaning a trip for the fireworks can easily become an entire day at Expo Park, with a bowl of ramen waiting after the sky goes dark.
By 19:00, however, there won’t be much doubt about where to look. Music rises, fireworks spread across the horizon and hundreds of points of light begin moving overhead.
And somewhere between the real Tower of the Sun below and its luminous twin floating above it, Expo Park becomes art all over again.
Read our RAMEN EXPO Event Coverage ➔
15,000 Fireworks – A synchronized display spreads across East Plaza, creating a wall of fireworks set to music.
Two Towers of the Sun – Drones recreate Taro Okamoto’s icon in the night sky above the real Tower of the Sun.
Art in the Night Sky – Fireworks, music and 3D drone formations combine in a choreographed nighttime spectacle.
Come Early, Stay Late – Hokusetsu Cultural Festival × Ramen EXPO, alongside the event’s own gourmet lineup.
Five Years in the Sky – The event celebrates its fifth edition after drawing more than 100,000 visitors.
Photos: Expo Night Sky Official Website, Japan Scenes
WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING IN OSAKA?
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Opening Hours
THE SCENE: FAQ’s
ACCESS
Trains:
Osaka Monorail — Banpaku-kinen-koen Station → Central Gate → East Plaza — about 15 min walk. After 16:30, fireworks attendees must use the Central Gate.
Subways:
Osaka Metro Midosuji Line / Kita-Osaka Kyuko → Senri-Chuo Station → follow signs for the Osaka Monorail ↔ Osaka Monorail → Banpaku-kinen-koen Station → Central Gate → East Plaza.
◷ FROM CENTRAL OSAKA
Namba: Osaka Metro Midosuji Line → Senri-Chuo ↔ Osaka Monorail → Banpaku-kinen-koen → Central Gate — about 50–60 min
Osaka-Umeda: Osaka Metro Midosuji Line, Umeda → Senri-Chuo ↔ Osaka Monorail → Banpaku-kinen-koen → Central Gate — about 45–55 min
IMPORTANT: Organizers recommend reaching Banpaku-kinen-koen Station by 16:00. After 16:30, the Central Gate is the only entrance available for fireworks attendees.
SCHEDULE
Date: Saturday, November 21, 2026
Venue Opens: 12:00
Fireworks & Drone Show: 19:00–20:00
Hokusetsu Cultural Festival × Ramen EXPO: From 11:00 at Festival Plaza
Approximately 15,000 fireworks are synchronized with music and three-dimensional drone art. For the fifth edition, drones will recreate the Tower of the Sun above the real landmark for the first time.
Ramen EXPO operates until 16:00 before the fireworks, then reopens 20:00–22:00 exclusively for fireworks ticket holders.
TICKETS
ADMISSION
Panorama: Adults ¥9,600 / Children ¥4,800
Dynamic: ¥12,000
Premium Front: ¥26,000
Camera: ¥35,000
VIP: ¥55,000
Wheelchair: ¥24,000–¥48,000
All viewing areas are reserved. Admission to Expo ’70 Commemorative Park is included in the fireworks ticket.
Preschool children may sit on an accompanying adult’s lap free of charge, limited to one child per adult. A separate ticket is required if the child uses a seat.
General ticket sales began October 3, 2026.
THE EXPERIENCE
This is designed as an evening spectacle rather than a traditional summer hanabi, but November 21 has enough happening across Expo Park to make arriving early part of the experience.
- Watch approximately 15,000 fireworks spread across the new East Plaza viewing area in synchronization with music.
- See drone formations build three-dimensional images overhead, including a second Tower of the Sun above the original.
- Explore the Hokusetsu Cultural Festival from 11:00, with performances and booths representing communities across northern Osaka.
- Eat your way through Ramen EXPO before the show — or return for its special fireworks-ticket-holder session from 20:00–22:00.
- Browse the fireworks event’s own Gourmet area, with kitchen cars and stalls serving everything from gyoza and takoyaki to kebabs, sausages and hot drinks.
- Make a full Expo Park day of it, with other major autumn events taking place around the grounds.
Once darkness falls, the focus shifts decisively upward: fireworks, music and moving points of drone light turn the familiar Expo Park skyline into the show itself.
INFO & TIPS
ARRIVE EARLY
Organizers recommend reaching Banpaku-kinen-koen Station by 16:00. After 16:30, fireworks attendees must enter through the Central Gate.
FIVE EVENTS, ONE PARK
November 21 brings an unusually packed day to Expo Park, with The Expo Night Sky Becomes Art, Hokusetsu Cultural Festival, Ramen EXPO and other autumn events sharing the grounds. Check individual event locations and hours when planning your day.
POST-FIREWORKS RAMEN
Ramen EXPO reopens from 20:00–22:00 exclusively for fireworks ticket holders — a particularly useful option if you would rather eat than immediately join the rush for the monorail.
SEATING
All fireworks viewing is reserved. Bring a cushion or other permitted cold-weather comfort if needed, and check the official prohibited-items rules before visiting.
WEATHER
The event is scheduled to proceed in light rain but may be canceled or altered in severe weather. Check official announcements on the day if conditions are uncertain.
GETTING HOME
Expect significant congestion at Banpaku-kinen-koen Station after the show. Staying for ramen or otherwise allowing the first wave of spectators to clear may make for a considerably easier trip home.
CONTACTS
Official Website
https://banpakuhanabi.jp/
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/banpakuhanabi/
