Ramen EXPO 2026
Japan’s regional ramen traditions come together at Expo ’70 Park, with 60 shops rotating through six sessions of steaming bowls, bold broths and cold-weather comfort.
As the cool air of late autumn settles over Osaka, the scent of simmering broth and sizzling chashu fills Expo ’70 Commemorative Park.
Bring your appetite—and maybe don’t try to do this all in one visit. The 12th Ramen EXPO returns from November 21 through December 30, 2026, bringing 60 ramen shops from across Japan to Festival Plaza over 20 festival days. But there’s a catch: only ten appear at a time. The lineup changes completely across six separate sessions, effectively turning one long-running festival into six different ramen adventures.
That rotating format is the heart of Ramen EXPO. One weekend might lead you toward a rich miso or tonkotsu broth; come back for the next session and ten different shops are waiting. With regional ramen makers gathering from around the country, the festival offers a chance to travel Japan by bowl—comparing broths, noodles, toppings and local styles without ever leaving Osaka.
The opening session runs November 21–23, bringing the first ten shops in this year’s 60-shop rotation to Festival Plaza. Three days later, they’re gone, making way for ten completely different ramen makers the following weekend. Opening Day on Saturday, Nov. 21 comes with one important schedule twist: regular Ramen EXPO service ends at 4:00 PM for the Banpaku fireworks event, then reopens from 8:00–10:00 PM exclusively for visitors holding fireworks tickets. Read our EXPO NIGHT SKY Event Coverage ➔
Ramen EXPO has been feeding Osaka on a remarkable scale since it launched in 2013. The inaugural event attracted approximately 150,000 visitors in just ten days, with 120,000 bowls of ramen sold—a response that exceeded organizers’ expectations. The format has expanded considerably since those early editions, growing from a major ramen gathering into a multi-session event that now stretches across several weekends and into the year-end holidays.
Part of the appeal is that ramen is never simply ramen. Across Japan, regional styles have evolved around different broths, noodle shapes, seasonings and local ingredients. A bowl can be light and clear or thick and intensely rich; noodles can be thin and delicate or substantial enough to fight back a little. At Ramen EXPO, those differences become part of the fun. Share strategically and one visit can turn into a tasting tour rather than a commitment to a single enormous lunch.
The setting helps, too. Late autumn gives way to winter at Expo ’70 Park as Ramen EXPO progresses, and few foods make more sense outdoors in cold weather than a steaming bowl of noodles. Find something unfamiliar, grab a bowl and join the crowd—then come back another weekend and start all over again.
60 Shops, Six Lineups – Ten ramen makers rotate through each session, completely changing the menu throughout the festival.
Travel Japan by Bowl – Sample regional broths, noodles, toppings and ramen traditions from across the country.
A Serious Ramen Crowd – The inaugural festival drew around 150,000 visitors and served 120,000 bowls in just ten days.
Worth Coming Back – Return another weekend and an entirely new group of ten ramen shops will be waiting.
Cold-Weather Comfort – Few things beat a steaming bowl of ramen outdoors as autumn gives way to winter.
Photos; Official Ramen Expo Website, Osaka Scene Staff
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Opening Hours
THE SCENE: FAQ’s
ACCESS
Venue: Expo ’70 Commemorative Park — Festival Plaza (Omatsuri Hiroba)
Trains
Osaka Monorail → Bampaku-kinen-koen Station → walk into Expo ’70 Commemorative Park toward Festival Plaza.
Subways
Osaka Metro Midosuji Line → Senri-Chuo Station ↔ Osaka Monorail → Bampaku-kinen-koen Station.
◷ FROM CENTRAL OSAKA
From Osaka-Umeda — about 40–50 minutes
Osaka Metro Midosuji Line → Senri-Chuo ↔ Osaka Monorail → Bampaku-kinen-koen Station.
From Namba — about 50–60 minutes
Osaka Metro Midosuji Line → Senri-Chuo ↔ Osaka Monorail → Bampaku-kinen-koen Station.
Allow additional time to walk from the station through the park to Festival Plaza.
SCHEDULE
amen EXPO 2026 runs across six separate sessions, with ten different ramen shops participating in each.
- Session 1: Nov. 21–23
- Session 2: Nov. 27–29
- Session 3: Dec. 4–6
- Session 4: Dec. 11–13
- Session 5: Dec. 18–20
- Session 6: Dec. 26–30
Hours: 11:00–21:00
Nov. 21 Exception: Regular Ramen EXPO service ends at 16:00 because of the Banpaku fireworks event, The Expo Night Sky Becomes Art . Service resumes 20:00–22:00 exclusively for fireworks ticket holders, with last orders at 21:30. Read our EXPO NIGHT SKY Event Coverage ➔
TICKETS
Ramen EXPO Admission: Free
Regular admission to Expo ’70 Commemorative Park is required:
High school age and above: ¥450
Elementary & junior-high students: Free
Ramen is purchased separately using the festival’s ticket system. 2026 ramen pricing has not yet been announced, so check the official event information before visiting.
THE EXPERIENCE
Think of Ramen EXPO as six different ramen festivals sharing one name. Ten shops appear during each session before an entirely new group takes their place.
- Sample ramen makers and regional styles from across Japan.
- Compare miso, shio, shoyu, tonkotsu and specialty broths.
- Look for different noodle styles, toppings and regional ingredients.
- Share bowls if you want to taste more than one style.
- Return during another session for a completely different ten-shop lineup.
With 60 shops appearing across the full festival, repeat visits are built into the experience.
INFO & TIPS
Check Which Session You’re Attending
The lineup changes completely between sessions. A ramen available one weekend may not return later in the festival.
Share Strategically
A full bowl can make ambitious ramen sampling difficult. Visiting with friends and sharing makes it much easier to compare several styles.
Expect Lines
Ramen EXPO is a major event with a history of drawing large crowds. Popular shops can develop queues, particularly around lunch and on weekends.
Dress for the Weather
The festival runs from late November through December and is primarily outdoors. By the later sessions, Expo ’70 Park can be properly cold.
Opening Day Is Different
If you’re visiting Nov. 21, pay particular attention to the special schedule connected with the Banpaku fireworks event. General Ramen EXPO visitors cannot simply remain through the evening reopening.
60 Shops Doesn’t Mean 60 Choices at Once
There are ten ramen shops per session. The advertised 60-shop total represents all six rotations combined.
Expo ’70 Park Admission Is Separate
Ramen EXPO itself is free to enter, but the park’s normal admission applies.
Coming More Than Once?
That’s actually one of the best ways to experience Ramen EXPO. Pick a different session and you’ll encounter ten entirely different ramen makers.
Official Event Website
https://ramen-expo.com/
Event Contact
Ramen EXPO Office / City Life NEW Co., Ltd.
https://ramen-expo.com/contact/
Venue Information
Expo ’70 Commemorative Park
https://www.expo70-park.jp/
Park Information
06-6877-7387
0570-01-1970
