The trip from Tottori to Osaka retraced in large measure the route I'd taken to get to Tottori but this time I managed to take a couple of pictures of the lovely landscape through the train window.  Nearer Osaka of course it got more and more built up.

I had some time to fill before I could check in to my hotel so I pottered about a bit and found my bearings,  For some reason now forgotten I was not staying close to the main station.  I had to take a ride on the subway.  I did so and stopped on the way to the hotel for a meal.

Once checked in I ventured out to make sure of my route to the Expo grounds for the following day.  I didn't go all the way but it almost seemed like it given the amount of walking I had to do in the subway station to get to the correct line.  I had a wander around the skyscraper lined streets afterwards as dusk fell and some very pretty lights sparkled in the trees.

The next day accompanied by who knows how many thousands I set out for Yumeshima, the artificial island on which the Expo is being held.

There was a lot of hanging around and marching up and down fenced alleyways as though we were in a vast open-air airport security hall but eventually I got into the grounds and spent the rest of the day exploring the site.

The piece de resistance is undoubtedly The Grand Ring.  I walked all round it and under it and admired the structure, the views from it and its sheer beauty.  It's not without its critics of course for cost, doubtful sustainability etc etc.

 

I didn't go into many pavilions.  I didn't even see the British one.  The queues were too long, many required booking a time slot and so on.  There were a few shared pavilions in which smaller countries had in essence created a stand in which to show their wares.  My smaller countries Kenya and Zambia had done this and there was not a lot of queuing to see their stuff,

My absolute favourite pavilion from the outside, I never got in, was not even a country's.  It was Panasonic's.  It was covered in a web of coloured panels (plastic I imagine) that moved gently with the breeze.

And their staff had lovely outfits which you can just make out through the web in this picture.

There were various sorts of entertainment, notably traditional dancing like this from a Japanese group and others from other countries.  Because of the crowds it was difficult to get reasonable pictures.  Generally I got a couple of out of focus heads which I won't inflict on you.

All in all it was a day well spent.