The Osaka prefectural and city governments are considering turning the Yumeshima Island — which hosted the now-concluded Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai — into an international tourism hub anchored by Japan’s first casino-integrated resort, MGM Osaka.
The move follows the official closure of the six-month World Expo on October 13th.
According to a report by The Japan News, the post-Expo redevelopment will unfold in three stages, transforming the artificial island in Osaka’s Konohana Ward into a large-scale entertainment and leisure destination. The second and third stages will redevelop the former Expo grounds into a mix of commercial and recreational facilities aimed at complementing the integrated resort slated to open in 2030.
Plans under consideration include the creation of a 50-hectare recreation zone featuring a racing circuit, a water park, a hotel, and a multi-purpose arena. A 200-meter stretch of the Expo’s signature two-kilometer Grand Ring structure will be preserved and turned into the centerpiece of a new 3.3-hectare park. The remaining portions of the site are expected to be developed by private companies, with Osaka authorities planning to publicly invite corporate participants in spring 2026.
While timelines for the second and third development stages remain undecided, the city aims to build synergy between the Expo site’s transformation and the integrated resort project to enhance Osaka’s long-term tourism appeal.
Preserving Expo legacy
The Grand Ring, initially designed as a temporary wooden structure, was scheduled for dismantling after the Expo. However, growing public enthusiasm during the event prompted a policy shift in September, when local and national governments agreed to retain part of it.
The cost of reinforcing and maintaining the structure over the next decade is estimated at up to JPY9 billion ($59.5 million), potentially funded through surplus Expo proceeds.
Integrated resort development
The first phase of the Yumeshima development focuses on the MGM Osaka integrated resort — a joint venture between MGM Resorts International and Japan’s Orix Corporation — currently under construction on a 49-hectare site north of the Expo grounds.
Backed by an initial investment of JPY1.27 trillion ($8.9 billion), the project’s total cost could rise to as much as JPY1.5 trillion ($10.2 billion) amid inflation and rising construction expenses. Construction began in April 2025, with the opening targeted for autumn 2030. The resort is expected to attract around 20 million visitors annually, contributing significantly to Osaka’s tourism economy.
Hideyuki Araki, chief researcher at Resona Research Institute, told The Japan News that “the Expo site is vast, and synergy with the IR is expected.” He added, “It is important not to simply end the project with a large-scale development, but to adopt strategies with a medium- to long-term economic outlook.”
The Osaka government also plans to introduce measures against gambling addiction, including the establishment of an organization to provide integrated services ranging from consultation to treatment and recovery support.
