21 Nov (fireworks + Gamba day): how to plan it → Phrase cards: ordering & allergies → Getting to Expo '70 Park → 2026 line-up by session →Official site (Japanese) ↗ All 40 bowls from 2025 → Ramen glossary → Ramen without pork →
Where is it? (Not the Expo 2025 site on Yumeshima)
| Venue | Festival Plaza (Omatsuri Hiroba), Expo '70 Commemorative Park, 1-1 Senri Banpaku Koen, Suita, Osaka |
| Nearest station | Bampaku-kinen-koen (Osaka Monorail). About 5 min walk to the Central Gate; the park lists the Festival Plaza itself as a 15-minute walk from the station |
| Landmark | You can see the Tower of the Sun from the station. The Festival Plaza is directly behind (north of) the tower |
| Organiser | Ramen EXPO 2026 Executive Committee. This page is an independent guide, not affiliated with the organiser |
2026 dates — 6 sessions, 20 days
| Session | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Session 1 | 21 Nov (Sat) – 23 Nov (Mon) | Sat 21 Nov only: public hours end at 16:00 for the Expo fireworks; after 16:00 it is a private event run by the fireworks organiser, for fireworks ticket holders only |
| Session 2 | 27 Nov (Fri) – 29 Nov (Sun) | |
| Session 3 | 4 Dec (Fri) – 6 Dec (Sun) | |
| Session 4 | 11 Dec (Fri) – 13 Dec (Sun) | |
| Session 5 | 18 Dec (Fri) – 20 Dec (Sun) | |
| Session 6 | 26 Dec (Sat) – 30 Dec (Wed) |
Held in light rain; may be cancelled in severe weather. The shop line-up is announced per session on the official site (in 2025 this was late October to early November).
Session calendar — Gamba home games, the Tower of the Sun at night, fireworks
| Session | Gamba Osaka home game | Evening (17:00–21:00) |
|---|---|---|
| Session 1 21 Nov (Sat) – 23 Nov (Mon) | 21 Nov (Sat) 16:00 vs Fagiano Okayama | 21 Nov: fireworks (19:00, ticket only) → how to plan that day 22 Nov (Sun), 23 Nov (Mon): Tower of the Sun projection mapping |
| Session 2 27 Nov (Fri) – 29 Nov (Sun) | — | Every day: Tower of the Sun projection mapping |
| Session 3 4 Dec (Fri) – 6 Dec (Sun) | 6 Dec (Sun) 15:00 vs Yokohama F.Marinos | Every day: Tower of the Sun projection mapping |
| Session 4 11 Dec (Fri) – 13 Dec (Sun) | 12 Dec (Sat) 16:00 vs Tokyo Verdy | Every day: Tower of the Sun projection mapping |
| Session 5 18 Dec (Fri) – 20 Dec (Sun) | 19 Dec (Sat) 16:00 vs FC Machida Zelvia | Every day: Tower of the Sun projection mapping |
| Session 6 26 Dec (Sat) – 30 Dec (Wed) | — | Every day: Tower of the Sun projection mapping |
Gamba Osaka play at Panasonic Stadium Suita (fixtures can change). The projection mapping is on the Sun Plaza in the Natural Cultural Gardens; free with park admission. Checked 9 Oct 2026 against the official sites of Gamba Osaka, Expo '70 Park and the fireworks.
Prices and how the ramen ticket system works (4 steps)
- Buy a park admission ticket at the Central Gate machines (¥450 (high-school age and up), free for elementary & junior-high students).
- Buy ramen tickets at the "Ticket Booth" (チケット売り場) by the festival entrance. In 2025: ¥1,000 for 1 bowl, ¥1,900 for 2, ¥2,850 for 3 (the same prices for 2026, checked on the official site on 17 Oct 2026). Tickets are valid at any shop in any session.
- Queue at the shop you want and hand over a ticket at the order window (注文口). In 2025, extra toppings (soft-boiled egg ~¥200, extra chashu ~¥300 — 2025 examples) were paid in cash at each stall, and a few stalls also took PayPay.
- Collect your bowl at the pick-up window (受渡し口) and eat at the tables under the tents or in the plaza. Bowls are made of bagasse (sugar-cane fibre); sort them into the recycling bins when done.
Getting there
| From | Route | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Umeda / Namba | Midosuji line → Senri-Chuo → Osaka Monorail → Bampaku-kinen-koen | approx. 35 min |
| Shin-Osaka | Midosuji line → Senri-Chuo → Monorail | approx. 30 min |
| Itami (Osaka) Airport | Osaka Monorail direct | approx. 20 min |
| Hankyu Yamada station | On foot (useful for avoiding the crowd on the way home) | approx. 25 min |
What it's like on site (from 2025)
- Dress warmly. Seating is outdoors under tents; December nights drop to around 5 °C.
- Crowds: busiest on weekends 12:00–14:00 and 18:00–19:00. Quietest right after opening (11:00) and 15:00–17:00.
- Cash: in 2025 ramen tickets were sold at the booth and toppings were paid in cash at each stall. ¥1,000 notes are handy.
- No pork? Most shops use pork in the broth or toppings. Look for chicken-paitan, seafood or beef-bone shops and ask at the stall.
- Signage is in Japanese. Use our 2025 photo report below to learn the shop names and soup types before you go.
Ramen EXPO after dark — with the Tower of the Sun projection mapping
- The show runs for 5 minutes, starting at 5, 15, 30 and 45 minutes past each hour, on the Sun Plaza in the Natural Cultural Gardens
- Free to watch — the same park admission ticket you need for Ramen EXPO is all you need
- Last entry for the show is 20:30; Ramen EXPO stays open until 21:00
- The 2026 dates of the winter illumination (Illumi-Night Banpaku) have not been announced. We will add them here once they are
All 40 bowls from 2025 (with photos)
Home shop: where, hours, signature bowls
- Shop
- モヒカンラーメンセンター（株式会社於保商店）
- Where
- 1-1-11 Kamata, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, Fukuoka
- Station
- By car from Doi Station (JR Kashii Line)
- Hours
- 11:00–20:00
Last order 19:30 - Closed
- Open daily
- Signature
- 極上豚骨 本気の窯焼きチャーシューPremium tonkotsu ramen with kiln-roasted chashu
- ※
- After a fire in 2023, the main shop reopened at the same location (Kamata, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka) as 'Mohican Ramen Center.' The former main shop ('Ajiikka Honten') remains closed
- Links
- Website ↗Instagram ↗
Verified on the shop's official site / SNS (Sep 2026)
Home shop: where, hours, signature bowls
- Shop
- 食べ処かいか
- Where
- 12-1 Sakuramachi, Miyazaki, Miyazaki (inside Taiyo Sakuramachi)
- Hours
- 11:00–15:00
Last order 14:30. Closed Mondays - Closed
- Mon
- ※
- A Chinese-style eatery (serving gyoza, ramen, and more) belonging to the Miyazaki City Gyoza Council. Located inside the Taiyo Sakuramachi supermarket
- Links
- Website ↗
Verified on the shop's official site / SNS (Sep 2026)
Home shop: where, hours, signature bowls
- Shop
- make noodle かしぐ
- Where
- 1-20-30 Esakacho, Suita, Osaka (Carol Esaka 101)
- Station
- 5 min walk from Esaka Station (Midosuji Line)
- Hours
- 11:00–14:30 / 18:00–22:00
- Closed
- Open daily
- Signature
- 特製味噌白湯Special creamy miso paitan ramen ¥1,580白湯つけ麺Creamy paitan dipping noodles (tsukemen) ¥1,000
- ※
- A sister shop of 'Ramen Korekore'
- Links
- Shop page →Instagram ↗
Verified on the shop's official site / SNS (Sep 2026)
Home shop: where, hours, signature bowls
- Shop
- らーめん山
- Where
- 108 Maedacho, Fujinomiya, Shizuoka
- Station
- Near Gendoji Station (JR Minobu Line)
- ※
- A Fujinomiya ramen shop inspired by the Jiro style. Currently run by a successor to the previous owner
- Links
- Website ↗Instagram ↗X ↗
Hours, closing days and prices are withheld until we can confirm them on the shop's official channels (as of Oct 2026)
Home shop: where, hours, signature bowls
- Shop
- 麺部屋 綱取物語 菊水店
- Where
- 3-jo 3-chome 2-15, Kikusui, Shiroishi-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
- Station
- Near Kikusui Station (Sapporo Subway Tozai Line)
- Hours
- Mon, Tue, Thu–Sun 11:00–15:00 / 17:00–21:00
Last order 30 minutes before closing (closes at 21:00 / fully closed by 21:30) - Closed
- Wed
- Signature
- 綱取味噌ラーメンTsunatori-style miso ramen (house specialty) ¥950綱取味噌チャーシューラーメンTsunatori-style miso ramen with chashu ¥1,250
- Links
- Website ↗Instagram ↗
Verified on the shop's official site / SNS (Sep 2026)
Home shop: where, hours, signature bowls
- Shop
- らーめん錦 秋田本店
- Where
- 16-1 Sotoasahikawa-Machiai, Akita, Akita
- Hours
- Mon, Tue, Thu–Sun 11:00–21:00
Wed 11:00–14:30
Wednesdays lunch only (last order 14:30). Last order 20:30 other days - Closed
- Open daily
- Signature
- ネギ味噌Green onion miso ramen ¥980味玉醤油らーめんSoy sauce ramen with a seasoned soft-boiled egg ¥930
- Links
- Website ↗
Verified on the shop's official site / SNS (Sep 2026)
Ramen glossary — 38 terms with photosCan't read the banners? Shoyu, tonkotsu, tori-paitan, kaedama… every word you'll see at the stalls, explained →
Ramen EXPO regulars with a shop in or near Suita
Home shop: where, hours, signature bowls
- Shop
- ラーメン工藤
- Where
- 1-24-8 Kishibe-Minami, Suita, Osaka
- Station
- 3 min walk from JR Kishibe Station
- Hours
- Mon–Thu 11:30–14:00 / 18:00–22:00
Fri 11:30–14:00 / 18:00–23:00
Sat 11:00–15:00 / 18:00–22:00
Hours vary by day of the week. Irregular closures are announced on social media - Closed
- Sun
- Budget
- ≤ ¥1,200
- Links
- Shop page →
Verified on the shop's official site / SNS (Sep 2026)
Home shop: where, hours, signature bowls
- Shop
- らーめん餃子専門店 まんねん 千里丘店
- Where
- 1-13-23 Senrioka, Settsu, Osaka (Senrioka Sunny Heights 1F)
- Station
- 1 min walk from JR Senrioka Station
- Hours
- Mon, Tue, Thu–Sun 11:30–15:00 / 18:00–24:30
Last order 24:00 at night - Closed
- Wed
- Signature
- 特製らーめんSpecial ramen丸鶏醤油らーめんWhole-chicken soy sauce ramen
- ※
- Umeda main branch: Ogikan Building 1F, 5-9 Doyamacho, Kita-ku, Osaka. Open 24 hours Mon-Sat; Sun until 4:30 the next morning (reopening Mon at 11:00). No regular closing day. About a 7-minute walk from Umeda Station
- ※
- About 3 km from Expo '70 Park. The Umeda main shop (Doyama-cho, Kita-ku) is open 24 hours Mon–Sat
- Links
- Website ↗Instagram ↗
Verified on the shop's official site / SNS (Sep 2026)
Home shop: where, hours, signature bowls
- Shop
- らーめん これこれ
- Where
- 1-20-30 Esakacho, Suita, Osaka (Carol Esaka 1F, 103)
- Station
- 5 min walk from Esaka Station (Midosuji Line)
- Hours
- 11:00–15:00 / 17:30–22:00
- Closed
- Open daily
- Signature
- らーめん（白醤油／黒醤油）Ramen (light or dark soy sauce) ¥800スペシャル（レアチャーシュー・味玉・鶏むね2種入り）Special bowl with rare chashu, seasoned egg, and two kinds of chicken breast ¥1,200
- ※
- The ticket vending machine is in Japanese only. Card and PayPay accepted
- Links
- Shop page →
Verified on the shop's official site / SNS (Sep 2026)
Home shop: where, hours, signature bowls
- Shop
- make noodle かしぐ
- Where
- 1-20-30 Esakacho, Suita, Osaka (Carol Esaka 101)
- Station
- 5 min walk from Esaka Station (Midosuji Line)
- Hours
- 11:00–14:30 / 18:00–22:00
- Closed
- Open daily
- Signature
- 特製味噌白湯Special creamy miso paitan ramen ¥1,580白湯つけ麺Creamy paitan dipping noodles (tsukemen) ¥1,000
- ※
- A sister shop of 'Ramen Korekore'
- Links
- Shop page →Instagram ↗
Verified on the shop's official site / SNS (Sep 2026)
Home shop: where, hours, signature bowls
- Shop
- 麺房 豚くらふと
- Where
- 3-35-25 Tarumicho, Suita, Osaka
- Station
- 6 min walk from Esaka Station (Midosuji Line)
- Hours
- 11:00–14:00 / 17:00–21:00
- Closed
- Open daily
- Signature
- 特製豚豚らーめんSpecial 'buta-buta' tonkotsu ramen ¥1,300
- ※
- Broth richness can be chosen from ultra-rich, rich, or light. There is a sister shop, 'Tori Kurafuto,' in Ryokuchi-koen
- Links
- Shop page →
Verified on the shop's official site / SNS (Sep 2026)
All ramen shops in Suita: Ramen in Suita.
What else is on at the same time
Getting home
- To Umeda: Monorail → Senri-Chuo → Midosuji line.
- To Kyoto or Umeda by Hankyu: walk to Hankyu Yamada (about 25 min).
- Last monorails leave between 22:00 and 23:59 depending on direction — check the Osaka Monorail site for the December timetable.
FAQ
Is Ramen EXPO at the Expo 2025 site on Yumeshima?
No. It is at Expo '70 Commemorative Park in Suita, the park with the Tower of the Sun. Yumeshima, where Expo 2025 was held, is a different place about 25 km away.
Is it open every day?
No. It runs on 20 days only — six sessions, mostly over weekends — between 21 November and 30 December. Check the 2026 dates and the session calendar above before you plan your visit.
How much does it cost?
The festival itself is free, but you pay park admission (¥450 for high-school age and up; elementary and junior-high students free) and ramen tickets. In 2025 a ticket was ¥1,000 per bowl, ¥1,900 for two, ¥2,850 for three.
Where do I buy ramen tickets? Cash only?
At the ticket booth by the festival entrance — not at the stalls. In 2025, extra toppings were paid in cash at each stall and a few stalls accepted PayPay. Check payment options for 2026 on the official site and at the venue. In 2025, advance sets of a ramen ticket plus park admission were also sold online on Asoview!. For 2026, the official site is selling an advance ‘ramen ticket with fireworks viewing’ for Sat 21 November (Banpaku Yozora ga Ato ni Naru Hi) at ¥5,000. The official description says it includes park admission (¥450 for high-school age and up) and one bowl, sold through the ticket sites listed on the official page (Jalan, Rakuten Travel, KKday, Asoview! and JTB). Checked on 17 Oct 2026. The official FAQ says e-money cannot be used and payment is in cash, so bring cash.
How big is one bowl?
Smaller than a regular restaurant bowl. Most visitors try 2 or 3 different shops; in 2025 the 2- and 3-bowl ticket sets were cheaper per bowl (2026: ¥1,000 for 1, ¥1,900 for 2, ¥2,850 for 3, checked on the official site on 17 Oct 2026).
Is it open in the rain?
Yes in light rain. It may be cancelled in severe weather — check the official site or X (@ramen_expo) on the day.
Is there English on the menus?
Shop banners are in Japanese. Some stalls had English on their topping menus. Our 2025 photo report shows each shop's name, region and soup type so you can decide in advance. The words on the banners are all explained, with photos, in our ramen glossary.
Which shops are coming in 2026?
Not announced as of September 2026. The organiser publishes the line-up session by session; we will update this page when it appears. Shops will be listed session by session on our 2026 line-up page.
Can I get there from Kansai Airport?
Yes, but allow about 90 minutes: Nankai or JR to Osaka, Midosuji line to Senri-Chuo, then the monorail. From Itami (Osaka) Airport the monorail goes direct in about 20 minutes.
Where is the entrance and reception?
Pay park admission at the Expo '70 Commemorative Park (Natural Cultural Gardens) gate, then go to the reception at the south-east corner of Festival Plaza (bottom right on the official map), according to the official FAQ.
Are allergens displayed?
According to the official FAQ, the 8 mandatory and 20 recommended allergen items are posted in front of each shop at the venue. To ask the staff yourself, use our ordering and ingredient card.
Can I take ramen away?
No. The official FAQ asks visitors not to take food away, for food-poisoning and hygiene reasons.
Can I get a refund on an advance ticket?
The official FAQ says there are no refunds except when the organiser cancels the event. It goes ahead in rain; if severe weather forces a cancellation it will be announced on the official site, and advance tickets are still not refunded.
Can I come by car, with a stroller or in a wheelchair?
There is no dedicated car park, and the park car parks and nearby roads can be congested, so the organiser recommends public transport (Osaka Monorail Banpaku-kinen-koen or Koen-higashiguchi Station). Strollers and wheelchairs are welcome, and the park's permanent toilets include wheelchair-accessible ones. Smoking is only in the smoking area inside Festival Plaza. Pets are not allowed in the Japanese Garden of the Natural Cultural Gardens. On Sat 21 Nov, Koen-higashiguchi Station cannot be used because of the fireworks.