The Expo Commemoration Park is a large park on the outskirts of Osaka that commemorates the 1970 World Expo. Hosting the expo was a major historical event for Japan, as it was the first Asian country to do so. Its historical significance may be comparable to that of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics - at least for Osaka citizens. As you approach the park, you are greeted by a huge sculpture, called the Tower of the Sun, which was designed by Taro Okamoto. The park includes various areas, including a Japanese landscape garden and European style gardens and lawns. It is also a popular cherry blossom viewing spot in spring. The National Ethnology Museum is also located in the park, but you do not need to pay for admission to the park if you only want to access the museum.

Photograph provided by Osaka Prefecture