Immersive Japan: A Journey Through Digital Wonders, Expo Dreams, and Timeless Culture

Why Japan in July?

When people think of Japan, they often imagine cherry blossoms or autumn leaves — but for me, late July 2025 was the perfect time to visit. The driving force behind the plan? One reason: EXPO 2025 Osaka Kansai. Add to that my love for museums, immersive spaces, and digital art, and it became a pilgrimage of sorts — a journey to witness how Japan blends tradition with innovation.

EXPO 2025: A Global Vision in Osaka

30 July 2025 | Osaka

Despite the intense summer heat and it being a weekday, lakhs of people flocked to EXPO 2025. The energy was contagious.

We began at the Bangladesh Pavilion, then wandered into Indonesia, Spain, Japan, India, Canada, Singapore, Thailand, and Qatar and many more. Each one offered new ideas, immersive storytelling, and futuristic concepts.

Personal favourites:

• Spain – Bold, architectural, and immersive.

• Thailand – Warm, welcoming, and deeply rooted in storytelling.

• Qatar – A seamless blend of heritage and future vision.

We left only when the gates shut. Tired, yes. Inspired, even more.

Animation to Illumination: A Day in Osaka

31 July 2025

We kicked off with childlike joy at Universal Studios Japan, walking among our favourite animated characters, indulging in rides, and soaking in nostalgia.

By evening, the tone shifted to meditative wonder as we entered the teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka — a place where technology enhances nature without disturbing it. The garden came alive with digital light, projection, and sound in harmony with bamboo and water. It was magical.

Later, a stroll through Shinsaibashi Street gave us a taste of Osaka's youthful buzz — shops, snacks, and stylish crowds.

Kyoto: Intimate, Calm, and Deeply Beautiful

1 August 2025

We arrived in Kyoto and instantly felt the shift. Smaller, cozier, quieter — a city that embraces slowness.

Our first stop: Kyoto Aquarium. This wasn’t just a place for marine life — it was an immersive design experience. You truly feel as if you're under the sea. It took us three full hours to absorb it all.

Then we headed to Nishiki Market — traditional yet chic. We picked up souvenirs and wandered through beautifully curated local stores before returning to our hotel in Ekihigashi.

Note to self: Must come back in winter. Kyoto deserves more time.

Tokyo: Where Technology Becomes Emotion

2–4 August 2025 | Roppongi, Tokyo

The Shinkansen (bullet train) took us from Kyoto to Tokyo in no time. Comfortable and quiet — like everything in Japan.

We stayed in Roppongi, close to the city’s pulse. And this is where I experienced teamLab Planets and the final show of teamLab Borderless at the Azabudai Hills Mori Building Digital Art Museum.

teamLab Planets

• Walk barefoot through water.

• See koi fish projected around your feet.

• Feel like you're floating in a dream.

teamLab Borderless (Last Show)

Before the show, we visited the Mori Tower Observation Deck and stumbled upon a free exhibit on a Japanese illustrator. A quiet gem.Then came the grand finale — the last day of Borderless. An overwhelming digital world where art has no boundary. A sensory feast.

We had dinner at a cozy Thai restaurant inside the Mori building — so good, we returned the next day for our final meal in Japan.

Final Day in Tokyo: Shinjuku & Sweet Goodbyes

4 August 2025

Our last day was all about Shinjuku — shopping, street food, and soaking in the electric buzz of Tokyo. We wandered through local stalls, snacked our way through the alleys, and wrapped up with a nostalgic dinner at our now-favourite Thai restaurant.

Leaving Japan, But Not Really

5 August 2025 | Departure

I left Japan the next day… but a part of me stayed behind. In the gardens of Osaka. In the koi projections of teamLab. In the quiet streets of Kyoto. In the neon of Tokyo nights.

 I don’t just want to return — I want to live here someday.

Until then, sayonara Japan. You’ve changed me.