🎯 What Comes After the Two-Month Advance Lottery?
Once the two-month advance lottery ends, the next big opportunity is the seven-day advance lottery.
In fact, I have my own failure story from a past seven-day lottery…
So this time, I’d like to share how I would approach the 7-day advance lottery differently—
what I’ve learned, and how you can avoid the same mistakes.
Stay with me—this might help you get that reservation you’ve been hoping for!
📅 How the 7-Day Advance Lottery Works
You can apply for the 7-day advance lottery starting one month before your visit,
and the application period closes 8 days before your visit.
The results are announced 7 days before your visit date.
So for example, if you’re planning to go on August 20,
you can apply between July 20 and August 12,
and you’ll find out whether you won on August 13.
The 7-day advance lottery is a tough one.
⚠️ Let Me Be Clear: The 7-Day Advance Lottery Is a Tough One
Yes—some people do win in the 7-day advance lottery.
After all, there are available slots, so of course some applicants will succeed.
But here’s the catch:
You can apply for the 7-day lottery up to 8 days before your visit,
so the number of participants is much higher than in the 2-month lottery.
🎲 The 7-Day Lottery Is Pure Luck
Let me put it plainly:
- The 7-day lottery is luck-based.
- The 7-day lottery often ends in disappointment.
Even for pavilions that seem to have a high number of slots,
you can still lose—simply because so many people are applying.
📊 Looking at the Numbers Can Be Misleading
If you check the official list of reservation slots,
you might think the 7-day lottery gives you a better chance:
- The number of slots looks similar to the 2-month lottery.
- In some cases, there are even more pavilions available than in the 2-month lottery.
But what really matters is how many people are entering.
And in that regard, the 7-day lottery is completely different.
It’s crowded. It’s competitive. It’s unpredictable.
🧠 Takeaway:
Don’t be fooled by the numbers alone.
Winning the 7-day lottery is not about strategy—it’s often just chance.
✅ Before You Choose Your 1st to 5th Picks for the 7-Day Advance Lottery
Before jumping into your top 5 pavilion choices for the 7-day lottery,
take a moment to go through this checklist. Planning ahead can make a big difference!
📍 1. Check the official list of available slots
Make sure your target pavilions are actually available for reservation during your visit date.
Some may not offer 7-day lottery slots on certain days.
🗺️ 2. Use the map to check locations
Avoid selecting pavilions that are far apart in back-to-back time slots.
Use Tsuji-san’s unofficial map or the official map to plan your route.
⏰ 3. Leave enough time between reservations
Give yourself at least 1 hour between reservation times—especially for the same pavilion.
Even if the system lets you pick overlapping times, your reservation might be invalid.
👥 4. Check group member availability
Make sure all people in your group can attend at the selected times and gates.
Last-minute changes may not be allowed.
🎯 5. Mix high-demand and low-demand pavilions
Don’t pick only super popular ones.
Include at least one pavilion with 5,000+ slots per day to improve your odds of winning at least one.
Taking just a little time to prepare before choosing your top 5 can greatly increase your chances—and help you enjoy the Expo with less stress.
What You Need Before Choosing Your Top 5 Picks for the 7-Day Advance Lottery
Just like with the 2-month advance lottery, you’ll want to have the following two items ready before choosing your top 5 picks for the 7-day advance lottery:
No Reservations Yet? Don’t Panic—Here’s What You Can Do at the 7-Day Lottery Stage
🎯 No Reservations Yet? Here’s How to Approach the 7-Day Advance Lottery
If you’re entering the 7-day advance lottery with no confirmed reservations,
feel free to start by simply choosing your favorite pavilions and planning a schedule that suits you.
But—unlike the 2-month lottery—there’s one big difference:
⚠️ The 7-Day Lottery Has a Much Lower Success Rate
When you look at the official list of available slots,
it might seem like the number of slots hasn’t changed—or even increased.
However, that doesn’t mean it’s easier to win.
The real issue is the huge number of participants.
Even the pavilions you picked “just in case” can end up being fully booked.
That’s how competitive the 7-day lottery really is.
🎯 So, What’s Your Priority?
Ask yourself this question:
- ❗ Do I want to take a chance on my absolute favorite pavilion?
- ✅ Or do I just want to secure any reservation?
Your answer will completely change how you choose your pavilions.
⏰ Once You’ve Decided, Just Choose the Times
After selecting your top 5 pavilions, all that’s left is to choose the time slots.
Important:
If you’re applying for the same pavilion more than once,
make sure to leave at least one full hour between time slots.
📌 For details, check my article on the 2-Month Advance Lottery—it explains this in depth.
Planning smart can make the difference between a stressful day and a great experience.
You’ve got this—good luck! 🍀
If You Already Have One Reservation Before the 7-Day Lottery
🧠 Already Have a Reservation? Then You Have More to Think About
If you already have one or more reservations from a different route (like the 2-month lottery),
your planning gets more complex—but don’t worry, it’s manageable!
🚨 Important: No System Warnings for Conflicts
If you’ve made a reservation through a different method or lottery,
you won’t get a warning when applying for new time slots in the 7-day lottery.
That’s why you need to be extra careful.
⚠️ Key Point #1: Time Management
Don’t just choose a time slot because:
- It’s available
- The system lets you click without error
- It looks convenient
This approach can backfire—especially with certain pavilions.
🏥 Example: Osaka Healthcare Pavilion
Official info (and some guidebooks like Pia) say it takes about 60 minutes.
But in reality?
Some visitors spend over 4 hours inside!
Why?
- It’s packed with interactive experiences
- You’re not forced to leave at a set time, so you can stay as long as you like
💬 I had a similar experience with the Future City Pavilion—lots of content and freedom to explore at your own pace.
Of course, many people go through more quickly—
so think about your own style and how long you’d personally like to spend.
⚡ On the Other Hand: Some Pavilions Run Exactly on Time
Take the Electric Power Pavilion, for example.
When I visited, it was almost perfectly timed.
There’s a glowing “egg” system that subtly guides you to the next area.
Even if you’re not paying attention, friendly staff will help you move along.
🔍 What Should You Do?
Before applying for any time slot, take just a few minutes to:
- Look up the estimated experience time for each pavilion
- Read reports or blog posts from people who have already visited
You’ll find lots of wonderful reviews and firsthand insights out there ✨
And that little bit of research can help you build a smooth, enjoyable Expo day.
🕒 Point #2: Arrival Time Rules Vary by Pavilion
One of the most confusing parts of Expo 2025 is the check-in time system for each pavilion.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Some require you to arrive before the start time
- Some allow you to arrive exactly at the start time
- Others won’t let you line up until after the scheduled time
And even more confusing…
Some pavilions are strict about punctuality—even being one minute late means you’re out.
Others are more lenient and may still let you in if you’re a little late.
📝 Before applying, find out how your chosen pavilions handle arrival times.
🗺️ Point #3: Distance Between Pavilions
The Expo site is huge.
You need to consider the distance between the pavilion you’ve already booked
and the pavilion you want to apply for in the 7-day lottery.
Also factor in time for:
- 🧻 Bathroom breaks
- 🧃 Rest or hydration
- 🏃 Unexpected crowds or walking delays
If your schedule is too tight, you’ll end up:
- Running across the site
- Missing part of the experience
- Or worst of all—missing your slot completely
💡 Choose your lottery times with realistic transitions and rest breaks in mind.
🎯 Now, Let’s Choose Your 1st to 5th Picks
Time to apply strategy!
As I’ve said many times—the 7-day lottery is tough.
So before you begin, ask yourself:
- 😤 “I only want this one pavilion—nothing else matters!”
→ Go ahead and apply for that one five times, but be prepared to lose. - 😊 “I’d like to win at least one reservation if possible.”
→ Then you need a different approach.
Here’s what I recommend:
✅ Smart Application Strategy
- Do not rely on your 5th pick as a fallback.
Even “easy” pavilions often don’t work as backups anymore. - Don’t repeat your 2-month strategy.
You’ll likely end up with nothing. - If you truly want a reservation,
put pavilions with high slot counts (5,000+ per day) from your 1st choice onward. - Avoid ultra-popular pavilions, even if they have lots of slots—they still fill up fast.
- You can repeat the same pavilion in different time slots
OR
choose different high-slot pavilions in the same time window that interests you.
🎯 Bonus Tip: Consider “Same-Day Reservation” Pavilions
These days, many pavilions allow same-day reservations,
and some are known to be easier to book on the day of your visit.
Intentionally targeting those in your 7-day picks might give you better odds than going for top-tier pavilions.
🙏 Final Thoughts
I hope at least one tip in this guide has been helpful to you.
And if you do win a reservation in the 7-day advance lottery—
please celebrate! 🎉
It means you beat some very tough odds.
Wishing you the best of luck and a truly amazing Expo experience! 🌟
Let’s enjoy the Expo!
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