teamLab
teamLab are a group of Japanese artists that use digital technology and interactive art with exhibitions around the world. Their exhibitions range from individual artworks to restaurants with interactive displays to full museums.
We visited teamLab Borderless in Odaiba, which closed in August 2022 and is relocating to the Toranomon-Azabudai Project (completion 2023). teamLab Planets TOKYO in Toyosu is open until the end of 2023.
For a full list of current exhibitions visit the ‘Now Open’ exhibitions page on the official website.
teamLab exhibitions are described as museums but I think a better description is an interactive light adventure! If you are looking for something hands on for the kids – this is a must!
teamLab Borderless is inside a large warehouse building. It’s like a maze of different rooms and light displays to explore and discover. There is no map and no set path to take it’s a bit like a choose your own adventure!
It’s fairly dark inside and especially in the passageways between the rooms so it does feel like a labyrinth. Occasionally you will come a across a queue and you can join the queue and find out where it leads or walk past and find something else to visit. It’s completely up to you.
Top Tips
- Wear flat shoes. Some of the room you will be required to change into hire shoes if you have heels.
- Leave your bags in the lockers at the entrance. Lockers are ¥100 which is returned when you leave. It’s dark inside and much easier to travel light without lugging bags around. There is also a place to lock up prams.
- There are a number of rooms with mirrored floors so pants are advisable. If you do wear a skirt there are black wrap around ‘modesty’ skirts available.
- At teamLab Plants some rooms have knee high water, bring a change of clothes for kids in case they get wet, otherwise they cannot continue through the other areas of the exhibition.
- Take lots of photos, you are allowed to take photos in all areas.
- There is an app you can download to interact with some of the exhibitions, but it took a while to connect and we were just happy using phones to take photos instead!
Who would enjoy this…
teamLab is an awesome place to visit, especially all the interactive activities for kids. It is a particularly good activity for a rainy day as it is all indoors.
Tickets teamLab Planets
Tickets sell out fast on popular days so purchase in advance online to be sure that you can enter.
Ticket costs online: Adult ¥3200, high school students ¥2000, Children 4-12yrs ¥1000, Under 3 years: free
Hours: 10am to 8pm weekdays and 10am to 9pm weekends.
Location: teamLab Planets TOKYO, Toyosu 6-1-16, Koto-ku, Tokyo
In Odaiba also check out
teamLab planets is now about a 40 minutes walk from Odaiba or about 15 minutes on the Yurikamome line.
In Palette Town you will find Toyota Mega Web and one of the World’s largest Ferris Wheels.
Diver City has awesome shopping. out the front is a life-size Gundam statue – try and time the visit to when it transforms into battle mode! Pretty awesome. You can also check out the Gundam cafe for a Gundam hot chocolate ans then visit Tokyo Base for Gundam model kits – awesome souvenirs.
Visit some Museums, such as the Museum of Maritime Science or Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation
Aquacity Odaiba with shopping and a Ramen theme park to try Ramen from all over Japan.
Decks Tokyo Beach, Joypolis, Lego land Discovery Centre, Madam Tussauds and Trick Art Museum.