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 moved to Azabudai Hills as a permanent location in 2024. We also visited teamLab Planets which can be found in Toyosu and is planned to be open until 2027.
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 Planets is inside a large warehouse building. It’s like a maze of different rooms and light displays to explore and discover. There is 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.
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.
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 Planets 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!
Tickets
Tickets sell out fast on popular days so purchase in advance for Planets online and for Borderless online to be sure that you can enter at the time you want to go.
Ticket costs are online for Planets: Adult ¥3600, high school students ¥2800, Children 4-12yrs ¥1500, Under 3 years: free
Ticket costs for Borderless change each day so check online prices from ¥3600 to ¥5600 for adults.
Hours: 8am to 10pm times can vary, always check online.
Location:
teamLab Planets: Toyosu 6-1-16, Koto-ku, Tokyo
teamLab Borderless: Azabudai Hills Garden Plaza B B1, 5-9, Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo
While you are here…
teamLab planets is right next to the Toyosu markets and a few stops to Odaiba on the Yurikamome line which is a driverless monorail – sit up the front if you can.
In the Odaiba area you can visit the Museum of Maritime Science or Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation. Aquacity Odaiba with shopping and a Ramen theme park where you can try Ramen from all over Japan. In this area you will also find Decks Tokyo Beach, Joypolis, Lego land Discovery Centre, Madam Tussauds and Trick Art Museum.
Diver City is a good spot for some shopping. Out the front is a life-size Gundam statue – try and time your visit to when it transforms into battle mode! You can also check out the Gundam cafe for a Gundam hot chocolate and then visit Tokyo Base for Gundam model kits – awesome souvenirs.
teamLabs Borderless is in the Azabudai Hills building which has a number of restaurants as well as shopping and other art galleries.
Need more info?
Official teamLab website
Japan Travel