teamLab Planets Tokyo, one of the top 5 most searched museums on Google in 2023
Updated: Apr 4
Perhaps a glimpse of the future, this exhibition removes the boundaries of traditional art and puts your body right in the middle of it. Barefoot, we found ourselves touring a realm of wonder and stimulation.
Be it plants, lights, mirrors, music or even the sense of infinity, this is a museum that blends art, technology and nature in a way that enhanced our vision and senses like no museum we have ever visited before! This rising star of Japan recently confirmed its opening until 2027 due to huge demand. One in ten visitors to Japan come to teamLab Planets in Tokyo!
Our visit to teamLab Planets Tokyo was part of our ten day adventure in Japan, the very first country we visited on the Asian continent. We had such an amazing time exploring the city of Tokyo and its wonderful litany of attractions. History and architecture tend to be our natural attraction but we always look for other out-of-the box experiences and teamLab Planets is most certainly in that category!
Find out everything you need to know about teamLab Planets Tokyo, including what to expect when visiting, where to find teamLab's and most importantly, how to book tickets!
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Who are teamLab Planets?
teamLab planets are a collective of digital artists and creators who came together to push the boundaries of art and the human experience around it. Formed in 2001, this group of animators, engineers, artists and programmers opened exhibits around the world before opening their very first body-immersive museum called Borderless in Odaiba, Japan in 2018.
“we are a interdisciplinary group of ultra-technologists whose collaborative practice seeks to navigate the confluence of art, science, technology, design and the natural world.”
- teamLab Planets
Borderless has since closed, but further exhibitions in Saitama (teamLab Acorn Forest) and Osaka (teamLab Botanical Garden) opened before they added teamLab Planets Tokyo and a very special 'reversible rotation' Vegan Ramen UZU Restaurant Tokyo to their growing collection.
Save for later: Why is the Tokyo SkyTree so famous? Is it worth going?
Find out what we think of this mammoth 634m tower, the world's 3rd tallest structure, from its cool 450m high viewing platform over Tokyo!
What to expect at teamLab Planets Tokyo
While we do conduct a certain amount of research to find places to visit, we try not to look too deeply as to maintain a good level of surprise. We were aware that there would be water and that we would be required to wear shorts. It was also advised that due to glass floors in certain exhibits that skirts and dresses were not advised.
When we arrived we were given an introduction to the immersive nature of the museum, and offered the chance to download teamLab's Distributed Fire app which makes The Infinite Crystal Universe even more interactive (although we did not try it). There is also a 'flame' feature involving the Universe of Fire Particles Falling from the Sky. If you do try the app, please do let us know how you get on!
After the intro we were taken to a locker room where you can store your shoes and bags. The museum does provide footwear for the outdoor Moss Garden of Resonating Microcosms, but for this section only. After that we followed our group to the Floating Flower Garden, and then from there we were pretty much left to our own devices. More on the exhibits later!
There are different levels, from climbing the incline of the waterfall of lights to falling into the Soft Black Hole. Each exhibit is connected through dark hallways with minimal lighting and this helped us maintain our sense of focus between sections. Each one was so unique that it kind of took a lot out of us! The light displays in particular, combined with the mirrors, felt like they were tricking our sense of depth and vision. But do not get us wrong, this was all part of the fun!
The Exhibits at teamLab Planets Tokyo
⪢ Moss Garden of Resonating Microcosms
Solidified Light Color, Sunrise and Sunset
This is the first stop on the tour and is located outside. Having just taken off our shoes in the locker room, we were given returnable slides to wear for this exhibit. Even though it was pretty cold outside we did appreciate this one, although we were keen to head back into the warmth as soon as we could!
This garden contains 'Ovoids' that change appearance with the sunrise and sunset. They are laid out tactfully across the moss garden. The ovoids are designed to reflect the world around them and shine on their own as night falls, independently using a total of 61 different colors to capture the environment around them. This is exhibit is fully interactive and the ovoid's can be touched or pushed; they are designed to fall back and then rebound, releasing a resonating tone. The ovoids are also co-ordinated and resonate together, as one organism.
Moss was one of the first terrestrial organisms to appear on Earth, which prior was a ball of sand and rock (on land). As mosses and ferns appeared, forests were created, and from there life as we know it pretty much exploded all over the globe.
Mosses are poikilohydric, meaning the water content in the cells changes according to surrounding humidity levels. This means that moss can survive long periods without water, changing their color and shape dramatically when the air is dry versus when it is wet.
⪢ Floating Flower Garden
Flowers and I are of the Same Root, the Garden and I are One
This striking zen flower garden consists of a three-dimensional mass of hanging orchids which are literally 'floating' above. They move up and down creating open spaces, allowing for freedom of movement.
The floor, like several of the exhibits, is a mirror and as you immerse yourself in the flowers from above and below, alongside the soft music, you immediately feel a sense of calm and peace. This was one of our favorite exhibits and it was a really beautiful moment just cuddling together beneath the color and fragrance of the flowers. Plus orchids are literally Leon's favorite!
Zen gardens are believed to have been created as a place for Zen priests to become one with nature. There is a story called "Nansen’s Flower" in which someone asked the monk Nansen about the famous saying, “Heaven and I are of the same root. All things and I are of the same substance,” remarking on how wonderful it was. Nansen, pointing to an orchid flower in the garden, replied, “People these days see this flower as if they were in a dream."
In this work, people immerse themselves in flowers, becoming one with the garden. When someone continues to look at a flower closely, the flower looks back. At that moment, they become one with the flower and may truly see flowers for the first time.
- teamLab Planets
Most orchids are able to grow without soil by absorbing water from the air. The flowers in this exhibit are very much alive and well cared for, indeed even thriving in this environment. As teamLab's puts it, they are literally growing 'in mid air'.
'It can be said that flowers are born to produce diversity. The most evolved orchids have chosen a diversity that overwhelms all other flowers, and it is that diversity that has allowed them to evolve to survive in a variety of places where no other plants exist'
- teamLab Planets
Flowering plants, the last to arrive on Earth, faced a crowded landscape. Unlike their predecessors, orchids, the latest bloomers in the floral world, couldn't simply root themselves in the already occupied soil. To carve out their niche, these resourceful plants took to the skies, evolving to thrive on rocks and trees, effectively becoming the first epiphytes, or air plants. This unique adaptation not only ensured their survival but also paved the way for remarkable diversification. Today, orchids boast the most diverse collection among all plant families, with a staggering 10% of all known plant species belonging to this captivating group.
⪢ The Infinite Crystal Universe
In this exhibit, light points are used to create three-dimensional objects, with the lights extending infinitely in all directions. Coupled with the mirrored floor, this section was almost slightly disorientating in parts, but that is literally a part of the experience. We totally got lost in the mystique of the lights, weaving through them while taking some pretty epic photos and videos!
With the teamLab app, you are able to use your smartphone to throw 'elements' into The Infinite Crystal Universe. We did not see this in action, regrettably, but if you do give it a try feel free to let us know about how it worked!
⪢ Soft Black Hole
Your Body Becomes a Space that Influences Another Body
This was like walking in a giant room of beanbags! It was almost impossible to walk on, which is precisely the point. We took a moment to lay down and take in the softness of the surface, before crawling our way to the end. We were a little behind the main group at this point so there were few people here at the time. As intended, the more people there are, the more the space fluctuates and changes. We really had to be aware of our bodies, not just to move forward but also because our footing was effectively out of our control. Great exhibit!
In modern life we are surrounded by flat hard surfaces, so that in our daily lives we have lost consciousness of our bodies, we have forgotten them. In natural forests flat ground does not exist. This installation is a space to remind us of the body that we have forgotten in everyday life, and to make us more conscious of our body mass.
- teamLab Planets
⪢ Waterfall of Light Particles at the Top of an Incline
This was more of a walk through exhibit on the way to the koi pool. You walk up the incline as continuous running water cascades through your feet, with beautiful lighting adding to the calming sound of the water itself. We weren't entirely clear on what the message was here, but it was still a cool experience.
⪢ Drawing on the Water Surface Created by the Dance of Koi and People
Infinity
This is the exhibit which will challenge you if you do not follow the 'wear shorts' advice! The water in here was almost knee deep (and nice and warm too). At first it we thought it was 'just' fish and flowers being projected onto the water, and that it was not that impressive. Yet a few moments in, we became completely drawn by the beautiful movements of the 'koi' and the wide array of bold colored flowers.
It became even more impressive as shadows seemed not to be an issue, almost as if the koi were being projected from below the surface. Then we realised that the koi were moving as we came towards or touched them. They really did scatter if touched and it was at this point that this exhibit really moved up a notch in our book!
teamLab even states that throughout a year, the flowers that bloom will change along with the seasons! The trajectory of the koi is determined by the movements of people and trace lines on the surface of the water. The work is rendered in real time by a computer program that is in a continuous state of flux and is neither prerecorded nor on loop. At any point all movements are entirely unique and bespoke which in our minds takes this exhibition to a whole other level!
⪢ Matter is Void
Fire
This exhibit is an 'NFT' artwork and displays the words chosen by teamLab, “Matter is Void”. There is something here in terms of being able to download the artwork and have a unique piece due to the continuous revolving letters and rotations. This sounds pretty cool but we do not really understand it and so just chose to simply check it out.
Honestly we found this exhibit to be a little disappointing. It is in a long, dark rectangular room which offshoots from the Koi waters. There was a small bench to sit on in front of a large raised platform which was out of bounds. There was still water here too but not as deep.
The artwork was not all too spectacular and with nothing else to do we moved on quickly. The idea behind it is certainly a modern one, but there was no information explaining it and at the time, we did not even know it had anything to do with NFT's. There is more to read on the teamLab website and if you are about NFT's, this may be the exhibit for you.
⪢ Expanding Three-Dimensional Existence in Transforming Space
The space is filled with giant spheres of free floating light. We were able to move freely between them and when touched the spheres would change color, and that color resonates, almost like a ripple, to the surrounding spheres and then eventually them all. This was super fun and a great spot for photos too. We found it to be very immersive and we spent a good amount of time chilling in this one.
Kasane no Irome is the name in Japan given to seasonal colors created in silk and in the past, silk was so thin that the liner was transparent, often helping to create more complex colors. It is this principal that the spheres are modelled on, thus producing nine blurred colors - light in water, sunlight on water plants, morning glow, morning sky, sky at twilight, peach, plum, iris and spring maple. The colors blue, red, and green are also used, producing a total of twelve colors for this exhibit.
⪢ Floating in the Falling Universe of Flowers
This exhibit is one place you really want to lie down in (and you can, there is no water here). The artwork of flowers is incredibly created in real time, continuously rendering to create a magnificent feeling that everything you are watching will never be seen again.
The art represents a seasonal year of flowers, from the birth and bloom to their wither and death. It streaks across the ceiling of the room as if spread out across the 'sky'. We felt like we were floating amongst a dazzling universe of nature, as if becoming 'one' with the work. This was one of our favorites and we had a real moment here.
⪢ Universe of Fire Particles Falling from the Sky
This interactive digital obelisk is actually located outside the museum, directly in front of the entrance.
As with the exhibits inside, the obelisk is affected by touch and creates dark black spots as you stand on the tiles around it. It too is in a state of perpetual, continuous change. This vibrant piece highlights the importance and phenomenon of fire, using lines to represent combusting gas, braking out into flames when the lines accumulate and cross.
It is great to look at, and this is also an exhibit in which you can utilize the teamLab Distributed Fire app. If you launch the Distributed Fire app and approach this artwork, the flame will ignite and you can take the artwork home with you. When close to another person's smartphone, a flame will alight. As you connect the flame, and they connect that flame with someone else, the flame will spread all over the world. The flames that are spread are displayed on the Map of The Flame.
How much time will you need at teamLab Planets Tokyo?
teamLab Planets Tokyo is a whopping 10,000sqm with ten exhibits in total. It took us just over one hour to get around. We also had the opportunity to go around a second time too, so you could easily set aside 2 hours. As we weaved our way through the displays, with their synchronized music and beautiful lights, we felt ourselves almost floating in a world of amazement and wonder. Time had no bearing here!
How popular is teamLab Planets Tokyo?
teamLab Planets in Tokyo is currently experiencing a surge in popularity. It ranked among the top 5 most searched museums globally on Google in 2023, and also held the number one spot for inbound tourist destinations in Japan, with over 1 million visitors from 182 countries.
Due to close in 2024, it recently extended its exhibition to 2027 owing to such high demand. Positive online reviews further solidify its status as a must-see attraction in Tokyo.
Getting Tickets for teamLab Planets Tokyo
We purchased our tickets online, however there are also vending machines that you can use onsite to pay by cash should you so wish. That being said, this is one of Tokyo's most popular attractions and is regularly sold out online (in which case no on-the-spot tickets either).
⪢ Monday to Friday
Adults (18 years or older) | ¥3,800 JPY | $25.34 USD | $34.34 CAD | £20.03 GBP |
Junior & High school students | ¥2,800 JPY | $18.67 USD | $25.31 CAD | £14.76 GBP |
Children (4-12 years old) | ¥1,500 JPY | $10 USD | $13.56 CAD | £7.90 GBP |
Children under 3 years old | Free | Free | Free | Free |
Disability discount | ¥1,900 JPY | $12.67 USD | $17.17 CAD | £10.01 GBP |
⪢ Weekends, holidays and special periods
Adults (18 years or older) | ¥4,200 JPY | $27.99 USD | $37.96 CAD | £22.13 GBP |
Junior & High school students | ¥2,800 JPY | $18.66 USD | $25.31 CAD | £14.76 GBP |
Children (4-12 years old) | ¥1,500 JPY | $10 USD | $13.56 CAD | £7.90 GBP |
Children under 3 years old | Free | Free | Free | Free |
Disability discount | ¥2,100 JPY | $14 USD | $18.98 CAD | £11.07 GBP |
If you purchase your tickets online, you will be sent an email with a QR code within 2 days of your event date.
Note that if you have a QR code, you will be asked to show this as a 'live email' prior to entering. Screenshots are not accepted. There is free WiFi available at the entrance should you need it.
Tap below to find out more about saving time AND money with Klook
● [Klook Exclusive Offer] Save up to 2 hours with the Skip-the-line Premium Pass, to enter anytime within the admission hours with no waiting time!
● [Klook Exclusive Offer2] Special combo ticket with the newly opened Senkyaku Banrai Toyosu Manyo Club Onsen! The ticket includes admission to teamLab Planets as well as admission to Senkyaku Banrai Onsen, Foot Bath, and 1 free drink!
teamLab Planets Tokyo opening times
teamLab Planets Tokyo is open every day, from 9am to 10pm. Last admission is at 9pm.
At peak times there can be delays of up to 90 minutes on arrival, even if you have a pre-booked ticket.
Note: teamLab Planets do adjust opening times based on the seasons. The times stated above are set to run until May 2024. If you are reading this after that date, check the website for the latest information.
Things to know if your planning a visit to teamLab Planets
⪢ Planning & Logistics
● Buy tickets online and in advance: Tickets sell out quickly, especially during peak seasons and holidays.
● Consider going during off-peak hours: While crowds are inevitable, visiting around dinnertime (7-10pm) or weekdays can offer a slightly less congested experience.
● Prepare for a no-shoe experience: Bare feet are required for several exhibits, so dress comfortably and bring socks if desired.
● Leave large bags and tripods at home: Lockers are available for smaller belongings, but large bags and tripods are not allowed.
⪢ Maximizing your Experience
● Download the teamLab app: It provides additional information about the exhibits and allows interaction with certain installations.
● Go with the flow: Don't feel rushed, take your time, and fully immerse yourself in each exhibit.
● Capture the moment: While professional photography equipment isn't allowed, feel free to take photos and videos with your phone or camera (be mindful of the water exhibits).
● Embrace the interactive elements: Many exhibits respond to touch and movement, so participate and have fun!
Bonus Tip: Be aware that some people may find the darkened, immersive environments slightly disorienting, so plan accordingly if you have any sensitivities.
How to get to teamLab Planets in Tokyo
There are plenty of options to get to teamLab Planets, and it is very accessible from most parts of Tokyo. Here are a few options:
⪢ Train
The nearest train station is Toyosu Station on the Yurikamome Line. From the station, it's a 10-minute walk to the museum.
Nearest subway stations:
● Shin-Toyosu Station - Tokyo Waterfront Line, Yurikamome Line (1 minute walk)
● Toyosu Station - Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line (10 minute walk, also a 5 minute walk from Toyosu Market)
● Shijoumae Station - (5 minute walk)
⪢ Car
If you are driving there is plenty of parking available to the right hand side of the main entrance and is free (as far as we could see). The address is below the map.
⪢ Bus
Several buses stop near the museum, including the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation (Toei) bus routes and the Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit (BRT) bus.
Note that due to heavy congestion from those arriving by bus, teamLab's kindly request visitors to use other means of transportation if possible.
⪢ Taxi
Taxis are readily available in Tokyo, but be prepared for potential traffic congestion, especially during peak hours. This is also potentially the most expensive option.
⪢ Water Bus
For a unique experience, consider taking the water bus from Asakusa or Hinode Pier to the museum.
Address: 6 Chome-1-16 Toyosu, Koto City, Tokyo 135-0061, Japan
Website: teamlab.art/jp/e/planets/
Instagram: @teamlab
Facebook: @TEAMLAB.inc
YouTube: @teamLabArt
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This vibrant museum has stunning exhibits that showcase the beauty of goldfish, considered sacred in Japan, with light & color as living art.
Our teamLab Planets Tokyo experience rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
To be honest, there is absolutely no reason why we would not give teamLab Planets the full 5 stars here! It was a totally unique experience the neither of us have had before. They have done a fantastic job of making this as immersive as they say it is and it is a fantastic place to visit for tourists and locals alike. We were very impressed and highly recommend you check this place out if you are headed to Tokyo anytime soon!
As ever thank you for reading, and please feel free to share your experience, or ask any questions you may have, in the comments below. All feedback on the post is welcome too!
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