Charles Brown is an intern from the United States. He is earning his Masters Degree in Public Administration at the University of New Orleans, where he lives. He is passionate about experiencing different cultures and living an exciting life with reckless abandon, which is why this company was a perfect fit for him. He is also a big fan of all things sports, especially soccer. Just don’t challenge him, because he is overly competitive.
Once you get your fill of shrines and ancient temples, you might want something a little more modern. You might even want something futuristic. Of course, Tokyo has just that! teamLab is a worldwide art collective that blends art, science and technology with the natural world. They create art museums featuring interactive works brought forth by technology that make you feel like you’re living in the year 3000. The physical experience of the art is not the only cool part. The meaning behind the art will also change your understanding of the concepts of life, space, time, sense, and so much more.
teamLab Planets is one of Tokyo’s exhibitions from the futuristic art collective. Located in Toyosu, teamLab Planets is an awesome experience for all ages that will stun you not only visually, but will also immerse your other senses as well. Technically, teamLab Planets is a temporary museum. The closing date keeps getting extended, however and it’s currently scheduled to be open until 2027. That said, with a reecent expansion and its ongoing popularity, I wouldn’t be surprised to see it’s closing date extended again. Don’t mistake it for teamLab Borderless, Tokyo’s other (and permanent) museum, both are worth visiting but they are different!
If you haven’t already, purchase your tickets here: teamLab Planets Tokyo
What teamLab Planets Tokyo is About
teamLab Planets TOKYO © teamLab
This exhibition dissolves the boundaries between art, the self, and others, creating a world where we are all in this continuous space experiencing the beauty of life and art as one. This barefoot experience connects you with the art in a way that you have never felt before.
What teamLab Planets Has to Offer
teamLab Planets TOKYO © teamLab
Don’t worry about spoilers because even if we tell you everything there is to see at teamLab Planets, words can’t describe what you’ll experience when you’re actually immersed in the art. With four massive exhibition spaces and two gardens, there are a ton of interactive experiences for you, your friends, and your family. There are two paths , the Garden Area and the Water Area. Visitors go through the Water Area first, followed by the Garden Area.
Hours
teamLab Planets TOKYO
9:00 AM – 10:00 PM (Last Entrance one hour before the closing time.)
*Closed: April 10 and May 8, 2025
Vegan Ramen UZU TokyoteamLab Flower Shop & Art
10:30 AM – 8:30 PM (Last order: 8:00 PM)
teamLab Planets Tokyo Tickets
Admission
Adults (18 Years and above): 4,000~ yen
Junior high school / High school: 2,800 yen
Children (Ages 4-12): 1,500 yen
Under 3 years of age: Free
Disability discount: 2,000~ yen
If you’re interested in purchasing tickets, click the link here!
Some of the Things to Experience
We are barely scratching the surface of the exhibits you’ll find here, but here are a few highlights that you can look forward to experiencing!
Wade in the Koi Pond
teamLab Planets TOKYO © teamLab
Because this is a barefoot experience, don’t worry about wearing the nicest shoes to the exhibit. You won’t have them on anyway and your feet will definitely be getting wet in the Water Area. You’ll also wade through an artwork featuring digitally created koi rendered in real time by a computer program, so depending on how tall you are, your shins or even past your knees could get wet too. Therefore, we recommend wearing shorts or pants you can easily roll up for the most comfortable and convenient experience.
Fall in the Black Hole
teamLab Planets TOKYO © teamLab
Another fun section is the Soft Black Hole. Here, you get to feel how the environment influences your body and how your body influences the environment and the bodies of others. The concept behind it is that we’ve lost the consciousness of our bodies due to the flat and rigid world our society has created, and this is a way to help bring back that consciousness, reconnect us with our natural selves, and show us how we all influence each other through our movements and actions.
See the Moss Garden
teamLab Planets TOKYO © teamLab
The Moss Garden of Resonating Microcosms is also one that brings a very interesting concept to life. The Ovoids in the moss garden are reactive to the actual sunrise and sunset, the touch of a person, and even the wind blowing. They change colors and even make beautiful sounds depending on the external stimuli, with the tones and changes in color resonating to the other ovoids surrounding them. These ovoids can represent moss and how it responds to external stimuli, which helps make us consider the concept of what it means to be alive in this world of constant stimulus.
New Things to Experience
teamLab Planets expanded in 2025 with two new exciting new areas: the “Athletics Forest” and “Forest Planets.” Athletics Forest is a more physically demanding interactive experience while Forest Planets is an interactive learning experience that requires a smart phone to participate.
Again, this is just a snapshot of a few highlights. Each area has so much more!
Bounce on Rapidly Rotating Spheres in the Caterpillar House
teamLab Planets TOKYO © teamLab
In a space that’s like a bouncy castle meets art gallery, you can jump on any of the spheres and watch digital caterpillars emerge from within. What’s exciting, is that the spheres spin rapidly until you approach them and then they stop, allowing you to jump on it. Jump on spheres of the same color in succession to see them ‘pop’ and give way to the creatures within.
Aerial Climbing through a Flock of Colored Birds
teamLab Planets TOKYO © teamLab
Climb across horizontal bars of varying colors as they are suspended in the air. As you navigate, trying not to fall, you are also trying to (or not to) influence others as your steps (and theirs!) are all connected, and affect the movement of the surrounding bars. Your steps are accompanied by sound and light, which only increases as more and more people climb. As you climb, you also influence the movement of thousands of brightly colored birds here, who demonstrate how we all influence each other in the absense of a set leader or or set of agreed upon movements.
Lamps, Tea and Sake Lit in a Mysterious Order
teamLab Planets TOKYO © teamLab
Enter a space with orchid filled lamps and glasses of tea and sake which glows in its own rhythm, synchronizing with each other. While the order of the lights is completely random, over time a spontaneous order phenomenon is created, highlighting how they influence each other to create something much bigger than its individual part, much like the entire universe around us.
Best Spots for IG pics
If there’s one thing you don’t want to leave at home, it is your phone. This art exhibition is not only physically interactive but technologically interactive as well, which makes it even better. Ok, everything here is amazing for the ‘gram, but there are a few exhibits that you’ll definitely want to have your phone with you because they’ll make great backdrops for a perfect instagram post.
Command the Lights in the Infinite Crystal Universe
teamLab Planets TOKYO © teamLab
The Infinite Crystal Universe is a massive room surrounded by countless of hanging LED lights that change constantly. This one is not only visually stunning, but it is also really fun because you can influence the pattern of the 3D lights from your phone if you download the team lab app. It also makes the perfect backdrop for an IG post or new profile pic, and you can make it look however you want.
Snap a Pic in the Floating Flower Garden
teamLab Planets TOKYO © teamLab
Another beautiful spot at teamLab Planets is the Floating Flower Garden. This garden combines a 3-dimensional mass of over 13,000 orchids hanging from above, mirrors everywhere, and constant motion. The hanging garden rises and lowers, given the position of those under the garden. That means every time you or stranger moves in the garden, it becomes a new piece of art, which is perfect for a unique picture every single time. teamLab Planets also has a flower shop where you can buy any one of a variety of orchids that they have. With this you can take a piece of art with you that will last for a very long time if taken care of properly, up to decades!
Expand in 3-D
teamLab Planets TOKYO © teamLab
The Expanding Three-Dimensional Existence in Transforming Space is one of the most fun installations because it is just as interactive as it is visually stunning. In this room, there are floating and freestanding spheres that react to your touch. They react with both changes in light and in sounds, which resonate throughout the room. Depending on the collection of colors that are created by touch in the room, the perception of the room’s size and shape changes.
Things for the Public
teamLab Planets TOKYO © teamLab
Because teamLab is for the people, they offer some really cool stuff without you even having to pay entry to teamLab Planets! The first thing is at the forefront of the complex. The Universe of Particles Falling from the Sky obelisk is the first thing you’ll see when walking up to the building. When you stand in front of it, the fire particles will react to your position, leaving the art in a perpetual state of change. Also, if you download the Distributed Fire app, you can harness that flame from the art and connect it with others who have done the smart. This has resulted in this artistic flame being spread across the world, there’s even a neat map on the app to show you how far the flames have reached.
Eat in the Reverse Rotation – Non-Objective Space
teamLab Planets TOKYO © teamLab
Here, you can eat the vegan ramen from Vegan Ramen UZU Tokyo in a space featuring teamLab’s artwork. It provides a stellar atmosphere for whatever you choose to do. It is like you are inside of the workings of an AI. The patterns on the walls, floor, and ceiling are actually calligraphy that shift between 2 and 3 dimensional spaces. This creates characteristics of an Ultra subjective space, leaving the viewer to be able to see the pattern moving clockwise and/or counterclockwise.
Explore the Vegan Options
Originally from Kyoto, Vegan Ramen UZU Tokyo offers a refreshing alternative to those that do not share the same dietary preferences as the traditional meat-loving culture in Japan. There are several different options of ramen, all with noodles made with wheat flour from Hokkaido and pesticide-free whole grain flour from Aya Town, Miyazaki Prefecture. The soup common to all ramen is made by adding vegetables to Rausu kelp and domestically produced shiitake mushrooms, letting it steep for 12 hours, and then simmering it at a low temperature. You can also grab one of several different types of teas offered and then get one of their vegan ice creams for dessert!
Relax on the One Stroke Bench
teamLab Planets TOKYO © teamLab
Like the single stroke of a brush, this bench is technically one continuous bench that turns around and loops through itself creating a functional work of art. This bench is open to the public and can be used as a bench for having lunch, a playground for children, and even a lounging area for relaxing. If you find yourself in Toyosu but don’t want to pay for the full experience of teamLab Planets, take a stop here and have a bite or a quick rest.
Can’t wait to check out the museum? You don’t want to miss all the art and excitement here, especially with the 2025 additions!
All photos:
teamLab, Exhibition view of teamLab Planets TOKYO, 2018, Tokyo ©
team Lab, courtesy PaceGallery
Japan Wonder Travel Tours in Tokyo
Japan Wonder Travel is a travel agency that offers guided tours throughout Japan.
From private walking tours to delicious Food and Drink tours, we can help organize the best tours just for you! If you want to explore Japan and learn more about the history and backstories of each area you are traveling in, our knowledgeable and friendly guides will happily take you to the best spots!
In addition, we can provide you with any assistance you may need for your upcoming trip to Japan, so please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or need some help!
▶Tokyo Tsukiji Fish Market Food and Drink Tour
Explore the most lively and popular fish market in Tokyo, where you will have the chance to try some of the local’s favorite street foods and sake along with your friendly English-speaking guide!
▶Tokyo 1–Day Highlights Private Walking Tour (8 Hours)
There’s no better way to explore an area than taking a tour with a knowledgeable local guide. You will have the chance to learn about the history and interesting background stories of Tokyo, as well as discover some hidden gems which can be hard to do without a guide.
▶Shinjuku Bar Hopping Tour: Experience Tokyo’s Nightlife in Izakaya
Check out the best spots in Shinjuku while bar hopping through the lively and vibrant area. Try some delicious local food and drink as you explore the narrow yet photogenic alleys that the town has to offer. Experience Japanese izakaya culture and drink in Shinjuku like the locals!
▶Kimono Experience in Tokyo
Step into the charm of the kimono, a beloved icon of Japanese tradition, ideal for festivals and wandering quaint streets. Asakusa offers the perfect setting to don your kimono and create cherished memories with picturesque backdrops. Let Kimono Rental Wargo dress you up for a day of delightful exploration in timeless style!
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Happy traveling!
