During our recent trip to Japan, we had the pleasure of visiting teamLab Planets, a popular tourist attraction located in Tokyo.
This is no ordinary art museum; it offers an immersive experience that sets it apart from traditional galleries. Let’s take a look into what makes this place so special.
teamLab Planets Tokyo is a digital art exhibition set up by the art collective known as teamLab. The space features an array of art installations that merge digital technology and dazzling visual effects to offer visitors an engaging and immersive experience.
Unlike traditional museums where the artwork is meant to be observed from a distance, here, the installations are designed to respond to touch, movement, and even the mere presence of visitors, making each visit a unique encounter.
The exhibit includes a variety of installations—from room-sized digital projections and sound art to a water pool you can walk in.
By allowing visitors to physically engage with the art, teamLab Planets aims to blur the boundaries between the art and the audience.
The museum is located at 6-1-16 Toyosu, Koto City, Tokyo 135-0061, Japan. Getting there took us nearly an hour as the location was somewhat far from our hotel.
It's conveniently accessible, being a 1-minute walk from Shin-Toyosu station on the Yurikamome line and a 10-minute walk from Toyosu station on the Tokyo Metro Yurakucho line.
If you’re considering a visit, just check which station is closest to your accommodation. TeamLab Planets is open every day from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM. However, the ticket counter closes an hour before the museum's official closing time, and the last entry is at 9:00 PM.
However, due to its popularity, it usually takes the museum between 30 minutes to an hour to admit all visitors. So it's essential to be timely.
When purchasing tickets online, you'll choose a time frame (e.g., 10:00 - 10:30) during which you must join the queue for entry. Keep in mind that the process of getting in takes time, so punctuality is crucial.
I bought our tickets directly from the museum's official website, but tickets are also available through third-party apps like Klook or Traveloka.
Adult tickets cost 3,800 yen, while children between 4 and 12 years old are charged 1,300 yen. After purchasing your tickets online, you'll receive a QR code that becomes active at midnight on the day of your visit. Make sure not to lose it, as it's needed for entry.
Before entering the exhibition spaces, visitors must remove their shoes and store them in the provided lockers. A short video outlining the museum's rules is shown once you're inside and queued up.
It's advised to wear pants due to the museum's predominantly glass floors. Loose clothing like culottes should be avoided for privacy reasons.
Here's a brief overview of some of the installations we encountered:
Our first stop was the Water Area, home to the Waterfall of Light. As we walked through a dimly lit corridor, we arrived at an awe-inspiring artificial waterfall where the water flowed briskly over our feet.
Capturing photos was challenging due to the low lighting and the need to keep moving as other visitors waited their turn. But, honestly, though, the experience was amazing.
In this dark space, you will walk on foam covered by a black cloth, making each step a sinking feeling. Many people find themselves stumbling through this disorienting environment. This was a funny one!
Continuing our exploration in the Water Area, the next installation that caught our attention was themed around "Koi Fish." Visitors walk into an expansive space filled with water that rises almost to an adult's knees.
The room is also surrounded by glass walls, adding to the illusion of being submerged in a different world. In the water, projections of koi fish appear, looking almost like reflections.
One of the most captivating features of this installation is how the koi fish react to human presence. When visitors wade through the water, the movements of the koi projections change in response.
If a koi fish "collides" with a visitor, it doesn't just swim away. Instead, the fish transforms and scatters into a pattern resembling blooming flowers. It's a breathtaking visual experience.
This also operates in real-time, generated by a complex computer program. This means that the visual effects you see aren't pre-recorded and played back.
Each visitor's interaction with the koi fish leads to unique patterns and movements that can't be replicated or repeated. This dynamic feature ensures that no two experiences are the same.
Just as captivating as the Koi Fish installation, the next exhibit is called "Crystal Universe." In this area, visitors find themselves in a large room featuring a glass floor.
For this reason, if you're planning a visit, it's a good idea to steer clear of wearing skirts or loose pants, as you may be conscious about people seeing up them.
The room is filled with numerous crystal chandeliers that hang from the ceiling. Further enhancing the experience, the lighting in the room undergoes a continual transformation, shifting back and forth between bright and dark settings. However, while the crystals might be tempting to touch, touching is not allowed in this exhibit.
My husband and I think that the Universe of Flowers was the most amazing exhibit of all. This expansive space features a glass floor and offers visitors the option to sit or even lie down to fully absorb the visual display of flowers projected from above.
When I took the opportunity to sit and lie down, it genuinely felt as though I'd entered a different universe altogether. The experience was made even more tranquil by calming background music. It was a feast for both the eyes and ears.
Similar to the Koi Fish installation, this artwork isn't a pre-recorded image or video that's simply played back. Instead, it's generated in real time by a specialized computer program that constantly updates the visual display.
The subsequent exhibit is a celebration of color. Once again, visitors find themselves in a spacious room with a glass floor, but this time, they are greeted by large balloons that add an element of whimsy.
Guests are encouraged to interact with these balloons, whether by touching them or taking photos. The atmosphere is further enhanced by a lighting system that continuously changes colors every few seconds.
According to the creators at teamLab, the lighting cycles through twelve distinct colors, three of which are intentionally blurred to create a softening effect.
Next, let's move on to the Garden Area! This exhibit is quite similar to the Crystal Universe, but this time it features hanging flowers instead of crystals. I personally had a fantastic time here.
Visitors have the opportunity to sit down and take pictures on the glass floor, underneath a canopy of hanging flowers that come in various types.
However, there is a slight downside. Visitors are not allowed to stay for extended periods in this area. Even those who find a spot to sit and take pictures among the Floating Flowers are usually limited to about 10 or 15 minutes. Nonetheless, the experience is still thoroughly enjoyable!
The final exhibit we explored in the Garden Area was the Moss Garden. Upon entering this particular area, visitors must switch to sandals, which are provided, for a more comfortable stroll through the garden.
The garden features numerous iron sculptures known as "Ovoids." What's fascinating about these ovoids is that they have the capability to change color during sunset and sunrise. Specifically, they can glow in the dark as the sun sets.
For those interested in capturing these glowing ovoids in their photographs, it would be beneficial to time your visit to coincide with Tokyo's sunset. This will ensure that you get a truly striking photo!
The Moss Garden offers an ever-changing kaleidoscope of colors, as these Ovoids can shift through an impressive 61 different hues. The garden's team has said that these color changes are influenced not just by natural elements like wind and rain, but also by the movement of visitors within the garden each day. Cool!
Our visit to teamLab Planets was a delightful and memorable experience, despite the crowds. The staff were accommodating and professional, ensuring that every visitor had an engaging and interactive experience. If you're looking for something out-of-the-ordinary in Tokyo, this is a must-visit attraction.
