When we were researching what to do in Tokyo, one thing came recommended over and over again: the teamLab Planets exhibit. Since it’s popular, we booked tickets in advance, planning to attend while we were en route from Tokyo to Urayasu. We weren’t sure how our toddler would like it, but since he was free (kids under four don’t require a ticket), we figured we could roll the dice.
So, for JPY 3,800 per adult – approximately $25 USD each – we had our tickets in hand on a rainy Wednesday morning. It had been recommended to us to go to the teamLab Planets exhibit earlier in the day, which I would definitely agree with for beating the crowds. My mom joined us as well, and she was actually able to purchase a ticket at the door. We locked our luggage and stroller to bike locks outside of the building, but we also had a smaller locker inside for jackets, backpacks and shoes. That’s right, this exhibit is barefoot only.
There are a couple parts where you have your feet in water, with one section going up to about my knees, but most of it was pretty dry. There are also a lot of mirrored sections, which is something else to note when planning your wardrobe. We all wore pants that could be rolled up, though our son’s pants could not be totally saved – they definitely got wet. Fortunately, he didn’t mind. I wore the baby in a carrier throughout, which worked well for all the parts we walked through (even the beanbag room).
As it turns out, we did not have to worry about the kiddo – he loved the whole thing. We spent about two hours going through the various parts of the exhibit. It’s very interactive, with different parts of their app available to change colors, as well as just things to push on and touch. We spent very little time actually in the water, instead favoring the room with light strings and the room with giant light up balls.
It was so much fun, we actually decided we should book tickets for the other teamLab exhibit in Tokyo, which just opened in February 2024: Borderless, a new permanent exhibit.
Now, the teamLab Borderless has dynamic pricing based on ticket availability (this is also implemented at Disney), so you could see adult tickets range from 3,800 – 4,800 JPY, which is somewhere between $25 and $33 USD. We locked in the last tickets available for our last day in Tokyo, so we could attend with my mother-in-law, as well as the kiddos.
What I found interesting about Borderless is that there is no specific “flow” to the exhibit – maybe I should have guessed, considering the name! You work your way in and out of rooms (shoes on this time), as different artwork bleeds into and out of the parts of the space. There are some similar elements between the two exhibits, like the room with light strings, but most of it was entirely new. There is also a tea room at the “back” of the exhibit, though we didn’t attend, as well as a “sketch factory” where you can incorporate your drawing into an “aquarium” type room (a big hit with our son). We spent about two hours here as well as we went through the different parts of the exhibit – though most of that time was probably spent on the “slide!” IYKYK.
Personally, I preferred the Planets exhibit, based on the artwork offering and the structure, but I think both are certainly worth seeing. Either exhibit makes for a great kid-friendly activity, though they’re definitely something you could enjoy as an adults-only group as well. Just make sure to buy those tickets in advance, especially for Borderless!
You can also find permanent teamLab exhibits in other parts of the world, including…
- Macao, China
- Beijing, China
- Osaka, Japan
- Fukuoka, Japan
- Marina Bay, Singapore
There are pop-up exhibits as well, and they’re constantly rolling out more. They even have one right now in Miami, Florida, called Superblue Miami! Be sure to check out the teamLab website for additional details.