How to Get the Most Out of teamLab Borderless

Love this article?

I don’t know how to tell you this. Ok, I’ll just come out with it. You WILL miss something when you go to visit teamLab Borderless if you don’t go in with a plan. It’s inevitable, with 10,000 square meters (!) of basically a maze with hidden pathways, it’s a game just to find everything! But that’s not all, take a guess about why it’s named “Borderless” and it might clue you in further.

What makes Kristen Abroad a good place to start on your knowledge learning? I’ve been to multiple teamLab exhibits around the world, but most importantly, I’ve been to Borderless three times with the sole goal of helping attendees have the best experience.

First: Who is teamLab?

I know for me, teamLab is all over my Facebook feed ads (by the way, have you followed my page? You know you want to) but that’s perhaps because I live near two of their major installations in Tokyo (teamLab Borderless and teamLab Planets). So, if you haven’t heard, they are an interdisciplinary art collective founded in 2001. They have installations all over the world combining the work of artists, engineers, architects, programmers, animators… you get the drift. Mathematicians even! Yes, because these exhibits are so complex.

The art? Digital and sensory overloads, in the most intense, amazing ways possible. These aren’t just moving, interactive lights. Sound, touch, SMELL, discovery is all part of the play. Their goal is

“explore a new relationship between humans and nature, and between oneself and the world through art “

teamLab

and by damn, they succeed.

teamLab Borderless: Get your tickets early

If you go on a weekday, there may be tickets at the door but it’s best not to chance them being sold out. While teamLab Planets has set windows when you can enter, teamLab Borderless is free game. However, you do need same-day tickets. Tickets for the following month go on sale at the middle of the current one.

They’re easy enough to get on their website. Or you have the option to get them at the machines at your local コンビニ (konbini, Japanese for convenience store).

Go the website route and you’ll be able to change your ticket date up until 9am on the original day of admission. Beware though, you risk them not having any for when you reschedule.

Once you check-in, you’ll be asked to turn your screen to full brightness for the machine. Tickets are on the high side at 3,200 yen but trust me, it’s worth the splurge.

When to enter teamLab Borderless

Since it’s a free-for-all, I suggest getting there right away. Especially if you want people-less photos. Officially, doors open at 10 am. The lines get crazy early though so don’t be surprised if you show up at 9:30 am and they have already let some groups go in!

Disclosure: Kristenabroad.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and other affiliate programs. For some links to products or services in this article, I may earn a small commission by you using my link.  The price for you is not affected.

By early afternoon you can expect to see a line around the building. Not a great place to be when it‘s in the hotter months of summer! I suggest you embrace the parasol culture of Japan to help in this case!

TeamLab Borderless opens every day at 10 am and on weekends and holidays closes a little later (2100 vs 1900). It’s closed on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday. Last entry is an hour before but you need WAY more time than that.

How much time do you need?

I would give yourself at least three hours to fully enjoy all of the different exhibits. When you count the fact that some of the rooms contain multiple works of art or color schemes, there are more than 70 different pieces split into the five sections of the museum: A Borderless World; Athletics Forest; Future Park; Forest of Lamps; and the En Tea House.

A Borderless world contains nearly 50. Athletic Forest in comparison is 8 distinct pieces. And when they say “athletic” they mean it! Look for slides, trampolines and climbing features. Future park has 5 pieces and Forest of Lamps has about 10 different color sequences.

What do you mean, “the art is moving”?

Yes, ah-ha! We’re into why it’s “teamLab Borderless”. The engineering and ingenuity that had to go into this 10,000 sq. meters is ASTOUNDING. Got to get something out of those 500+ computers and 450+ projectors after all!

The art moves. As in, it doesn’t feel like being in that room anymore…so it walks down the hall. That’s really the best way to describe it! To the extent that one room will “clear out” until they (yes, “they”, it may as well be alive!) decide to come back.

My favorite is probably crows, they go everywhere (even technically into the Light Cave) and make sure you see both the Cave and the Nest when the Crows are in!

Don’t miss interacting with the art

I’m not just talking in the Athletic forest, where there’s things (art) to climb on, jump on, roll around and slide down. All of which interact. There’s rooms where you can move play pieces and basically effect these little gnomes lives. Catch trees on fire! It’s ridiculous and so much fun.

In other spaces, such as the Light Cave, the Crystal World, Memory of Today’s Topography and the Forest of Lamps, make sure you read the information before heading into the room. It will give you tips on how best to interact with the art.

In other areas, the sensory technology allows the digital water to flow around you and oh, so much more. Stand in one place and you’ll start flowers sprouting.

Speaking of flowers

Don’t miss “En Tea House”, the tea house on the second floor. One, the tea is outstanding, and two, it interacts with you as well. Have tea? Make flowers. As long as there is tea in your cup, you can make infinite flowers.

It doesn’t open until 1 hour in so no need to rush. Note that it is an additional 500 yen cost so don’t stick your wallet in the lockers or bring some yen with you!

Your options on beverage are green tea or green tea with yuzu (a Japanese citrus fruit). Either hot or cold.

Getting around

I would go so far as to say that running your hands along the wall isn’t a bad way to go. The doorways are curtains and with the aforementioned art running around all over the place, it’s hard to see them sometimes. Trust me, you’re going to be distracted by a wild cat or bunny hopping around. Or a procession of frogs marching to some festival.

There are two “main” floors, Borderless World takes up the first level with everything else upstairs. With that being said though, there are some lofted areas you can find. Another tip? Familiarize yourself with the exhibits and make yourself a mental note so you don’t miss anything.

I wasn’t lying at the beginning though

Don’t beat yourself up if you DO miss something. In fact, expect you will and then you won’t be disappointed ;). By default, even if you most definitely get to all of the rooms, in one day, you won’t be able to see everything that happens.

This art learns, after all. And depending on how people interact with it, it changes.

Tips on the rooms in teamLab Borderless Tokyo

A few observations to help:

• There are three places that develop lines: Crystal World; the Nest; and The Forest of Lamps; hit those early.
• The Forest of Lamps will not progress through all of the colors while you are in there. If you want to get a wide range of pictures, I suggest sucking it up and standing in line more than once.
• Get the app for the Crystal world and get there early so you’re not trying to use it with 100 of your newest friends. You can directly affect the patterns in the room. There is also a back corner that has a displace console!
• The Laser Cave has over 10 different patterns or “shows” it goes through, each a different piece of art. Expect to spend 20 minutes to see them all. Also read the instructions – it’s best viewed from the middle of the room.
• Go back to the same rooms you’ve been to from a different angle, you’ll probably find a passage you missed. Also, go back just because they will undoubtedly be changed!

No big bags or tripods

Or selfie sticks for that matter. You’ll just have a phone or camera and check your other things before you go in. There are lockers provided at the front but they are only really big enough for a normal-sized backpack. If you have something bigger, try the lockers at the train stations.

If there is anything you need, take it on your person! You won’t be able to reenter once you leave and the lockers are outside in the lobby.

Ladies with dresses

There are lots of mirror floors in here. Never fear though! They will give you apron like skirts to wear before you enter a space that you’d risk getting up-skirted at. Does that count if you could just photo the floor? Downskirted?

How to get there

The MORI Building DIGITAL ART MUSEUM is located in Odaiba, Tokyo. Don’t get it confused with the Mori Art Museum, which has great art exhibits as well, but is located on the other side of Tokyo in Roppongi. teamLab Planets is ALSO located in Odaiba so make sure you have the correct tickets and are in the right spot.

There are two stations nearby, Tokyo Teleport Station on the Rinkai Line and Aomi Station on the Yurikamome Line. Head toward the big Ferris wheel and you’ll start seeing signs.

Nearby Attractions

Once you’re done at the exhibit (they WILL eventually kick you out), there is a lot to do in Odaiba! Enough that you could get a hotel and stay for a few days. Just to name some:

• Venus Fort right next door reminds me of the Bellagio with its Roman-themed shopping. During winter 2018-19, teamLab had a temporary exhibit here!
• Lifesize Gundam Statue (it moves on the hour) and the Gundam Cafe
• Miraikan – The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation – actually where I first learned about teamLab!
• Fuji Television Building has exhibits and an observation deck
• Legoland Discovery Center Tokyo
• Tokyo’s “Statue of Liberty”
• teamLab Planets
• Tokyo Big Sight – There is always a convention of some sort going on and if you are an anime fan, it’s a pretty iconic and recognizable Tokyo landmark.
• Food options on the island (it’s man-made, by the way) are mainly in the malls. Plenty of options though!
• There in March? AnimeJapan is one of the largest anime conventions in Japan and a great treat for a look into the culture!

Where else in the World?

Along with an ever expanding list of temporary exhibitions (including the upcoming on in Kyoto), teamLab has permanent exhibitions in the following locations. So if you aren’t making it to Japan quite yet for their pride and joy, there’s others to see around the world!

• Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
• Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide
• Asian Art Museum, San Francisco
• Asia Society Museum, New York
• Borusan Contemporary Art Collection, Istanbul
• National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
• Amos Rex, Helsinki

Pin this for later

Love this article?