Experiencing Teamlab Borderless Museum, Azabudai Hills, Tokyo

Experience Digital Art at Teamlab Borderless Museum in Odaiba, Tokyo Japan, tips on visiting. Forest of Resonating Lamps

TeamLab Borderless is a digital art museum in Tokyo’s Azabudai Hills neighborhood. Teamlab is famous for its Instagrammable and interactive art, and for creating fully immersive exhibits for visitors to enjoy. Teamlab Borderless first opened in 2018 in Tokyo’s Odaiba neighborhood (which featured the forest of resonating lamps shown above), closely followed by Teamlab Planets in Toyosu. For a few years, Teamlab Planets was the only Teamlab museum open in Tokyo while a NEW Teamlab Borderless was under construction in a new building in Azabudai Hills.

Now, Tokyo is home to both: Teamlab Borderless (newly opened in 2024) and Teamlab Planets. This post explores Teamlab Borderless in Azabudai Hills. If you’re interested in both museums, check out my post comparing Teamlab Borderless and Teamlab Planets. 

The Teamlab group also opened a Teamlab Botanic Garden in Osaka, and hosts other pop up exhibits around Japan and the world. 

Experience Digital Art at Teamlab Borderless Museum in Odaiba, Tokyo Japan, tips on visiting

How to buy tickets to the Teamlab Borderless Museum

There are two options to buy tickets for Teamlab Borderless Museum, at the door or online in advance. Buy tickets in advance because they may sell out, especially on Japanese holidays and weekends. 

To book online: Book Teamlab Borderless tickets on (1) the official Teamlab website, or (2) through authorized seller Klook. The prices for both outlets are the same, however the benefit for booking with Klook is that you don’t need to deal with a clunky Japanese website which often rejects foreign credit cards. 

Can you buy Teamlab Borderless tickets at the museum? Answer: No. While the old Teamlab Borderless in Odaiba had several ticket counters at the museum, Teamlab Borderless in Azabudai Hills does not. Be sure to buy your tickets in advance of your visit, and be prepared to show your ticket QR code at the gates. 

Adult tickets to Teamlab Borderless cost ¥3600- ¥5400 (about $24-36 USD), kids between 3-14 years old cost ¥1500 ($10 USD) and bigger kids who are 13-18 years old cost ¥2800 ($18 USD).

Experience Digital Art at Teamlab Borderless Museum in Odaiba, Tokyo Japan, tips on visiting
The main entrance room doesn't feel too crowded. It's massive and has many exhibits connecting to it to explore.

Where is the Teamlab Borderless Museum?

Azabudai Hills is a trendy commercial and shopping neighborhood in Tokyo. The neighborhood is walking distances from the modern Roppongi neighborhood as well as from the iconic Tokyo Tower. 

Teamlab Borderless vs Teamlab Planets

Did you know there’s a second Teamlab museum in Tokyo? Teamlab Planets is similar in concept to Teamlab Planets, but is smaller and has some exhibits where you walk through water. 

Exhibits not to miss at Teamlab Borderless museum

Give yourself enough time here to fully enjoy experiencing all of the exhibits. I spent four hours here on my first visit! If you don’t want to ruin the surprise of how incredible these exhibits are, skip to the bottom of the page. 

A few of my favorite exhibits at the Teamlab Borderless museum are listed below.

The Crystal World: I always spend a good amount of time in this musical exhibit. The lights dance along to the music of different songs, and the shooting-star-like finale was incredible! 

First you navigate through the infinite lights in the mirrored room. Eventually you reach an opening where you can stand back and enjoy being immersed in the art. 

Experience Digital Art at Teamlab Borderless Museum in Odaiba, Tokyo Japan, tips on visiting. Crystal World

Teamlab Borderless exhibits for kids or kid-like adults

Some Teamlab Borderless exhibits are oriented towards children, including a room where kids (and adults) can color in marine animals on paper that come to life on the walls. You can even interact with the art that is ‘swimming’ around the room.

One central waterfall room has a slide-like feature and a spacious floor, perfect for running around and sliding down the interactive artwork. 

Teamlab Planets or Teamlab Borderless, which one should you visit? Teamlab Borderless vs Teamlab Planets, Borderless or Planets, Teamlab Borderless or Planets, which is better?

Visit En Tea House at Teamlab Borderless museum!

I had planned to skip the in-museum En Tea House because ¥500 for a cup of tea sounded steep. In the end, I was super glad I went because of how interesting and beautiful the interaction was between the tea cups and the blooming digital flowers! The tea house is on the second floor of Teamlab Borderless the same floor as the Athletic Forest. 

Flowers ‘grow’ in your cup when it’s set down on the counter, and flutter away as petals when you pick it up. Move your cup around the counter, even switch cups with your friends and the same flowers will grow inside of the cups.

Tip: Every person in your group should order different teas from the cafe. The type of flower that grows inside your cup changes depending on the tea! 

En Tea House. Teamlab Planets or Teamlab Borderless, which one should you visit? Teamlab Borderless vs Teamlab Planets, Borderless or Planets, Teamlab Borderless or Planets, which is better?

Tips for Visiting Teamlab Borderless Museum

Buy your ticket in advance, online from Klook for the most flexibility.

Plan to spend 2-3 hours at the museum.

Don’t skip En Tea House! Relax with a cup of tea in hand and watch as different flowers bloom in the cups and scatter as petals when you lift the cup for a drink. Different teas create different flowers! 

Don’t wear a short skirt because MIRRORED FLOORS. Two of the most popular exhibits have mirrored floors, meaning the reflection can be very exposing!

Wear white or solid-color clothes to enjoy the digital art that passes over your body and clothes. 

Download the Teamlab Borderless App (the QR code is available at the museum). The app lets you interact with some of the exhibits once inside the Teamlab Borderless Museum in Azabudai Hills, Tokyo. 

Heading to the Teamlab Borderless Museum?
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Experience Digital Art at Teamlab Borderless Museum in Odaiba, Tokyo Japan, tips on visiting
Experience Digital Art at Teamlab Borderless Museum in Odaiba, Tokyo Japan, tips on visiting
Experience Digital Art at Teamlab Borderless Museum in Odaiba, Tokyo Japan, tips on visiting

Have you heard about Teamlab Planets?

Are You Prepared For Your Trip To Japan?

Be sure to check out my Japan home page for Japan travel information, insider tips, reading list, and must-haves for traveling to Japan!

  • Book Your Flights – To find the cheapest flights, flexibility is key. I use both Google Flights for their low fare calendar, and Skiplagged, which uses airfare loopholes to get the lowest prices. For a trip to Japan, check flights to both Tokyo airports (Haneda, Narita) and to Osaka (Kansai). 
  • Getting Around Japan: Prepare your JR Pass and Suica transit card before you depart.
  • Book Your Accommodation – Check out Booking.com for the largest selection of accommodation in Japan. Consider having a bit of fun at one of these Weirdest Hotels in Japan too 🙂 
  • Book Local Excursions – Don’t miss out on world-class experiences, like Teamlab Borderless or Tokyo Disneyland, by booking tickets online now. Check GetYourGuide and Klook for fun experiences all around Japan. 
  • Stay Connected: Order a pocket WiFi for airport pickup if you’re traveling with family or with a large group. Solo traveling to Japan? Order a SIM card just for you. 
  • Pack Your Essentials – Check out my posts about Long Term Travel Gear, and Carry-On Luggage Packing Essentials. 
  • Read more on my Travel Resources page!

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