Last Updated on November 4, 2025 by Fadra Nally
Tokyo is home to two of the world’s most famous immersive art museums, TeamLab Borderless and TeamLab Planets, But which one should you see?
TeamLab is an international art collective – they literally have exhibits all over the world. Think of it as digital art meets technology, nature, and interactivity. But it’s actually really hard to explain. It’s much better to experience.
I actually had the chance to experience both museums in Tokyo and I’m here to help you decide which one might fit your travel style.
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Planning Our First Trip to Tokyo
When we made our first trip to Japan in January, we had grand plans of touring most of the country in our one week itinerary. Then we realized how unrealistic that was and spent the bulk of the week just exploring Tokyo.
For the Tokyo naysayers out there (those that think Tokyo can be skipped or experienced in a day or two), I have one thing to say. Get outta here. Tokyo is a wonderful, diverse, HUGE city with so much to do. You can eat, you can shop, you can experience historical and cultural sites, and you can do some really touristy things. Honestly, I recommend doing a mix of all of them.
As we were sort of planning our Tokyo itinerary on the fly, my son asked what I thought about visiting TeamLab the next day. I had actually been thinking about it and said, sure, why not! So I bought us two tickets (my husband opted out) to TeamLab Borderless only to find out he actually meant TeamLab Planets.
We sucked it up and went to Borderless only to discover that we loved it so much we just had to experience Planets as well. And we did it in the same day! If your’e having the same quandary and are trying to decide between one or the other (or both!), here’s what you need to know to decide.
Quick Overview: TeamLab Borderless vs TeamLab Planets
TeamLab Borderless
- Location: Azabudai Hills, an upscale business district in Minato
- Duration: Allow 1.5 to 2 hours
- Vibe: Maze-like exploration, wonder, immersive experience with sight and sound
- Best for: Art lovers and Instagram seekers (sorry, but you’ll see plenty of them there!)
- Tickets: Check for daily availability, most tickets are timed and cost ranges from ¥3600-¥5600 depending on the day; flexible entry tickets run around ¥12,000
TeamLab Planets
- Location: Toyosu, on the eastern side of Tokyo
- Duration: Planets 1-2 hours
- Vibe: Very tactile, sensory, some exhibits require you to be barefoot
- Best for: Families and couples
- Tickets: Check for daily availability, most tickets are timed and cost ranges from ¥4400-¥5600 depending on the day; no flexible tickets are available
TeamLab Borderless – The New Era
TeamLab Borderless is apparently in a new location, so if you visited prior to 2024, you may have had a completely different experience. You’ll now find plenty of space to explore at the Azabudai Hills location, an upscale shopping district.
🍜 If you’re looking for a great restaurant (that just happens to be vegan), we really enjoyed Alchemy in the nearby high rise shopping complex.
Borderless is all about exploration of a space designed to invoke one continuous, borderless world. You’ll enter the museum with no specific direction. Just wander and delight in the music and movement of lights. But then go wherever you’re moved to go. Follow the dancing frogs. Or enter one of the many hidden rooms.
Although the larger spaces can get a little crowded (we’ve never experienced this but it definitely happens), the smaller spaces are crowd controlled so that you can still enjoy experiences as they are meant to be.
My favorite exhibits include:
- Memory of Topography, designed to mimic a rural mountain landscape of varying elevations
- Walk, Walk, Walk, a series of anonymous and diverse figures that keep walking throughout the spaces (look for the dancing frogs!)
- Bubble Universe, a room full of Spherical Crystallized Light – glowing balls creating a continuous path
- Crystal World, lines of light combine with mirrors for an otherworldly view
Surprisingly, the light photographs well. Plan time to wander and make reservations (or wait in line) for an unforgettable light experience at the En Tea House.
TeamLab Planets – Step Into the Art
TeamLab Planets is also a sensory experience but instead of sights and sounds, you’ll also have many physical experiences. For this reason, Planets is a hard pass for some people.
For much of the exhibits, you’ll need to experience them barefoot and you’ll want to make sure you can roll up your pants. Some people are very uncomfortable with this idea which is why I want to mention it upfront.
There are lockers for socks and shoes and you’ll proceed through about half of the exhibits walking through wet and/or tactile areas (think warm, milky water). If you’re open to it, it’s a completely unique experience.
You do eventually return to the shoe area and proceed to the other exhibits that are more physically interactive. Kids will love it, adults may be hesitant. But I encourage you to open your mind and your body to experience everything Planets offers.
My favorite exhibits include:
- Drawing on the Water Surface Created by the Dance of Koi and People – Infinity, this is the warm milky water I mentioned, it’s very dreamlike and is a fascinating and interactive play with light
- Athletic Forests, think of this as a futuristic jungle gym, yes – they want to to hop on and play!
- Expanding Three-dimensional Existence in Transforming Space – Flattening 3 Colors and 9 Blurred Colors, translation: big glowing balls that you can move
This experience isn’t as conducive to wandering as it moves along a fixed path but it’s still very experiential and stimulating.
Borderless vs Planets – Which One Is Better for You?
I’ve been to both and my personal preference is for Borderless. I enjoyed the free-flowing state of the exhibits that changed from room to room. They even changed over time so you could visit a room again and see it in a whole new way. It’s calm and beautiful and mysterious at times.
If that sounds like something you’d enjoy, Borderless is for you. If it sounds like you might be bored out of your mind wandering and looking at cool lights, you might want to explroe Planets instead.
Planets is definitely more interactive and for that reason, it’s usually recommended for families with kids who have too much energy to just look. But keep in mind that a good portion of the experience is barefoot and in water which makes it a no-go for many people.
If time and money aren’t a major concern for you, then my recommendation is to do both. Although my son wanted to do Planets and I accidentally booked Borderless, we had such a good time that we ended up buying tickets and doing both on the same day.
- For first-time visitors to Tokyo: Planets for a quick, unforgettable experience.
- For photographers and content creators: Borderless wins for variety and dynamic light.
- For families with kids: Planets (interactive but manageable).
- For art lovers: Borderless (complex, evolving installations).
- For repeat travelers: Do both—each is unique.
Know Before You Go
Buy tickets in advance
I definitely recommend buying tickets in advance for either experience. You pick the day and time but you do have a 30 minute window to enter. Once inside, you can stay as long as you like.
TeamLab Borderless tickets
TeamLab Planets tickets
Get there on time
Make sure you know where you’re going so you arrive in plenty of time. You can take a taxi (use the GoTaxi app) or Uber but travel by train is super easy.
For TeamLab Borderless, take the Hibiya Line to the Kamiyachō Station.
For TeamLab Planets, take the Yurikamome Line to the Shin-Toyosu Station.
Both are close walking distance from the nearest train station.
Use the lockers and umbrella storage
Free yourself up for each experience by taking advantage of the free lockers and umbrella storage at the entrance. You can store your purse, your bags, your umbrella, your coat. Just remember to actually lock it. I didn’t fully close my umbrella lock and it walked off before I returned!
Dress appropriately
Wear whatever you feel comfortable in UNLESS… you’re heading to Planets. Then make sure you’re wearing something that allows you to expose your legs up to just below your knees.
Take your camera
Although it’s great to simply immerse yourself in the experiences, you’ll have some great moments you’ll want to capture in pictures or video. Grab your phone and prepare for an amazing experience!
