Review: teamLab Planets

So, what’s this place about? With teamLab Planets, the art collective teamLab has created an endlessly Instagrammable, sumptuous, and surreal collection of installations dedicated to multi-sensory digital art. Following the success of teamLab Borderless Tokyo, the place has been one of the city’s most popular (and crowded) destinations. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, entry is limited and tickets are date/time-specific

How’s the space? Dubbed “body-immersive” displays, the seven large-scale artworks are connected by maze-like, dark corridors that lead to wide-open, dazzling spaces. The aquatic imagery is more than mere metaphor: You’ll enter the gallery barefoot and splash through water up to your ankles in some of the rooms.

The art’s the main thing, of course. How is it? There’s a knee-deep wading pool filled with digital carp that morph into flowers, a glittering mirrored enclave of infinite crystal lights, and a garden filled with larger-than-life floating flowers and mossy hills topped with giant glowing ovoids. At the museum's restaurant, Vegan Ramen UZU, slurp plant-based bowls of noodles as digital calligraphy swirls around you.

At the end of the day, what—or who—is this place best for? This is a great option for family-friendly fun. Expect to spend two hours there, and be sure to purchase your ticket in advance (¥3,200 for adults, ¥2,000 for middle and high schoolers, and ¥1,000 for children between 4 and 12, and free for children 3 and younger). Each ticket has a designated time that you can enter the facility.