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A swirling of light and colour traces the walls and halls of Tokyo’s digital art museums. Known for their immersive and interactive exhibitions, TeamLab has become a must-see destination for many visitors to Japan. But should you visit TeamLab Planets or TeamLab Borderless? Is one better than the other?

I’ve visited numerous TeamLab exhibitions across Japan, but Tokyo’s digital art museums are still a standout. Wading through knee-deep water where koi projections swim around my legs and lights shimmer on its milky surface was far more enjoyable than I had first expected.

TeamLab is known for having created an environment that lets you connect with the art around you through sight, sound, and touch. Whether it’s being surrounded by a living garden of orchids strung from the ceiling, tracing the paths of the mirrored floors while light falls like rain in the infinite crystal room, or bouncing across spherical mushroom-like shapes in the athletic forest - TeamLab’s immersive experiences have it all.

In this guide, I provide an in-depth comparison of TeamLab Borderless vs TeamLab Planets, so you can decide which one is better for you.

TeamLab Planets vs TeamLab Borderless at a glance

Considered one of Tokyo’s most popular tourist attractions, TeamLab has been drawing digital art fans to their colourful, creative world since 2018. But with two digital art museums to visit in Japan’s capital, how do they compare, and which one is right for you?

Below is a quick summary of the main similarities and differences between TeamLab Planets vs Borderless, followed by a detailed comparison throughout the article.

	Planets	Borderless
Location	Toyosu, Tokyo	Azabudai Hills, Tokyo
Exhibition Duration	Until the end of 2027	Permanent
Visit Duration	1.5–2 hours	2–3 hours
Size	10,000 sqm	10,000 sqm
Navigation	Guided path from beginning to end	Non-linear, discover at your own pace
Art Concept	More interactive and higher sensory immersion (e.g., water rooms)	A borderless digital world where you’re free to explore as you wish
Accessibility	Some restrictions for limited mobility or prams (e.g., water areas)	More accessible with mostly flat floors; wheelchairs usable in most spaces
Ticket Price	¥3,800 – ¥4,600 Book here	¥3,600 – ¥5,600 Book here
Opening Hours	9:00 – 22:00*	8:00 – 21:00*

*Hours are subject to change, please refer to the official TeamLab website.

red and blue light projections at teamlab borderless Tokyo — TeamLab Borderless

Is TeamLab Borderless or Planets better for accessibility?

Planets is less accessible than Borderless as it has rooms with shallow water you need to walk through, inflatable pillow-like ground to climb over at the beginning, and bouncy spheres to climb across.

Meanwhile, Borderless features almost entirely flat floors except for a few ramped areas in some rooms. This means that the entire exhibition and all rooms are accessible for those with limited mobility and wheelchair users.

Is TeamLab Borderless or Planets better for kids?

Both are child-friendly, but there are a few considerations. The first is the age of your children - toddlers and small children may not be able to walk through the water rooms at TeamLab Planets, and overall I found the exhibitions to be better suited for children 6+.

Borderless, on the other hand, has specific rooms and activities that appeal to children, and is more accessible for the younger family members too. The sketch factory is a great activity at Borderless that lets you choose a template of a sea animal to colour, it is then scanned and appears on the digital display. And if you’re super proud of your work, you can turn it into a souvenir to take hom, such as a badge, tote bag, or t-shirt.

I would suggest if you have young children, particularly around toddler age, then Borderless will be better, but older children and teens generally enjoy the various sensory additions of the water rooms, garden, and new additions like the athletic forest.

silver egg-shaped installations on moss-covered flooring at teamlab planets tokyo — TeamLab Planets

Should I visit both TeamLab Planets and Borderless?

Borderless and Planets are different experiences, with a few similarities. So, should you visit both when you’re in Tokyo? If you have five days or less in Tokyo, I would suggest you only visit one.

If you plan on returning to Japan for another visit, you may want to prioritise Planets as it is currently only scheduled to run until late 2027. Meanwhile, Borderless is now a permanent digital art museum in its new Azabudai Hills location.

If you want to visit both, then do! There’s a reason TeamLab museums and projects are as popular as they are. But, consider how this fits within your overall Tokyo and Japan itinerary. Otherwise, pick the one that appeals to you the most.

TeamLab Tokyo: How to buy tickets

You can buy tickets directly from the TeamLab website, or order them via Klook. Some people have issues trying to book tickets through the direct website due to accepted payment methods, and this is easily overcome by using Klook.

You can pre-book your tickets online with Klook:

How far in advance to book TeamLab tickets?

TeamLab Borderless tickets can be purchased for the current month and the following month. So in March, you can purchase tickets for March and April. New tickets are released on the first of each month, for the following month i.e. tickets are released on 1st August for September.

TeamLab Planets tickets are available for the current month and the following two months. Tickets are released at the end of each month for the third month i.e. tickets for October are released in late July.

Popular times such as first thing in the morning are the quickest to book out. So I do recommend booking your tickets as soon as you can, especially during peak seasons like March, April, and November.

However, tickets can often be booked one to two weeks in advance, especially for less busy times like later in the afternoon/early evening outside of peak travel periods.

Visiting either museum also makes for a great rainy day activity. So if you have time to be flexible and aren’t visiting in peak periods like cherry blossom season, Golden Week, or peak autumn travel, you could leave it until closer when you have a firmer weather forecast.

fish and undersea projection at sketch factory at teamlab borderless tokyo — TeamLab Borderless

How long does it take to visit?

Planets follows a linear path, and I spent around 1.5 hours there pre-expansion. Now, with the additional rooms, I would say at least 2 hours for your visit.

For Borderless, since rooms feature multiple artworks throughout the loop and its non-linear maze-like experience, I would suggest 2-3 hours is best. This means you can revisit rooms to see the different artworks that are projected, and spend as long or as little as you want.

When I visited most recently in June, I spent close to 2.5 hours. Also, consider if you plan on visiting En Teahouse at Borderless, as this will need to be added to your experience as well.

How to get there

Planets

Located in Toyosu, Planets is in a somewhat less convenient location depending on where you are staying.

The closest train station is Shin-Toyosu Station on the Tokyo Waterfront New Transit Waterfront Line Yurikamome Line or Toyosu Station on the Yurakucho Metro Line.

Alternatively, there is a shuttle bus running from GINZA SIX for a fee to TeamLab Planets.

Borderless

Located in the modern neighbourhood of Azabudai Hills, Borderless is just a short walk from Kamiyacho Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line which is accessible via the underground passage.

A little further away, you can walk from Roppongi-Itchome Station on the Tokyo Metro Namboku Line to Borderless in around seven minutes.

colourful koi projections on water surface in dark room as people walk around in dark room — TeamLab Planets

What should I wear at TeamLab Tokyo?

Both TeamLab Planets and Borderless are multi-sensory digital art museums, so you’re right to consider what to wear. Both exhibitions feature rooms with mirror floors in some spaces. I would avoid wearing short skirts or dresses, or wear some bike shorts underneath.

I did wear a midi skirt to Borderless in June, and didn’t feel concerned about the reflection as the skirt was long enough to avoid this issue - but wear pants or shorts if you’re worried.

Planets also has rooms with water floors, so wear something that can be rolled up, like straight or wide-leg pants. Fitted styles may prove difficult and I wouldn’t recommend them. Same goes for tights underneath dresses or skirts, as you’ll need to remove them before entering.

What about colours to wear at TeamLab? If you want to blend into the artworks, then dark colours like black or navy are great. If you want to stand out a little more in your photos and become part of the artspace, white is a great option. But I don’t suggest that you plan packing an outfit just for your visit.

Looking for packing guides for your Japan trip? Check out my autumn and winter packing lists.

Conclusion: Is TeamLab Borderless or TeamLab Planets better?

I’ve visited TeamLab Borderless twice and Planets once, and Borderless is my preference of the two. I loved being completely immersed in the visual and audio elements of Borderless, and it’s maze-like approach. It means there is no right or wrong way, and I could often find spaces with just a handful of people in them meaning it didn’t feel too busy.

If you’re trying to decide between the two, I’d say Planets is better for children 6+ up to adults that don’t have mobility limitations and aren’t averse to walking through water.

However, I think Borderless appeals to just about everyone. It has better accessibility than Planets, and its location is more convenient if you want to visit other attractions such as Tokyo Tower, or explore nearby Roppongi.