teamLab Planets opens new area on January 22, 2025
Open to the public from January 22, 2025 is the newly expanded area of teamLab Planets in Odaiba. Until now, only two art spaces, water and garden, were available at teamLab Planets. This new expansion offers approximately 1.5 times of space compared to its previous iteration, and over 20 new artworks can be experienced in the new area. With the new opening, the pricing of teamLab Planets has been updated, and tickets are available for purchase online. See the hours and fees section below for more details.
teamLab Planets is one of two teamLab digital museums in central Tokyo, the other being teamLab Borderless in Azabudai Hills. Planets was originally openend in 2018, and the completion of its new expanded area has reinvigorated and refreshed the digital museum.
Below is what to expect in the new area as well as the already existing art spaces.
New art spaces from January 22, 2025
The newly expanded area contains two art themes that cover a number of rooms within the section. Some useful things to know before entering are there are a couple of official mobile apps worth downloading for an immersive and interactive experience for some of their installations, and time is a black hole inside this new area.
A digital forest filled with extinct digital animals welcomes visitors into the new area. Titled Catching and Collecting Extinct Forest, this interactive art space that is part of teamLab's educational project, in which visitors can learn more about extinct animals and where they lived, much like a natural history museum. Visitors would greatly benefit from having the official app here as the only way to learn and read about the extinct animals is to "catch" them digitally using the app. The app is available in Japanese and English.
There are over 80 extinct animals projected on the walls and floors across multiple rooms, and catching them all would take a fair bit of time. I thought this was a fun and interactive way to learn about so many extinct animals. What is more, the data of all the animals caught remain on the app and can be read at a later time.
The extinct forest segues into the Athletics Forest, the other new art space that allows visitors to interact with the artwork through touching, jumping, sliding and climbing in a three dimensional setting, similar in concept to a jungle gym. The digital artwork changes colors or produces musical tones depending on the human interaction, resulting in unique interactions regardless of just watching or participating.
Between the above mentioned two art spaces is the Sketch Umwelt World, an interactive wall in which visitors color a designated animal or object on the provided paper to scan, then see their colored creations appear in the town on the digital wall. The colored creation's motion and directions can be controlled via a specific smartphone app, and users can also see the world through the lens of that animal or object. Furthermore, each masterpiece can be made into a one-of-a-kind, personalized souvenir.
Newly renovated in the open-air area outside of the main building and hidden at the back of the cafe is Orchid Glass House, a small bar surrounded by orchids in unique glass vessels serving tea and sake, and seats a maximum of six people. The orchids there were used in an existing art space at Planets, and when their flowers have fallen off, they are removed to be cared for and grown for future use. Drinking at the bar affects the rhythm of the lights in the bar, and over time, the lights and drinks create their own order - a type of organised chaos.
Farther in from the bar is the Black Emptiness Table, a ramen restaurant in the dark. An art installation at the table mesmerizes diners before the main ramen course. The vegan ramen served is also available outside at the cafe.
Existing spaces from before January 22, 2025
Water is a major art space at teamLab Planets consisting of several rooms. Shoes and socks have to be removed before entering this art space as some rooms require visitors to wade in water. Mirrors, light and water are used to play with the visual and sensory receptors, which may induce strange feelings as one battles the seeming multitudes of dimensions, universes and realities.
Another already existing art space is Garden that consists of two rooms, one of which is filled with real orchids suspended in the air. The suspended orchids moved up and down ever so gently, creating the feeling of being in a live, moving garden. The other is a moss garden filled with rock-looking ovoids. In the day time, the ovoids reflect their surroundings, but come sundown, they are illuminated and illustrate that there are also lights within themselves.
Outside of the main building is Vegan House UZU, a casual cafe dishing up vegan delights including ramen, muffins and ice cream.
Hours and fees
teamLab Planets is open from 9:00 to 22:00 (entry until 21:00).
Admission fee varies from 3600-5400 yen, depending on the time of admission, day of the week and if it is the school or national holidays. Tickets must be purchased online in advance, and they are available on Klook or from the official website.
Access
teamLabs Planets is located in central Tokyo, not far from the Toyosu Fish Market. It is a one minute walk from Shin-Toyosu Station on the Yurikamome Line (30 minutes, 390 yen one way from Shimbashi Station) or a ten minute walk from Toyosu Station on the Yurakucho Subway Line (7 minutes, 180 yen one way from Yurakucho Station).
