Tokyo has two major teamLab museums, but they are not alternative branches of the same attraction. teamLab Planets in Toyosu is a more physical, directed experience involving bare feet, water, changing floor textures and several large-scale environments. teamLab Borderless in Azabudai Hills is a mapless digital-art museum where artworks move between rooms and visitors choose their own route.

For most first-time adult visitors who want only one museum, our recommendation is teamLab Borderless. It is more centrally located, does not require changing out of shoes, and rewards visitors who enjoy wandering through a large network of changing spaces.

Choose teamLab Planets instead when the physical sensation of entering water and becoming part of the installations is the main appeal. It is also a strong choice for active children, visitors combining Toyosu with Odaiba, and travellers who prefer a clearer route with less risk of missing entire sections.

The comparison has changed since Planets expanded in January 2025. Older guides often describe it as a short attraction with only a few main installations, but the current venue includes Athletics Forest, Catching and Collecting Forest and Future Park. The official recommended duration is now approximately 2–2.5 hours.

Both museums use timed electronic tickets, both can sell out, and neither permits re-entry. Book before fixing the rest of your day, then organise nearby attractions around the admission time rather than trying to squeeze the museum into an already crowded schedule.

For wider itinerary planning, compare the neighbourhoods and accommodation bases in our complete Tokyo travel guide.

Trip.com Japan travel deals

Quick Verdict: teamLab Planets vs teamLab Borderless 2026

Decision teamLab Planets teamLab Borderless
Our overall verdict Best for physical immersion and a more structured visit Best overall choice for most first-time adult visitors
Location Toyosu, on Tokyo’s waterfront Azabudai Hills, near Kamiyacho and central Tokyo
Experience style Defined progression through Water, Garden, Forest and Open-Air areas Mapless exploration through connected, moving artworks
Footwear Barefoot in the main experience; shoes, socks and tights must be removed Normal shoes remain on
Water Yes; water can reach adult knee height in places No wading requirement
Recommended duration Approximately 2–2.5 hours Approximately 2.5–3 hours; longer for slow exploration and the tea house
Adult ticket From JPY 3,600 JPY 3,600–5,600 under dynamic pricing
Best for children Active children who enjoy physical play and do not mind water Families wanting easier clothing logistics and creative digital activities
Better for limited mobility More complex because of water, slopes and transfer requirements Usually more practical, but some artworks remain inaccessible
Photography Highly photogenic, with a more predictable sequence of major scenes More variety, but crowds and the dark mapless layout require patience
Main challenge Water, bare feet, clothing and physical surfaces Disorientation and the possibility of missing rooms
Best nearby combination Toyosu Market, Senkyaku Banrai or Odaiba Azabudai Hills, Tokyo Tower or Roppongi
Should you visit both? Only when digital art is a major priority and your Tokyo stay is long enough to give each museum a separate half-day

Planets gives a stronger sense of completing a designed journey. Borderless gives a stronger sense of discovering something for yourself. Neither is objectively superior; the better museum depends on whether you value physical sensation or freedom to explore.

These are two different museums and separate purchases, not a combined admission ticket. Choose Toyosu Planets or Azabudai Hills Borderless based on the experience you want, then check date/entry time, child, accessibility and cancellation conditions. Buying both does not remove the need to travel between them.

Latest 2026 Status, Hours and Important Changes

teamLab Planets 2026 status

teamLab Planets remains open in Toyosu and is scheduled to continue until the end of 2027. It is not a permanent museum, so travellers postponing the experience indefinitely should be aware that the current exhibition has a stated end period.

Standard operating hours are currently 08:00–22:00, with last admission one hour before closing. Published closure dates include August 5, September 3 and October 1, 2026. Opening schedules can change by month, so check the date displayed during ticket selection rather than assuming every day follows the same timetable.

The most important recent change is the expansion that opened in January 2025. Planets now includes additional physical and creative areas, meaning a current visit is longer and more varied than the original version described in many older reviews.

teamLab Borderless 2026 status

teamLab Borderless is a permanent museum in Azabudai Hills. Standard hours are currently 08:30–21:00, with last admission one hour before closing.

The museum is scheduled to remain open until 22:00 from August 8–15, close at 17:00 on September 1, and close completely on August 25 and September 8, 2026. These special dates matter when organising dinner, another timed attraction or an airport transfer after the visit.

The Light Sculpture – Flow space reopened in July 2026 with On the Asymmetry of the Universe, a special exhibition featuring the new Asymmetric Existence and Chromatic Existence series. The announced exhibition period continues through October 8, 2026.

Do not treat a ticket time as the museum’s closing time

Your reservation controls when you join the entry process. It does not normally restrict you to a 30-minute or one-hour visit after entering. Planets recommends around 2–2.5 hours, while Borderless places no fixed limit on the time spent inside.

Both museums can still have an entrance queue despite timed admission. Avoid booking another non-refundable activity immediately after the theoretical minimum visit time.

teamLab Planets vs teamLab Borderless: The Core Experience Difference

Planets is a designed physical journey

Planets guides visitors through a more legible sequence. You remove your shoes, store belongings and move through environments designed to affect the whole body. Water, soft surfaces, slopes, darkness, mirrored floors and suspended flowers are part of the experience rather than decorative additions.

This structure is reassuring for visitors who dislike wondering whether they have missed something. Although detours and optional areas exist, there is a stronger sense of progressing from one stage to the next and eventually reaching a clear exit.

The expanded Forest areas add more movement and participation. Athletics Forest uses uneven and responsive surfaces; Future Park contains collaborative activities; Catching and Collecting Forest turns digital animals into an exploratory learning activity. These additions make Planets more appealing to families than its early reputation as mainly a romantic photo attraction suggests.

Borderless is a museum without a prescribed route

Borderless deliberately provides no visitor map. Artworks leave one space, enter another and interact with other works. A room can look different when revisited, and following a moving projection may lead to an installation you did not notice before.

This can feel magical or frustrating. Visitors who enjoy exploration often consider the uncertainty central to the experience. Visitors who want to check every named artwork from a list may spend too much time retracing corridors and worrying about what remains unseen.

The official teamLab app is more useful at Borderless because the museum has no artwork labels. It can identify nearby works, explain their concepts and enable interaction with Infinite Crystal World. Download it before entering rather than depending on reception inside the dark galleries.

Which feels more immersive?

Planets is more physically immersive because the body directly encounters water, texture and changes in balance. Borderless is more spatially immersive because the museum surrounds visitors with a continuously changing world that does not respect conventional room boundaries.

Choose Planets for sensation. Choose Borderless for discovery.

Locations and Access: Toyosu vs Azabudai Hills

Access point teamLab Planets teamLab Borderless
Address 6-1-16 Toyosu, Koto City, Tokyo Azabudai Hills Garden Plaza B B1, 1-2-4 Azabudai, Minato City, Tokyo
Easiest station Shin-Toyosu Station Kamiyacho Station
Final route North Exit, turn right and follow the pavement for about one minute Exit 5 route through the underground Azabudai Hills passage to Garden Plaza B
Alternative station Toyosu Station, Exit 7, approximately 10 minutes on foot Roppongi-Itchome Station, Exit 4 route, approximately six minutes
Weather exposure Outdoor final walk Can be reached through the connected underground passage
Best surrounding area Waterfront attractions, markets and Odaiba Central dining, Tokyo Tower and Roppongi

Correct route to teamLab Planets

The easiest route is to take the Yurikamome to Shin-Toyosu Station. After leaving the ticket gate, turn right, use the North Exit and follow the pavement. The museum is approximately one minute away and is difficult to miss once outside.

Travellers using the Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line can leave Toyosu Station through Exit 7 and walk beneath the elevated Yurikamome tracks for approximately 10 minutes. This avoids paying for the one-stop Yurikamome journey, but it is less comfortable in intense summer heat, heavy rain or when travelling with children.

From Tokyo Station, a practical route is JR to Yurakucho, the Yurakucho Line to Toyosu, and the Yurikamome for one stop to Shin-Toyosu. Including transfers, allow around 25–35 minutes rather than adding together only the short train times shown in route diagrams.

Public buses from Tokyo, Ginza and Tsukiji toward Shin-Toyosu can encounter significant congestion. Rail is normally more predictable when you have a fixed admission time.

Correct route to teamLab Borderless

Use Kamiyacho Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line and follow signs from Exit 5 toward Azabudai Hills. The museum is in Garden Plaza B on basement level B1. The stations and complex are connected underground, so there is no need to emerge onto the street.

Do not navigate only to the centre of the large Azabudai Hills development and assume the entrance will be obvious. Continue following signs for Garden Plaza B and teamLab Borderless. Arriving within the complex is not the same as reaching the admission line.

Roppongi-Itchome Station on the Namboku Line is the main alternative. Follow the connected route from Exit 4 and allow approximately six minutes.

From Tokyo Station, take the Marunouchi Line to Ginza and transfer to the Hibiya Line for Kamiyacho. From Shinjuku, take the Marunouchi Line toward Kasumigaseki and change to the Hibiya Line. Borderless is usually easier than Planets to insert into a central Tokyo sightseeing day.

Access from Haneda and Narita airports

Planets is geographically closer to Haneda, but reaching it by public transport still involves transfers. The official route uses the Tokyo Monorail to Hamamatsucho, JR to Shimbashi and the Yurikamome to Shin-Toyosu.

For Borderless, travellers can reach the Hibiya Line through central Tokyo and continue to Kamiyacho. Large luggage makes either museum inconvenient immediately after landing, so use station or hotel storage first.

Compare airport routes and luggage-friendly options in our Haneda Airport to Tokyo guide and Narita Airport to Tokyo guide.

Driving and parking

teamLab Planets has no dedicated visitor parking. A limited weekday parking-service arrangement may be available through LaLaport Toyosu, but it should not be treated as free museum parking.

Borderless visitors can use the paid Azabudai Hills P6 parking area. Take elevator D to B1; the museum entrance is immediately to the left. Online ticket holders may present their parking ticket at the information counter for the applicable Azabudai Hills parking benefit.

Public transport is still preferable for both museums unless driving is part of a wider itinerary outside central Tokyo.

teamLab Planets vs teamLab Borderless Tickets and Booking

Ticket type teamLab Planets teamLab Borderless
Adult, age 18+ From JPY 3,600 JPY 3,600–5,600 depending on date and time
Age 13–17 JPY 2,800 for junior-high and high-school students JPY 2,800
Age 4–12 JPY 1,500 JPY 1,500
Age 3 and under Free Free
Disability ticket From JPY 1,800 JPY 1,800
Flexible premium option Premium Pass: JPY 12,000 Flexible Pass: JPY 12,000
Walk-up purchase No onsite ticket counter or vending-machine sales Do not rely on it; official wording is inconsistent and availability may sell out
Re-entry Not permitted Not permitted

Which Planets ticket should you buy?

The standard timed Entrance Pass is sufficient for almost everyone. The Premium Pass allows entry at any time on the selected date and lets the holder bypass the external admission queue, but it does not bypass queues inside individual artworks.

At JPY 12,000 per person aged four or above, the Premium Pass is difficult to justify merely to avoid committing to a time. It is most useful for travellers with an unpredictable schedule who place unusually high value on flexibility.

Official web tickets can normally be moved up to three times when the new slot remains available. Entrance Pass changes must be completed by two hours before the reserved admission start time. Tickets generally cannot be cancelled or refunded.

Klook currently offers active Planets admission and Premium Pass packages. It is convenient for travellers who prefer to keep attraction vouchers in one application, but check the individual package’s conditions because third-party change rules can differ from official tickets.

Which Borderless ticket should you buy?

The standard Entrance Pass is also the correct choice for most Borderless visitors. Adult admission uses dynamic pricing, so changing the day or time can reduce the price. Compare several slots before automatically choosing the most convenient weekend afternoon.

The JPY 12,000 Flexible Pass removes the specified entry time but still requires a selected date. It is useful only when the day is fixed but the exact schedule cannot be predicted.

Eligible students visiting between July 18 and September 18, 2026 should check the limited Student Summer Pass. The published price is JPY 3,000 for eligible college, graduate, junior-college and vocational students, and JPY 2,000 for middle- and high-school students. Student identification may be requested.

Official Borderless tickets can generally be changed up to three times, with changes completed at least two hours before the reserved admission time. The official page contains contradictory wording about onsite sales, so advance online booking remains the sensible strategy.

Klook’s active page currently includes timed admission, Flexible Pass, student options and selected combinations. Some package labels indicate changes are possible while generic conditions are stricter, so read the final voucher conditions rather than relying only on the package summary.

How early should tickets be booked?

Book as soon as your Tokyo dates and broad daily areas are fixed, especially for weekends, Japanese public holidays, school breaks and morning slots. Two to four weeks is a practical target for travellers who require a specific time, although availability varies.

Do not book both museums before deciding whether your itinerary genuinely has room for them. The experiences overlap enough that most first-time visitors will gain more from choosing one and using the saved half-day elsewhere in Tokyo.

How Long to Spend and the Best Arrival Time

Time strategy Advantages Disadvantages Best suited to
First morning slot Lower accumulated crowding and a predictable start Requires an early departure from the hotel Photographers, families and crowd-sensitive visitors
Late morning Easy to combine with lunch nearby Popular rooms may already feel busy General sightseeing itineraries
Mid-afternoon Useful during summer heat or bad weather Often overlaps with a busy visitor period Travellers using the museum as an indoor break
Early evening Easy to combine with dinner and night views Less buffer if trains, queues or the visit take longer Adults visiting Borderless from central Tokyo
Final admission period May feel quieter near closing on some days Limited time and no recovery from lateness Only travellers comfortable with a compressed visit

Recommended time for Planets

Allow 2.5–3 hours from arrival outside the building to departure. The official experience estimate is approximately 2–2.5 hours, but the total also includes the entrance queue, locker process, changing footwear, drying after water areas and retrieving belongings.

The first one or two morning slots are best for families, photography and a smoother progression. A late-evening ticket can work, but do not assume the venue will remain open beyond the published closing time simply because you entered near final admission.

Recommended time for Borderless

Allow at least 2.5–3 hours inside, and closer to 3.5 hours if you want to revisit changing rooms, participate in creative activities or order a drink at EN TEA HOUSE.

Borderless does not have a clear moment when the visit feels complete. Decide in advance how much time you can give it, but avoid turning the museum into a checklist. Returning to a favourite space can be more rewarding than repeatedly searching for one room seen online.

How early should you arrive?

Arrive approximately 15–20 minutes before the beginning of the admission window. This provides time to find the correct entrance, prepare the QR ticket and organise the group without creating an unnecessarily long wait.

Planets’ official information warns that actual admission can be delayed during busy periods. Borderless also states that timed-ticket holders may still wait. Do not reserve a restaurant with strict cancellation terms immediately after the minimum visit duration.

Exhibits, Route and Crowd Experience

Planets highlights

The Water Area contains the installations most associated with Planets. Visitors move barefoot through water and mirrored environments where projections respond to movement. The physical sensation distinguishes it from conventional digital exhibitions and from Borderless.

The Garden Area includes living flowers and spaces that alter the relationship between the body and the surrounding plants. These rooms are visually dramatic, but queues can form when visitors stop for repeated portrait sessions.

Athletics Forest uses balance, jumping, climbing and responsive surfaces to connect perception with physical movement. Some elements cannot be experienced while seated in a wheelchair, and adults who dislike unstable footing should not assume the entire museum is a flat walk.

Future Park and Catching and Collecting Forest are particularly relevant to families. They introduce drawing, collaboration, observation and physical participation rather than limiting the visit to passive light displays.

Borderless highlights

Borderless World is not a single linear gallery. Waterfalls, flowers, animals and human figures move between spaces, combine with other works and respond to visitors. The experience changes depending on where you stand and which work you follow.

Bubble Universe and Microcosmoses use light, mirrored surfaces and responsive objects to create some of the museum’s strongest visual environments. These areas can feel crowded because visitors naturally pause for photographs.

Light Sculpture – Flow provides a more intense sequence of light-based spatial works. Its 2026 reopening gives repeat visitors a meaningful reason to return, especially during the current On the Asymmetry of the Universe exhibition period.

Sketch Ocean and other participatory works allow visitors to colour a creature and see it appear within the digital environment. They are popular with children, although queues can become longer during family-heavy periods.

EN TEA HOUSE is an optional paid experience inside the museum. Digital flowers respond to tea in the bowl, but each visitor entering must order at least one drink. Include extra time rather than treating it as part of the standard admission flow.

Which museum handles crowds better?

Planets has a clearer flow, which reduces navigation anxiety but concentrates visitors in the same sequence. A slow group or a popular photo room can therefore create a noticeable bottleneck.

Borderless spreads visitors across more routes, but its most famous enclosed spaces can still become busy. The mapless design also means people repeatedly pass through the same corridors while searching for another area.

An early weekday slot is the safest choice for either museum. No ticket guarantees empty rooms, and paying for a flexible or premium ticket does not create a private experience.

Water, Barefoot Rules and What to Wear at Planets

How much water is involved?

Planets is not entirely underwater, but the water sections are compulsory parts of the standard route unless staff direct you to a detour. Water can rise to adult knee height. For small children, the same depth reaches much higher on the body.

The water temperature is adjusted seasonally. The circulation system filters the water, chlorine concentration is checked hourly, and towels provided after the water areas are cleaned and sanitised.

Visitors who cannot or do not want to enter a water artwork can ask staff about detour routes. Skipping those sections reduces the defining feature of Planets, so Borderless may provide better value when water is already a major concern.

Do you have to remove socks and tights?

Yes. Visitors remove shoes, socks and tights in the locker area. Loose trousers must be capable of rolling above the knee without immediately falling down.

Do not wear complicated footwear that takes several minutes to remove and replace. Simple shoes and ordinary socks make the entrance and exit process easier.

Best clothing for Planets

Wear shorts or comfortable trousers that can remain securely above the knee. Avoid long hems that absorb water and become difficult to dry. Bring spare clothing for young children because the water is not a swimming area and visitors cannot continue through later artworks in soaked clothes.

Several floors use mirrored materials. Skirts and wide-legged garments can reveal more than expected from below. Free rental shorts are available in sizes from XS to 6L, but arriving in suitable clothing is simpler.

Planets is barefoot rather than slippery-pool footwear territory. Do not bring water shoes expecting to use them inside unless staff specifically instruct otherwise.

Best clothing for Borderless

Borderless does not require visitors to remove their shoes. Wear comfortable, secure footwear because the museum involves extended walking in darkness, uneven-feeling visual environments and some low ceilings.

Mirror floors are also present. Trousers or longer fitted clothing are the easiest option. A wrap skirt can be borrowed near the relevant artwork when needed.

Plain or light-coloured clothing can catch projections effectively in photographs, but comfort and modesty around mirrored surfaces are more important than coordinating an outfit solely for social media.

Accessibility and Sensory Considerations

Wheelchair access at Planets

Wheelchair users can enter Planets, and accessible toilets are available. Visitors using their own wheelchair must fit tyre covers before entering.

Accessibility is not complete. Waterfall of Light Particles at the Top of an Incline cannot be accessed by wheelchair users. Two water-based works can be experienced only after transferring to a special wheelchair designed for water areas. Staff cannot push that wheelchair inside the artwork, so a companion is required.

Several Athletics Forest works cannot be experienced while seated and can only be viewed from designated positions. Staff explain the appropriate route before admission, but visitors should expect a modified experience rather than identical access to every installation.

Wheelchair access at Borderless

Borderless permits wheelchair and stretcher entry through an elevator. However, some artworks are not passable by wheelchair, and the museum may limit the number of wheelchair users admitted at one time.

Visitors using electric wheelchairs or senior mobility devices that cannot remain at or below the venue’s specified low speed may need to transfer to a museum wheelchair. Travellers who require mobility assistance should visit with a companion.

Borderless is generally the easier choice for visitors who cannot remove shoes, transfer into a water wheelchair or manage wet areas. It should not, however, be described as completely barrier-free.

Darkness, flashing lights and sensory overload

Both museums contain intense visual stimulation, darkness, sudden changes in sound and disorienting mirrored spaces. Borderless additionally warns of loud sounds, aromas, unstable footholds and low ceilings.

Visitors with photosensitive conditions, severe claustrophobia, balance problems or anxiety in darkness should review the official precautions before purchasing. The fact that an attraction is indoors does not make it low-stimulation.

Planets is more physically challenging. Borderless can be more mentally disorienting because there is no map and fewer visual cues about the route back.

Pregnancy and elderly visitors

Both museums restrict access to certain artworks for safety during pregnancy. Ask staff for the appropriate route instead of assuming every installation can be entered.

For elderly visitors who can walk independently but tire easily, Borderless usually has simpler footwear and water logistics. It has two rest areas, but seating is not available in every gallery. Planets requires more balance, transitions between surfaces and management of wet feet.

Children, Strollers and Family Suitability

Which museum is better for toddlers?

Borderless is usually easier logistically because toddlers do not need to remove socks or enter knee-deep water. However, it remains dark and mapless, strollers must be stored, and child harnesses are prohibited for safety.

Planets can be exciting for water-confident toddlers, but the adult must maintain physical control in dark spaces and bring spare clothes. The water level relative to a small child should not be underestimated.

Neither museum is ideal for a sleeping child in a stroller because strollers cannot be taken inside.

Which museum is better for school-age children?

Planets often wins for energetic children. Athletics Forest, Future Park, drawing activities, responsive floors and water provide more obvious physical participation.

Borderless is better for children who enjoy searching, drawing and watching digital creatures move between rooms. It is also easier when parents do not want to manage wet clothing.

The right choice depends less on age than temperament. A child who dislikes darkness, loud sound or losing sight of the exit may find Borderless stressful. A child who dislikes bare feet, water or unstable surfaces may prefer Borderless immediately.

Adult supervision rules

At Planets, there must be one accompanying adult for every three children, including children admitted free of charge. Children under 13 cannot enter alone.

At Borderless, elementary-school-age children and younger must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or above, with one adult for every five children, including children with free admission.

Strollers, baby carriers and feeding

Planets accepts baby carriers but not strollers. Strollers are left in an outdoor designated storage area and secured with a wire lock. Diaper-changing tables are available in the women’s toilets, and urgent breastfeeding may be accommodated through the first-aid office after asking staff.

Borderless also requires strollers to be stored in the luggage room. The museum has two rest areas but no nursing room.

Families should schedule feeding and toilet use before joining the entrance line because re-entry is prohibited at both venues.

Photography, Lockers and Practical Museum Rules

Photography at Planets

Personal photography and video are permitted, but commercial use requires prior consent. Follow temporary onsite restrictions and avoid blocking narrow routes or spending excessive time staging photographs while others wait.

Protect phones from water. A wrist strap or secure pocket is more practical than holding an open bag over a water installation. The museum is not responsible for lost or damaged valuables.

Photography at Borderless

Personal photography, video and social-media posting are permitted. Flash is prohibited, as are monopods, tripods, selfie sticks and other photographic aids measuring 30 centimetres or more.

The most effective approach is to take a few photographs and then put the phone away long enough to notice how the works move between rooms. Watching every installation through a screen weakens the main reason to choose Borderless.

Lockers and luggage at Planets

Free lockers measure approximately 23 centimetres wide, 34 centimetres deep and 37 centimetres high. Larger luggage is secured with a wire lock near the stroller area rather than placed in a staffed cloakroom.

Do not bring a large suitcase unless unavoidable. Store it at the hotel or a major station first, especially because you cannot leave the museum and return.

Lockers and luggage at Borderless

Free lockers are provided. Items exceeding 50 centimetres are restricted and should be stored before arrival. The surrounding Azabudai Hills complex does not remove the need to comply with the museum’s own baggage rules.

Food, drinks and re-entry

Eating is prohibited inside both museums. Borderless allows drinks only under its specified container rules and requires each visitor entering EN TEA HOUSE to order a drink. Planets prohibits eating and drinking within the exhibition.

Both museums prohibit re-entry. Eat, use the toilet, store luggage and organise the group before scanning the ticket.

Affiliate recommendations | The Samurai & Ninja Museum, Tokyo Skytree and Asakusa Hanayashiki are separate city attractions, not a combined museum or observation-deck ticket. Choose by area and available time; Asakusa/Sumida options are not in the same venue as Shibuya, Tokyo Tower or Azabudai Hills. Check admission slots and child/package options before adding another timed booking.

Klook.com

Can You Visit Both Museums? Itineraries and Nearby Attractions

Can you visit Planets and Borderless on the same day?

Yes, but it is technically possible rather than generally recommended. Allow approximately 45–60 minutes between the museums after accounting for walking, transfers and finding the correct entrance. Combined museum time can exceed five hours before lunch, queues or nearby sightseeing.

Two immersive digital-art museums on one day can also feel repetitive, even though their concepts differ. Most first-time visitors will gain more from combining one teamLab museum with an outdoor district, traditional attraction or city viewpoint.

Half-day Planets itinerary

08:00–08:20: Arrive at Shin-Toyosu, prepare the QR ticket and join the admission line.

08:30–11:00: Experience the Water, Garden, Forest and Open-Air areas without rushing through Athletics Forest or Future Park.

11:00–12:00: Eat at a nearby restaurant or continue toward Toyosu Market and Senkyaku Banrai.

12:00 onward: Visit Odaiba by Yurikamome or spend the afternoon around Toyosu’s waterfront and shopping facilities.

Full-day Toyosu and Odaiba itinerary

Start at Toyosu Market or Senkyaku Banrai in the morning, when market-related activity is most relevant. Reserve Planets for late morning or early afternoon, then continue by Yurikamome toward Odaiba.

Choose only one or two Odaiba attractions rather than trying to complete every mall, museum and observation point. Finish with the waterfront after sunset. Our broader list of things to do in Tokyo can help prioritise the rest of the day.

Half-day Borderless itinerary

08:15–08:30: Follow the underground route from Kamiyacho Station to Garden Plaza B.

08:30–11:30: Explore Borderless, revisit favourite rooms and include EN TEA HOUSE only when the queue fits the schedule.

11:30–13:00: Have lunch within Azabudai Hills.

13:00 onward: Walk toward Tokyo Tower and Zojoji, or continue to Roppongi for museums, shopping and dinner.

Evening Borderless itinerary

Spend the afternoon around Roppongi, Tokyo Tower or central Tokyo, then reserve Borderless for approximately 17:00. Allow three hours and confirm the day’s closing time before planning dinner.

This route works particularly well for adults who want to continue into central Tokyo after the museum. Compare more evening combinations in our guide to things to do in Tokyo at night.

Where should you stay?

An overnight stay near either museum is not necessary. Tokyo’s rail network makes both practical from most central accommodation areas.

For Borderless, Ginza, Tokyo Station, Roppongi, Shimbashi and central Minato locations are convenient. For Planets, Ginza, Tokyo Station, Shimbashi and Toyosu reduce travel time. Visitors also planning Odaiba may prefer an eastern or waterfront base.

Do not change hotels solely for one museum visit. Choose accommodation according to the majority of the itinerary. Our Tokyo hotel and accommodation guide provides a detailed area comparison in Traditional Chinese when a dedicated English accommodation page is not available.

Common First-Time Visitor Mistakes

  1. Assuming both museums offer the same experience. Planets is physical and directed; Borderless is exploratory and mapless.
  2. Using an old 60–90-minute estimate for Planets. The expanded venue now merits approximately 2–2.5 hours inside.
  3. Booking another timed attraction too soon afterward. Entry queues and slow exploration can extend the visit.
  4. Arriving at Azabudai Hills without finding Garden Plaza B. The development is large; follow museum signs through the underground passage.
  5. Getting off at Toyosu without allowing for the final walk. Shin-Toyosu is one minute away, while Toyosu requires roughly 10 minutes on foot.
  6. Wearing tights, long trousers or complicated shoes to Planets. Socks and tights must be removed, and hems must stay above the water.
  7. Assuming Planets is entirely wheelchair accessible because wheelchairs are admitted. Several artworks require detours, transfer or viewing from designated areas.
  8. Assuming Borderless is completely barrier-free because there is no water. Some artworks remain impassable to wheelchairs.
  9. Bringing a stroller into the entrance line. Strollers must be stored at both museums.
  10. Bringing a large suitcase. Storage is limited and re-entry is not permitted.
  11. Relying on same-day onsite Borderless tickets. Official wording is inconsistent and popular slots can sell out.
  12. Buying a JPY 12,000 flexible ticket without calculating its value. A standard timed ticket is sufficient for most itineraries.
  13. Trying to photograph every moment. Crowds, dark routes and moving artworks reward patience more than constant filming.
  14. Visiting both museums merely because both are popular. For a short first Tokyo trip, one museum plus a contrasting district is usually better.
  15. Forgetting that neither museum permits re-entry. Complete meals, toilet visits and luggage storage before admission.

teamLab Planets vs teamLab Borderless 2026 Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which is better, teamLab Planets or teamLab Borderless?

Borderless is the better all-round choice for most first-time adults because of its central location, broad exploratory experience and simpler clothing requirements. Planets is better for travellers prioritising water, physical immersion and a clearer route.

2. Is teamLab Planets still worth visiting after Borderless reopened?

Yes. Planets provides a substantially different body-based experience, and its expanded Forest areas make the current visit longer and more interactive than older versions.

3. How long do you need at teamLab Planets?

Allow approximately 2–2.5 hours inside and around three hours from arrival to departure. The entrance, lockers, footwear changes and possible waiting add time.

4. How long do you need at teamLab Borderless?

Allow at least 2.5–3 hours. Add more time when using EN TEA HOUSE, joining creative activities or revisiting rooms as the artworks change.

5. Do you get wet at teamLab Planets?

Yes. Water can reach adult knee height in certain areas. Young children may become wet higher on the body, so spare clothing is recommended.

6. Do you need to be barefoot at teamLab Planets?

Yes. Shoes, socks and tights are removed in the locker area. Visitors who cannot enter particular spaces can ask staff about detour routes.

7. Do you remove your shoes at teamLab Borderless?

No. Visitors keep their normal footwear on. Comfortable shoes are recommended because the museum involves prolonged walking in dark spaces.

8. Which teamLab museum is better for children?

Planets is often better for active school-age children, while Borderless is easier for toddlers and families wanting to avoid water logistics. Neither permits strollers inside.

9. Is either museum fully wheelchair accessible?

No. Both admit wheelchair users, but both restrict access to certain artworks. Planets has water-wheelchair and detour procedures; Borderless has spaces that wheelchairs cannot enter.

10. Can you visit teamLab Planets and Borderless on the same day?

Yes, but allow 45–60 minutes for the transfer and more than five hours for the museums themselves. Separate days or choosing one museum is usually more enjoyable.

11. Do tickets sell out?

Popular dates and time slots can sell out, particularly weekends, holidays and morning periods. Book online once the itinerary date is fixed.

12. Can teamLab tickets be cancelled or changed?

Official tickets generally cannot be cancelled. Eligible official web tickets can normally be changed up to three times before the applicable deadline, subject to availability. Third-party conditions may differ.

13. Can you re-enter either teamLab museum?

No. Re-entry is prohibited at both Planets and Borderless. Complete meals, luggage storage and necessary errands before scanning the ticket.

14. Is photography allowed?

Personal photography is allowed at both museums. Borderless prohibits flash, tripods, monopods, large selfie sticks and other photographic aids of 30 centimetres or more.

15. Which museum has the better location?

Borderless has the better location for most central Tokyo itineraries. Planets is more convenient when the day already includes Toyosu Market, Odaiba or other waterfront attractions.

Affiliate recommendations | The Asakusa walking tour, Shinjuku food tour and electric-assist bicycle tour are distinct Tokyo experiences, not attraction admission or a transport bundle. Check the actual guide language, meeting point, walking/cycling and child requirements, food inclusions and allergies. Some food-tour venues have stairs and no lift.

Klook.com

Final Recommendation: Who Should Choose Each Museum?

Choose teamLab Borderless when this is your first teamLab experience, you want the most convenient central location, or you prefer a large digital-art environment that rewards exploration. It is also the safer choice when barefoot water areas would create discomfort or complicated family logistics.

Choose teamLab Planets when you want an experience that feels physically different from an ordinary museum. The water, changing surfaces, living flowers and Athletics Forest make the body part of the artwork rather than simply placing the visitor in front of projections.

Families with energetic school-age children may find Planets more immediately engaging. Families with toddlers, visitors who dislike wet clothing, and groups that want to remain in normal shoes will usually find Borderless easier.

For wheelchair users and travellers with limited mobility, Borderless is generally more practical, but neither museum provides identical access to every artwork. Contact the venue when a specific transfer, wheelchair dimension or companion requirement affects the decision.

Allow approximately half a day for either museum. Planets pairs naturally with Toyosu Market, Senkyaku Banrai and Odaiba. Borderless pairs more efficiently with Azabudai Hills, Tokyo Tower and Roppongi.

Visiting both is worthwhile for dedicated digital-art enthusiasts or repeat Tokyo visitors. For a typical first trip, choose one and use the remaining time for a neighbourhood that provides a stronger contrast.

Our final choice for most travellers is teamLab Borderless. Our choice for the most distinctive physical experience is teamLab Planets.