teamLab Planets vs Borderless: Which is Better?

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If you are planning a visit to Tokyo, then you already know that visiting teamLab is a must. But you need to decide which one to visit: Planets vs Borderless.

That’s right. Currently, there are two teamLab digital art exhibitions in the Tokyo metro.

I was lucky enough to visit both on my first visit to Japan. And both museums were among the top 10 things I did while there.

While both offer unique and sensational experiences, if you can choose only one, should you visit teamLab Borderless or teamLab Planets?

I understand having a jam-packed itinerary and ensuring experiences are worth both the financial investment and time. That’s why in this post, I will compare teamLab Planets vs Borderless, highlighting what makes each one different and helping you decide which is best for your upcoming trip.

What’s the Difference Between teamLab Borderless and teamLab Planets?

All teamLab exhibits are immersive digital art museums, where visitors interact with the art.

The biggest difference between the two Tokyo teamLabs is that Planets is more sensory immersive, while Borderless feels more visually immersive.

teamLab Borderless is a visual experience where the digital art projected on the walls and floors moves, influences other art, and even interacts with visitors. It feels like one continuous world of art. There’s no particular order you need to visit the rooms or even a suggested one.

In fact, TeamLabs encourages you to embrace the “borderless” experience and wander throughout the rooms, discovering all that they have to offer. You should definitely visit each room more than once because the artwork moves.

While Borderless encourages wandering, Planets has a loop route that you follow, and if you want to experience a room again, you need to go through the loop again.

At teamLab Planets, you walk through the digital art museum barefoot. You follow one path from room to room, and the texture of the floor path changes from bouncy and squishy to soft and flat. There is also a room where you wade through knee-high water.

So much of the experience was tactile that I really felt immersed in the art, becoming the art itself. Many of the rooms you visit are affected or influenced by you, and it’s magical.

Borderless vs Planets Exhibits

Both teamLab Planets and Borderless have the iconic mirror rooms that you have seen on Instagram. But they also have installations that you can’t find at the other that might influence where decide you go.

Borderless offers an art installation where you become the artist. In “Sketch Ocean” you sit in a drawing room and color an ocean creature of your choice with crayons. Then, they scan your creation and you see it instantaneously digitally projected into the adjacent room.

Sometimes, the digital fish you create moves out of the ocean room into other rooms, so it’s fun to go around and see if you can find your creation. If you are traveling with kids, this makes Borderless a must-see.

Additionally, Borderless has a teahouse where flowers are projected onto your drink. Every time you take a sip, the flower bursts into petals and regrows wherever you set your cup down. The drinks are not included in your entry ticket, but it is worth it. We used it as a little break after adventuring around.

teamLab Planets is known for its water installation. The water is warm enough to feel pleasant but not hot. There is plenty of signage leading up to it so you know when to hike up your pants. The water goes up to knee height, but will be higher on little kids.

As you wade through the room, koi fish are projected on the water around you. At first, I thought it was just a pre-recorded playback, but the fish are influenced by people! They swim around you as you walk through the water, and if you “collide” with a fish, then they burst into flowers. Plus, the flowers change depending on the season you visit. Can you imagine going during cherry blossom season?!

Additionally, Planets offers a floating flower garden immersion. Hundreds of live orchids are hung from the ceiling, and move as people walk by. Definitely worth taking the time to snag a picture here.

What to Know Before Deciding

Before you decide on teamLab Planets or teamLab Borderless, there are a few important factors to consider.

Both museums offer a complementary lock and locker room to store your belongings so you can enjoy the digital art unhindered. But putting your items in the locker is non-negotiable when it comes to visiting teamLab Planets because you have to walk barefoot throughout the museum.

So, if seeing other people’s feet really isn’t your thing, Borderless might be a better option for you. Even though most of the rooms are dark, you will see a lot of feet.

And don’t worry about bringing a towel, teamLab Planets has fresh ones available after exiting the water area.

Additionally, both teamLabs have rooms where mirrors are everywhere, including the floor and ceiling. Make sure to wear outfits that are modest. Both museums do offer shorts if you are wearing a dress or skirt.

Personally, I’d just recommend wearing an outfit that you know works. That way, there’s less hassle. We did bring a pair of pants to change into after visiting teamLab Planets just in case the water area got our clothes wet. 

One more thing to consider is that enjoying Borderless very heavily relies on looking at digital projections everywhere. So if lights and eye strain easily give you headaches, then you might enjoy Planets better.

teamLab Planets vs Borderless Locations

teamLab Borderless is in the new Azabudai Hills development, which has many amenities and public transport access, making it the perfect location for this digital art museum.

If you are visiting teamLab Borderless, I highly recommend visiting the iconic Tokyo Tower and Zōzō-ji temple, which is a 12-minute walk from Azabudai Hills.

Additionally, while there is a lot to explore in Azabudai Hills, you cannot miss going to the 52nd floor of the Mori Tower. Currently, it is a free view of the Tokyo Tower. Definitely see it before they add an entry-fee type deal like all the other skyline views in Tokyo.

teamLab Planets is located in Toyosu and requires a train and bus ride to get to from central Tokyo. However, Japan has incredible public transportation and while it is further than Borderless, it is still easy to access.

Pro Tip: This tour includes a sashimi buffet, a tour of Toyosu, and entry into teamLab Planets! 🤩

If you are visiting teamLab Planets, you cannot miss booking an excursion with Street Kart Tokyo Bay. It’s a 13-minute car ride or a 23-minute bus ride from Planets. Ideally, you would ride with Street Kart first and then head on over to teamLab Planets.

Street Kart is another excursion that made my top 10 list in Tokyo! 

FAQ

Overall, both teamLab locations in Tokyo are worth visiting if you can fit them both in your itinerary. However, if you have to choose, I hope this post helped you narrow down your decision. Enjoy Tokyo!