Our Review of Tokyo's TeamLab Borderless
I'll admit, I was skeptical about TeamLab Borderless before I went. I'm not a big fan of attractions that feel like they're all about snapping the perfect Instagram photo with no substance. I carried that skepticism with me for all of five minutes before TeamLab Borderless blew my mind.
Alex and I absolutely loved it. We spent four hours there and could have stayed longer if our grumbling stomachs didn't drag us away. It made our top 3 for best activities we did during our 9 days in Japan.
WHAT IS BORDERLESS?
TeamLab Borderless describes itself as a "world of artworks without boundaries." That's an elegant and somewhat grandiose way of saying that it's a digital art exhibit with art that moves between rooms.
Like many things in Japan, it's very high-tech and it uses mirrors and lights very effectively to create visual effects. We thought many of the exhibits were mesmerizing.
Besides Borderless, TeamLab has two other exhibits: another in Tokyo called Planets and one that opened in October 2025 in Kyoto called BioVortex. We had a friend who visited Planets and was a little less enthusiastic than we were about Borderless, but that's just one opinion.
We loved Borderless so much we almost rearranged our entire Kyoto itinerary to check out BioVortex, but ultimately decided against it. We'll have to catch that one next time.
OUR EXPERIENCE
We started our visit by wandering around a few of the open rooms near the entrance. The first few rooms were cool, but nothing extraordinary. As I mentioned, I was skeptical going into this experience. Alex is the photographer in the relationship, so I knew he'd be entertained, but I was worried this would just be a cool backdrop for a few selfies and I'd be bored within 30 minutes.
My opinion changed instantly when I walked into what would be my favorite room in the entire exhibit: Microcosmos. If you've ever seen the movie Inside Out 2, it felt like walking into the scene where Riley's memories, represented by giant glowing orbs, are sent down a tube to Long-Term Memory. By the way, even as an adult I love that movie and recommend you watch it.
The mirrors made the room feel limitless. I would stare down at the floor and see what looked like hundreds of these balls floating by in every direction. I would say it felt like a dream, but I've never had a dream this vivid.
Many of the floors have mirrors on them, so I'd advise against wearing a skirt. I wore one that happened to be quite long, and the rooms were pretty dark so I wasn't too exposed. TeamLab offers blankets to cover yourself with if you're worried, though.
All doubt dissipated. Now I was excited. What else was there to see here?
We moved on to the next must-see room: Infinite Crystals. In this room, there were rows upon rows of sparkling string lights that stretched from floor to ceiling. Every minute or so, the lights would change color, creating an entirely different feel.
When the lights turned blue, it felt like you were standing in the rain. When they turned yellow, it was like you were walking into the sun. Alex downloaded the Borderless app and voted for which color would display next. He was delighted every time he clicked the button and the entire room changed color based on what he selected.
We couldn't get enough of this room. We visited twice!
Alex's favorite room was Memory of Topography. You enter this room that resembles a forest. You're underneath these lilypads that appear to stretch off into the distance for miles. Eventually, you emerge from the forest into a peaceful valley with more lilypads stretching out near your feet, with light gliding in various patterns over the top.
The most famous room at Borderless is probably Bubble Universe. It's a room filled with gold or silver balls that resemble ornaments. It was cool, but it didn't make my top 3. Perhaps it was because it was the most crowded room or because that was the room on all the ads that I had seen a thousand times around the city. Either way, it's still worth checking it out.
The most unique exhibit was the one which involved a little audience participation: Sketch Ocean. We stood in a line, not exactly sure what we were waiting for, but encouraged by the fact that the line wrapped around the corner of the room. This must be something interesting, we told ourselves.
We were instructed to pick an underwater creature and color it in with crayons. When we were done, the staff scanned our drawings and the shark I just drew popped up on the wall and began chasing after some fish that someone else drew. I got a kick out of following my shark around, especially when I caught sight of it in an entirely different room hours later!
When it was time for some refreshments, we headed to the cafe. It's an added fee for the drinks and food that you order, but it's so worth it. I ordered the barley tea, which was delicious, not to mention entertaining, as digital butterflies danced on the top of my mug as I drank it. It was awesome. I also ate some matcha gelato and it was so creamy.
The refreshments weren't enough to replace lunch, though, and it was already 3 PM by the time we dragged ourselves away to eat. We could've stayed longer though. We were having so much fun!
On our way out, we circled back past a room we visited at the beginning: A Rock Where People Gather. Not much was going on a few hours ago, but now a giant rain exhibit fell from the roof. It was stunning. That's part of the magic about Borderless; it's constantly changing and will keep you entertained for hours.
IS IT WORTH IT?
Without question. No amount of photos or videos can do this place justice. It's dynamic, constantly changing, and immersive, 3D, neither of which the camera elegantly captures. It's simply so much better in person and I highly recommend a visit if you're in Tokyo.
FAQS
How long should we spend there?
Most people would find 2-3 hours sufficient. Alex and I stayed for 4 hours but we did many of our favorite rooms twice. You can stay as long as you want until closing, but you can't leave and re-enter.
Were you rushed or ushered through the exhibit?
I was worried about this, but there is no one ushering you through the exhibit. You can explore at your own pace.
Was it crowded?
Delightfully, no!
Can you bring backpacks?
You can bring small bags and backpacks. For larger items, you'll be asked to store them in lockers.
Is this family friendly?
Absolutely! Kids would have a blast here, especially at Sketch Ocean.
Is this an activity for adults without kids?
Yes, I think anyone would enjoy this experience.
Do I need to buy tickets in advance?
Yes, I highly recommend buying in advance. You can buy at the last minute, but timeslots can sell out.
How much does it cost?
The exact amount you pay depends on the date and time you select as well as the ticket type, Entrance Pass with a specified admission time or Flexible Pass. We paid 5,200 yen per person, about $32.
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