teamLab Borderless vs Planets: Which Tokyo Museum to Visit

Pick Planets (Toyosu) if you want the most photogenic, hands-on experience: you go barefoot and wade through knee-deep water on a single guided path — great for families and photos (~90–120 min, from ¥3,200 as of July 2026). Pick Borderless (Azabudai) for a shoes-on, map-less maze where artworks drift between rooms — slower and more exploratory (~2–3 hr, from ¥3,800 as of July 2026). Both are real, currently-open Tokyo venues by the same collective, and they are genuinely different experiences — not two versions of the same thing.

Side-by-side comparison

Note: both museums use dynamic, per-date pricing and season-varying hours, so always confirm your exact day and buy timed tickets on the official site.

teamLab Planets in depth

teamLab Planets TOKYO DMM in Toyosu is the all-body one. You take off your shoes and socks, roll up to knee length, and physically wade through water, walk on soft and mirrored floors, and move through spaces where light and imagery respond to your body. It follows a single guided path, so it's easy to navigate with kids or first-timers, and it's the more Instagram-obvious of the two.

• Barefoot + water: wear or bring knee-length shorts — trousers will get wet. Lockers and rinse facilities are provided.
• Garden areas: a moss garden and a floating living-orchid room; the Garden/Forest areas can be done with shoes on, the Water area is barefoot.
• Bigger since early 2026: the venue was expanded (roughly doubled) with added kid zones (Athletic Forest / Future Park).
• Access: Shin-Toyosu Station (Yurikamome), North Exit, ~1 min — the venue is directly outside; or Toyosu Station ~10 min.
• Plan ~90–120 minutes. Full practical detail is in our teamLab Planets Toyosu guide.

One important correction to old information: Planets was originally slated to close at the end of 2023, but it has been officially extended to run until the end of 2027 (announced August 2023). It has been extended before and could be again — but as of July 2026 it is firmly open.

teamLab Borderless in depth

teamLab Borderless at Azabudai Hills is the exploratory one. There is no map and no set route: artworks literally move out of one room and into another, and part of the joy is wandering and stumbling onto them. You keep your shoes on, the spaces are dark and atmospheric, and it rewards curiosity and time over a checklist.

• Named spaces to find: the EN TEA HOUSE (flowers bloom inside your teacup), Bubble Universe, Megalith Crystal Formation, Catching and Collecting Forest, and Light Sculpture.
• Tickets: date- and time-timed, online only (official site + Klook), and they often sell out. There's no re-entry once you exit.
• Access: Kamiyacho Station (Hibiya Line) Exit 5, ~2 min; also walkable from Roppongi-itchome and Azabu-juban (~7–10 min).
• Plan ~2–3 hours. Everything you need is in our teamLab Borderless Azabudai guide.

Which should you choose?

• For photos and families → Planets. The water walk, mirrored floors and orchid room are the most striking, and the single path is stress-free with children. It's also shorter if you're tight on time.
• For exploring and getting lost → Borderless. If you love wandering, discovery and a more cerebral, dreamlike atmosphere — and you don't want to get wet — this is your one.
• First-timer with only one slot? Most first-timers who want the "wow, I'm standing inside it" feeling pick Planets. Art-and-design lovers who want depth pick Borderless.

Can you do both in a day?

Yes — it's very doable. Planets runs ~90–120 min and Borderless ~2–3 hr, and they're on opposite sides of central Tokyo (Toyosu and Azabudai). The trick is that both require date- and time-timed tickets bought in advance on the official sites, so book two non-overlapping slots with a comfortable travel buffer between them. A common plan is Planets earlier in the day (you'll be a little damp, so do the barefoot one first) then Borderless later, when the darker rooms feel even more magical. Confirm current hours and prices on the official sites, as of July 2026.

FAQ

What's the main difference between teamLab Borderless and Planets? Planets is barefoot and you wade through knee-deep water on a single photogenic path (~90–120 min); Borderless is shoes-on with no map, where artworks flow between rooms and you explore freely (~2–3 hr).

Which is better for families and photos? Planets. The water, mirrored floors, orchid room and new kid zones (Athletic Forest / Future Park, added in early 2026) are the most hands-on and photogenic, and the single path is easy with children.

Which is better for a slower, more artistic visit? Borderless, with its map-less, dreamlike rooms and spaces like the EN TEA HOUSE and Bubble Universe. It rewards wandering and typically takes 2–3 hours.

Do you really get wet at Planets? Yes — you go barefoot and wade through knee-deep water in the Water area, so wear knee-length shorts; trousers will get wet. Lockers and rinse facilities are provided.

Is teamLab Planets closing? It was originally slated to close at the end of 2023 but has been officially extended to run until the end of 2027 (announced August 2023). As of July 2026 it is open.

How much do they cost? Both use dynamic per-date pricing (as of July 2026): Planets from ~¥3,200 and Borderless from ¥3,800 online, with discounts for teens, children and visitors with disabilities. Always check the exact day and buy timed tickets on the official site.

Can I visit both in one day? Yes. Book two non-overlapping timed slots in advance — many people do Planets first (you'll be a bit damp) then Borderless later. Allow travel time between Toyosu and Azabudai.

How do I get to each one? Planets is ~1 min from Shin-Toyosu Station (Yurikamome), North Exit. Borderless is ~2 min from Kamiyacho Station (Hibiya Line) Exit 5, and also walkable from Roppongi-itchome and Azabu-juban.