TeamLab Borderless has earned its spot as one of the "must-visit" places in Tokyo, even if you're not a person who is usually into art, it's very easy to get immersed in each piece of art. For the regular person, the visual attractiveness and interactivity of each piece can amaze and impress, while the art lover might choose to take a deeper interpretation of the meaning behind each artwork. We will admit that we aren't the type of people who would willing choose to go to an art museum, but we were nonetheless impressed by what we saw at TeamLab Borderless.
The current museum is not as large as the previous incarnation, but in return, there's less empty space and exhibits are designed more tightly to keep visitors constantly engaged. How much time you spend at TeamLab Borderless really depends on how much time you spend taking photos and interacting with exhibits. Taking a leisurely stroll throughout the museum and discovering all its exhibits would probably take around an hour or two, but this doesn't really account for any time you might spend to stop and really take in the sights. For first-time visitors, we would probably recommend around two to three hours if you plan to take lots of photos, and more if you are the type to really stop and admire the artwork.
While the corridors and the dynamic artwork featured are rather visually impressive, what was most memorable would be the permanent exhibits littered throughout the museum. The corridors and dynamic artwork were designed for large screens and elements that can move around freely between rooms, and some of them might also be interactive to the touch. However, these are generally just 2D illustrations on a screen, and might not be very visually impressive after a while.
The permanent exhibits, though, are typically located within a small closed-off room, and the artwork within each exhibit typically makes full use of the space and design to dazzle, immerse, and enchant visitors. Each of these exhibits typically has a set path to enter and exit, with some also having a queue system in order to control crowds so that they don't overfill the exhibit. Our personal favourite would be the Microcosmoses: Wobbling Light, where crystal balls filled with colourful lights travel on conveyor belts throughout the room, and is just a beautiful sight to behold.
Also not to be missed is the En Tea House, where you can take a break, and have some tea, with a dining experience augmented by digital art. At the cashier at the front, your order will be taken, and a small token representing your tea leaf order will be passed to you. Then, once you are seated, a staff would collect the token, and bring back your tea order, poured table-side in front of you. Leaving the cup of tea on the tabletop, flowers and leaves will start to blossom atop your cup of tea. It's generally a nice place to chill and relax from the hustle and bustle of exploring TeamLab Borderless. While we've been to multiple En Tea Houses at different TeamLab exhibitions, the one located in Borderless actually provides a much higher drink quality than the somewhat diluted ones we've had at other locations.
TeamLab Borderless might at first seem like an overhyped attraction in Tokyo that everyone is talking about, but the current incarnation really does carry its own weight. Would we say it's the absolute best thing to do in Tokyo? Nope. But if you can get tickets and have the time, it is definitely worth a visit. Tickets are definitely on the higher end of attractions in Tokyo and might be a bit pricey for some, and we feel like it's probably the type of place to give a try just once rather than a repeat visit.
