Uncover the immersive world of teamLab Borderless at Azabudai Hills, the place artwork, expertise, and nature converge to create a mesmerizing expertise like no different.

Amidst Tokyo’s ever-expanding cityscape lies its newest creation, Azubudai Hills, a contemporary city village. The gorgeous advanced is constructed across the theme of “Inexperienced & Wellness,” combining a few of the metropolis’s best amenities, buying, and leisure with nature and artwork. At its coronary heart is Japan’s latest and tallest constructing, Mori JP Tower, which stands at a formidable 325.5 meters.

That’s not all—the advanced additionally options the newest teamLab Borderless, an up to date and improved model of its unique counterpart, which opened in Odaiba in 2018. It is a totally different exhibition from teamLab Planets in Toyosu, which continues to be obtainable to go to.

On this information, I’ll take you thru this one-of-a-kind, transformative artwork expertise whereas additionally exhibiting you what else you are able to do across the city village to maintain your self entertained all through the day.

Find out how to Get to Azabudai Hills

The northeast nook of Azabudai Hills is related to Kamiyacho Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line. Take exit 1, and it’s only a minute’s stroll to the principle North entrance of Azabudai Hills.

The advanced is split into a number of buildings: Backyard Plaza A-D, Mori JP Tower, Residence A, and Residence B. A sequence of aesthetically designed pathways and underground passages join the buildings, so take your time exploring the realm.

Retail retailers occupy the primary few flooring of every constructing, whereas the higher flooring are occupied by workplaces and residences, most notably Aman Residences and Janu Tokyo.

The inspiring advanced was designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects and developed by Mori Constructing Firm, which additionally developed Roppongi Hills and Toranomon Hills, amongst others. Should you’ve visited Roppongi Hills, you may discover some similarities as you stroll across the space.

TeamLab Borderless

To go to TeamLab, I extremely advocate buying tickets prematurely on their web site. Ticket costs vary from 4,000 to five,000 yen per grownup, relying on the day. For youngsters aged 13-17, tickets are 2,800 yen, and for kids aged 4-12, they’re 1,500 yen (costs as of 2024).

For disabled guests, teamLab Borderless is accessible, although some areas is probably not. You possibly can cease by the counter on the entrance to select up your disabled move and knowledge on accessible areas. Tickets value 2,400 yen per grownup.

What units teamLab Borderless other than teamLab Planets in Toyosu is its emphasis on making a boundaryless world of artwork, closely counting on sight, odor, and sound. In distinction, teamLab Planets is extra bodily, with terrains starting from beanbags to water.

Now, on to the exhibition! I received’t cowl each single room, however the main points of interest are undoubtedly value mentioning. Should you’re carrying massive baggage or objects you don’t wish to convey inside, lockers can be found on the entrance.

As you descend into the exhibition, you’re greeted by a hallway lined with projection-mapped flowers and a delicate flowery perfume lingering within the air. From this level, there is no such thing as a set route by the exhibition. Using projection mapping and fragrances heightens your senses and sparks a way of exploration. Your entire exhibition is dimly lit, so discover slowly and be conscious of different guests.

Universe of Water Particles on a Rock the place Individuals Collect

The primary main room, and one of the crucial well-known, known as ‘Universe of Water Particles on a Rock the place Individuals Collect.’

The ‘water’ flowing alongside the bottom adjusts to the place persons are standing, ultimately culminating on the waterfall on the again. The room repeatedly transforms as individuals come and go.

Infinite Crystal Universe

Subsequent is a teamLab favourite: the ‘Infinite Crystal Universe.’ This room, additionally featured in teamLab Planets, showcases hundreds of hanging LED lights that sparkle and light-weight up in varied colours and formations.

Guests can use the teamLab app to affect the shows, which repeatedly evolve based mostly on the presence of individuals within the house. Using mirrors creates an infinite world the place you possibly can marvel at and get misplaced in its magnificence.

Megalith Crystal Formation

The ‘Megalith Crystal Formation’ room options massive, cube-like lots that reconstruct spatial calligraphy in each three-dimensional and two-dimensional areas to precise the depth, velocity, and energy of brush strokes. This room is darkish and has many sharp edges, so watch out whereas exploring!

A brand new addition to teamLab Borderless is “Microcosmoses – Wobbling Mild,” which hosts a sequence of ramps with mirrored balls that shimmer and replicate within the dazzling LED lights.

EN TEA HOUSE

Head to ‘EN TEA HOUSE’ for a lightweight drink and dessert. You possibly can select from varied chilly brew teas and gelato. I made a decision on the Frozen Yuzu Matcha and Chilly Brew Yuzu Inexperienced Tea for 1,300 yen, each of which had been mild, refreshing, and engaging. The seating space is dimly lit, with Enso (the Zen apply of drawing a circle with a single brushstroke) projected onto the partitions. As your drink and gelato arrive, you’ll discover a flower and tree blossoming contained in the teacup and bowl. The branches and flowers will wither and develop as you drink and eat.

Future Park

After refueling, it’s time to get artistic! Head to ‘Future Park,’ the place you possibly can draw your personal creature within the sketch manufacturing facility. Your creation will likely be projected onto the encircling ocean partitions. For an extra price, you possibly can even have your creation printed on a badge, t-shirt, or tote bag!

Bubble Universe

Subsequent are the 2 most spectacular rooms at teamLab Borderless. First is ‘Bubble Universe,’ which options numerous hanging spheres of sunshine that replicate off each other. The idea is that ‘there is no such thing as a glass or different materials on the floor of the sphere of sunshine; the sphere is made solely of sunshine.

Within the bodily world, mild doesn’t solidify, nor does it turn out to be a spherical mass. So, does the sphere of sunshine actually exist? The bubbles of sunshine exist as you understand them, and due to this fact, they do exist.

Mild Sculpture

Lastly, my favourite room within the teamLab Borderless exhibition is the ‘Mild Sculpture.’ This lengthy hall options a whole lot of lights that transfer and kind varied patterns.

All through the day, varied mild reveals change colour and design, accompanied by a singular soundtrack. I, together with many others round me, spent practically half-hour simply standing there, mesmerized by the lights.

As I discussed, you’ll spend hours exploring many extra rooms, hallways, and corridors. Every is designed with distinctive patterns, animals, and creatures to maintain you entertained. I like to recommend setting apart at the least 2 hours to wander and uncover all the pieces the exhibition has to supply.

What Else to Do in Azabudai Hills

Get pleasure from Gourmand Meals

After marveling at teamLab’s magical creations, you’ll be prepared for some meals. In Azubudai Hills, you may be spoiled for alternative. Round each nook, you’ll discover a modern café, restaurant, or bar, every providing distinctive and scrumptious choices. From Michelin-star high-quality eating at Florilege to Japanese classics like sushi and tempura, there’s something for everybody.

For a quintessential Japanese meal, look no additional than Tonkatsu Kawamura. Right here, you possibly can select from varied cuts of pork, all deep-fried in panko breadcrumbs and served alongside shredded cabbage, tonjiru (pork miso soup), and rice.

You can too go to Azabudai Hills Market, which has 34 specialty shops providing a few of the best meals and elements. From the freshest fish to deep-fried treats, the market is really a meals lover’s paradise.

Procuring

Azabudai Hills can be a high vacation spot for buying. There, you could find luxurious manufacturers comparable to Cartier and Hermès, in addition to smaller retailers promoting fragrances, kitchenware, and tea.

The primary 4 flooring of Azabudai Hills Mori JP Tower are devoted to retail with a department-store ambiance. Right here, you could find all of the modern items you’d ever want.

Galleries

For manga followers, go to the Manga Artwork Heritage Gallery, situated on the basement ground of Backyard Plaza A. Operated by the publishing firm Shueisha, the gallery carries art work from standard titles like ONE PIECE, a few of which can be found for buy.

Just some flooring up is the Azabudai Hills Gallery, which showcases chosen artists from around the globe. The displays change each few months, so you could find extra particulars on their web site. On the time of my go to, the exhibition was ‘Calder: Un effet du Japonais,’ the primary solo present by Alexander Calder in Tokyo in about 35 years. Solely cellphone cameras are allowed, as bigger cameras are prohibited.

Sky Foyer

Being house to the tallest constructing in Tokyo and all of Japan, Azabudai Hills affords probably the greatest views of Tokyo’s sprawling cityscape. Whereas there are many commentary decks all through the town, what makes the Sky Foyer view distinctive is its shut proximity to Tokyo Tower.

It may be complicated to seek out your approach to the Sky Foyer entrance. First, head to Azabudai Hills Mori JP Tower and observe the indicators to the elevator entrance. In a matter of seconds, you’ll arrive on the thirty third ground on the entrance to a small café.

Please notice that anybody wishing to go to the Sky Foyer will likely be charged a 500 yen entrance price and should order one drink from the café. After getting your drink, you possibly can calm down at one of many many tables, on the wood stairs, or on the tables on the decrease ground, the place the principle views of the town are.

The undisturbed views of the long-lasting tower imply you possibly can absorb Tokyo to its fullest. Under, you possibly can spot individuals going about their every day lives, enjoying soccer on the neighboring pitch, and stress-free in Shiba Park. With the equally iconic Rainbow Bridge within the background, the Sky Lounge view is certainly value a go to.

Inexperienced House

Between the myriad of buildings, pockets of greenery are house to round 320 species of vegetation, which blossom all year long. The central hub, situated simply in entrance of Azabudai Hills Mori JP Tower, is carpeted with lush lawns the place you possibly can calm down and luxuriate in each nature and the structure. This central hub is a key ingredient of the general design, serving to to attach guests and staff with nature.

You possibly can hear the trickle of water from the encircling waterways whereas having fun with indigenous timber, aquatic vegetation, and varied inventive sculptures.

The ‘Cloud’ cover, situated simply in entrance of Mori JP Tower, is one other fantastical design ingredient that symbolizes ‘the flowing vitality of the occasions and actions that will likely be hosted within the Azabudai Hills Area.’ All of this contributes to making a vibrant and thrilling advanced that paves the best way for Tokyo’s future.

The digital artwork museum by no means fails to impress and ought to be in your must-visit record. So seize your tickets and luxuriate in a enjoyable day trip!