TeamLab Osaka vs. TeamLab Planets (Tokyo): Which is Better?

When planning a trip to Japan, you might find yourself unable to decide between visiting TeamLab Botanical Gardens in Osaka or TeamLab Planets in Tokyo. With limited time and budget, it’s often necessary to choose just one. Both offer impressive digital art experiences, but they have unique features that set them apart.

TeamLab Botanical Gardens is an outdoor attraction in Osaka featuring illuminated gardens and interactive artworks influenced by the wind and rain. Alternatively, TeamLab Planets in Tokyo is an indoor immersive art space with digital projections, interactive exhibits, and water-themed installations.

This guide will help you decide which TeamLab experience is better for you based on my firsthand visits to both.

What is TeamLab Osaka?

TeamLab Botanical Gardens is a permanent exhibition that opened at Nagai Park in Osaka on July 29, 2022. It features a variety of digital art installations that blend with nature, creating a forest of light and sound.

Why Visit:

• Interactive Displays: Engage with art that reacts to your presence through touch and movement.
• Dynamic Environment: The exhibits change periodically, ensuring a fresh experience with each visit.

Pros:

• Variety of Exhibits: There is something for everyone, from tranquil displays to energetic interactions.
• Great for Families: Suitable for visitors of all ages.
• Convenient Location: Situated in a vibrant part of Osaka, ideal for a day of exploration.
• Time Commitment: Can be fully experienced in about 2 hours.
• Budget-Friendly: Tickets cost around ¥2,000 (depending on the date), making it a more affordable option compared to other TeamLabs.

Cons:

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• Crowds: Can get packed, especially on weekends.
• Evening visit: Only opens after sunset, so you will have less time to visit during spring and summer.
• Accessibility: A bit further from central Osaka, requiring additional travel time.

Practical Tips:

• Visit Early: Arrive when it opens to avoid the biggest crowds and have more time to visit.
• Buy Tickets Online: Skip long lines by purchasing tickets in advance. Book your tickets on the official website or through Klook.

For detailed information and more pictures, you can check my detailed article about TeamLab Botanical Gardens (opens in a new tab).

What is TeamLab Planets (Tokyo)?

Located in Toyosu (Tokyo), TeamLab Planets offers a unique, immersive experience that involves walking through water as part of the exhibits. It is a temporary digital art museum in Tokyo that will remain open at least to the end of 2027.

Why Visit:

• Water-Based Exhibits: The water element creates a surreal and fun experience.
• Emotional Impact: Designed to create strong emotions and provide a deeply moving experience.
• Temporary: This museum is set to close at the end of 2027, and you won’t be able to enjoy it after that.

Pros:

• Unique Experience: The only TeamLab with water-based elements.
• Photogenic: Stunning visuals perfect for social media.
• Time Commitment: Can be fully experienced in about 2 hours.
• Location: Situated near Odaiba, making it convenient for tourists who want to visit the nearby attractions on the same day.
• Weather-Proof: Completely indoors, suitable for rainy days.

Cons:

• Clothing Considerations: Be prepared to get a bit wet. You might want to bring spare clothes.
• Costly: Tickets cost around ¥4,000 (depending on the date), way more expensive than TeamLab Osaka.
• Accessibility: Requires a bit of travel from central Tokyo, but still fairly convenient.

Practical Tips:

• Dress Comfortably: Wear clothes suitable for getting wet.
• Secure Your Phone: Use a waterproof phone pouch in case you drop your phone on the water area. These pouches are super cheap on Amazon.
• Book Ahead: Tickets sell out quickly, especially on holidays and weekends. Book your tickets on the official website or through Klook.

For detailed information and more pictures, you can check my detailed article about TeamLab Planets (opens in a new tab).

Which is Better?

For Outdoor Lovers:

• TeamLab Osaka is ideal due to its wide range of exhibits and interactive nature, making it great for all ages. It’s also convenient if you’re already in Osaka and have a limited budget.

For Unique, Immersive Experiences:

• TeamLab Planets (Tokyo) stands out with its water-based installations, offering a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It’s perfect if you want something different and don’t mind spending a bit more.

Conclusion

Choosing between TeamLab Osaka and TeamLab Planets can be tough, but it ultimately depends on what kind of experience you’re looking for. I did both on the same trip, and you really don’t feel like watching the same thing because they are truly different. If you enjoy the outdoor and a variety of interactive exhibits, TeamLab Osaka is the way to go. If you’re after a unique, immersive experience that you can’t find anywhere else, TeamLab Planets in Tokyo is the perfect choice. Either way, you’re in for a breathtaking journey into the world of digital art.

Obviously, I’m a fan of TeamLab, so my opinion is to visit them all if you can. Especially, if you don’t have anything like this on your country.