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Discover the immersive world of teamLab Borderless at Azabudai Hills, where art, technology, and nature converge to create a mesmerizing experience like no other.
Amid Tokyo’s ever-expanding skyline lies Azabudai Hills, a modern urban village designed around the theme of “Green & Wellness.” The complex combines world-class facilities, shopping, and entertainment with nature and art. At its center stands Mori JP Tower, Japan’s newest and tallest building, reaching 325.5 meters.
That’s not all—Azabudai Hills is also home to Japan’s latest teamLab Borderless, an updated version of the original Odaiba exhibition from 2018. This is a different experience from teamLab Planets in Toyosu, which remains open to visitors.
In this guide, I’ll take you through this transformative art experience and share tips for exploring the rest of Azabudai Hills.
How to Get to Azabudai Hills
The northeast corner of Azabudai Hills connects to Kamiyacho Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line. Take exit 1, and the main North entrance is just a minute’s walk away.
The complex includes Garden Plaza A-D, Mori JP Tower, and Residences A and B. Underground passages and scenic walkways link the buildings, inviting visitors to explore at their own pace. Retail shops occupy the lower floors, while offices and residences, including Aman Residences and Janu Tokyo, occupy the upper levels.
Designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects and developed by Mori Building Company, the complex shares some design similarities with Roppongi Hills and Toranomon Hills.
Visiting TeamLab Borderless
Tickets are best purchased in advance on the teamLab website. Prices (as of 2024) range from 4,000 to 5,000 yen per adult, 2,800 yen for teens 13-17, and 1,500 yen for children 4-12. Accessible tickets cost 2,400 yen per adult.
Unlike teamLab Planets, which emphasizes physical interaction, teamLab Borderless creates a world without boundaries, engaging sight, sound, and scent.
If you’re carrying large bags or items you don’t want to bring inside, lockers are available at the entrance.
Exbihition Highlights
Now, on to the exhibition! I won’t cover every single room, but the major attractions are definitely worth mentioning.
Universe of Water Particles on a Rock where People Gather
This famous room responds to visitor movement, with water flowing along the floor and eventually forming a waterfall. The display changes continuously as people enter and exit.
Infinite Crystal Universe
This is a teamLab favorite. Thousands of hanging LED lights sparkle and shift colors. Mirrors create an endless space, while the teamLab app allows visitors to interact and influence the light patterns.
Megalith Crystal Formation
The ‘Megalith Crystal Formation’ room features large, cube-like masses that reconstruct spatial calligraphy in both three-dimensional and two-dimensional spaces to express the depth, speed, and power of brush strokes.
Microcosmoses – Wobbling Light
A new addition to teamLab Borderless is “Microcosmoses – Wobbling Light,” which hosts a series of ramps with mirrored balls that shimmer and reflect in the dazzling LED lights.
EN TEA HOUSE
For a short break, head to this immersive dimly lit tea room. I tried the Frozen Yuzu Matcha and Cold Brew Yuzu Green Tea for 1,300 yen, both refreshing and flavorful.
While you enjoy your treat, flowers and branches blossom and wither in your cup and bowl, creating a tiny living artwork.
Future Park
After refueling, it’s time to get creative! Head to ‘Future Park,’ where you can draw your own creature in the sketch factory. Your creation will be projected onto the surrounding ocean walls.
For an additional fee, you can even print your artwork on a badge, t-shirt, or tote bag.
Bubble Universe
Next are the two most impressive rooms at teamLab Borderless. First is ‘Bubble Universe,’ which features countless hanging spheres of light that reflect off one another. The concept is that ‘there is no glass or other material on the surface of the sphere of light; the sphere is made only of light.
In the physical world, light does not solidify, nor does it become a spherical mass. So, does the sphere of light really exist? The bubbles of light exist as you perceive them, and therefore, they do exist.
Light Sculpture
Finally, my favorite room is Light Sculpture, a long corridor filled with hundreds of moving lights forming ever-changing patterns to a unique soundtrack. I, like many others, spent nearly 30 minutes mesmerized by the display.
TeamLab Borderless is full of surprises around every corner. Rooms, hallways, and corridors reveal unique patterns, animals, and creatures at every turn. Give yourself at least two hours to wander and soak it all in!
What Else to Do in Azabudai Hills
Enjoy Gourmet Food
After marveling at teamLab’s magical creations, you’ll be ready for some food. In Azubudai Hills, you will be spoiled for choice. Around every corner, you’ll find a fashionable café, bars to full-service restaurants.
For a quintessential Japanese meal, try Tonkatsu Kawamura, where perfectly breaded pork is served with shredded cabbage, tonjiru (pork miso soup), and rice.
You can also visit Azabudai Hills Market, which has 34 specialty stores offering some of the finest foods and local delicacies.
Shopping
Azabudai Hills is also a top destination for shopping. Here, you can find luxury brands such as Cartier and Hermès, as well as smaller shops selling fragrances, kitchenware, and tea.
The first four floors of Mori JP Tower resemble a department store with countless fashionable options.
Galleries
For manga fans, visit the Manga Art Heritage Gallery, located on the basement floor of Garden Plaza A. The gallery carries artwork from popular titles like ONE PIECE, some of which are available for purchase.
Just a few floors up is the Azabudai Hills Gallery, which showcases selected artists from around the world. At the time of my visit, the show was ‘Calder: Un effet du Japonais,’ Alexander Calder’s first solo Tokyo exhibition in 35 years.
You can find details of their changing exhibits on their website.
Sky Lobby
Visit the Sky Lobby in Mori JP Tower for stunning views of Tokyo Tower and the surrounding cityscape. Entrance costs 500 yen and requires a drink purchase. The close-up perspective of the city and nearby Shiba Park is unforgettable.
Green Space
Scattered throughout the buildings, pockets of greenery host around 320 plant species that bloom throughout the year. The central hub in front of Mori JP Tower features lush lawns, inviting visitors to relax and enjoy both nature and architecture. Waterways trickle nearby, and indigenous trees, aquatic plants, and artistic sculptures add to the serene atmosphere.
The Cloud canopy, also in front of the tower, symbolizes the flowing energy of events in the Azabudai Hills Arena. Altogether, these spaces create a vibrant environment that reflects Tokyo’s future.
TeamLab Borderless is the centerpiece of this urban village and a must-visit. Grab your tickets and enjoy a full day of art, nature, and exploration.
More to Explore Nearby
After immersing yourself in the boundary-less digital art world of teamLab Borderless, you are perfectly positioned in central Tokyo’s newest complex to explore nearby cultural hubs and iconic landmarks.
- Tokyo Tower – This iconic landmark is just a short distance from Azabudai Hills, offering classic panoramic observation decks with stunning views of the surrounding city.
- Tokyo City View (Mori Tower) – Head over to nearby Roppongi Hills for another incredible viewpoint and access to the world-class Mori Art Museum, all in one skyscraper.
- Zojoji Temple – For a dose of tranquility and history, visit this significant Buddhist temple located at the base of Tokyo Tower, which has historical connections to the Tokugawa Shogunate.
- Tokyo Midtown – Explore this other major, upscale mixed-use complex in the Roppongi area, known for its high-end shopping, dining, and elegant green spaces.
