[MUST-GO!] Walk Barefoot through Water & over Mirrors at teamLab Planets TOKYO

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Some call it a museum. Some call it an art gallery. But no matter what you call it, visiting teamLab's Planets when you are in Tokyo is a must-go, must-see and must-experience attraction! Simply because you go through the entire exhibition BAREFOOT. Wait, what?

If teamLab sounds familiar, that's because they are also the folks behind the 'Future World: Where Art Meets Science' exhibition at ArtScience Musuem right here in Singapore. A worldwide art collective that blends art, science, technology, and the natural world, teamLab is famed for creating digital artworks that offer an interactive and immersive experience for visitors.

Located in Toyosu, Tokyo, teamLab Planets TOKYO houses seven multi-sensory, full-body immersive art displays that utilises almost every of one's senses - touch, sight, sound and smell. Sprinkle in a dash of creativty and what you get is an experience unlike any other.

Here's what to expect at teamLab Planets TOKYO:

*You don’t have to worry about spoilers because even if I reveal every nook and corner at teamLab Planets TOKYO, my words will not be able to fully describe how you will actually FEEL when you are immersed within the artworks. 

First things first,

1. You will be barefoot for the entire experience.

Lockers are provided onsite for you to store your belongings and footwear.

2. Water levels can rise up to knee height.

That's right, you have to walk through knee-height water at certain portions. So what this means is it's better to wear shorts instead of pants/jeans to the exhibition. Else, ensure that your pants can be rolled up easily.

3. Do not wear dresses or skirts.

Certain installations are mirrored from top to bottom - where the entire floor area is also mirrored. So unless you wish for your underwear to be reflected (and turn up in other's photos and videos), it's advisable that dresses and skirts are not worn into the Planets. Else, shorts are available for free rental onsite as well.

teamLab Planets TOKYO essentially consists of TWO sections: the Water Area and Garden Area.

WATER AREA

Your first taste of the water experience begins right at the beginning, where you have to walk along a slightly inclined pathway with water cascading down.

Walk through a huge 'koi' pond

Titled 'Drawing on the Water Surface Created by the Dance of Koi and People - Infinity', this installation is probably one of the most fun of all. 

Depending on how tall you are, be prepared to immerse in shin-deep or knee-deep water with swimming koi and flowers being projected onto the water.

Not only is the movement of the koi influenced by the presence of people in the water, you can touch the koi and watch it turn into flowers!

Fun fact: The projection is rendered in real time by a computer program. What this means is my interaction with the installation will never be similar to another person's!

Immerse yourself in the Infinite Crystal Universe

(yes, it's super IG-worthy too)

If you have been to Future World at ArtScience Museum, you will be familiar with this exhibit. But while the one at ArtScience Museum has a linear path, 'The Infinite Crystal Universe' at Planets is probably more than 5 times larger which means one is free to walk around and snap away!

Once inside, you will be surrounded by countless of hanging LED lights that change colour and pattern constantly. It is visually stunning and definitely the installation that most people loiter around the most - in search for that perfect shot! 😆

What makes it even more fun is one is able to influence the pattern of the 3D lights too! Simply download the teamLab app into your phone, select your desired pattern and release them into the artwork.

Experience 'Floating' in a universe of flowers

Enter the 'Floating in the Falling Universe of Flowers' and just chill.

Housed in a planetarium-like room, flowers are projected on the walls in a 360° manner. You can choose to stand, sit or even lie down to enjoy the installation.

I never knew this before my visit, but there is something really very relaxing in just lying down and simply watch the flowers 'dance' all around me.

Like the koi pond, this artwork is NOT a pre-recorded light show that plays on loop. It is created by a computer program that continuously renders the artwork in real time... so this means that previous visuals are never replicated.

Play with giant colourful balls

Okay, so the installation is more complex than just playing with colouful balls but I had to catch your attention. 😁

To be honest, the title of the installation is quite unsexy - 'Expanding Three-Dimensional Existence in Transforming Space - Flattening 3 Colors and 9 Blurred Colors, Free Floating'. But luckily, this room is full of riotous fun.

Consisting of suspended and free-floating spheres, they emit a sound and change colors when touched. And because different spheres are touched by different people at the same time, this creates an explosion of colours which resonates throughout the room.

Interestingly, when the spheres glow in the same colour, the once three dimensional perception of the spheres turns into a flat view of the whole space, which is what the title of the exhibit means.

 

Download an ever-changing NFT artwork

At the 'Matter is Void - Fire' digital installation, anyone can download and own the artwork itself. 

That's because the letters of the words in this artwork are continuously revolving and rotating. This means that each artwork is exclusive and authentic.

** There are 2 other smaller installations in the Water Area that I did not disclose as I feel the experience will be better if it came as a surprise. 😊

GARDEN AREA

The Garden Area may only consists of two installations but they are both visually stunning and amazing.

Revel in a Floating Flower Garden

Enclosed in a top-to-floor and wall-to-wall mirrorred room, the 'Floating Flower Garden' is as whimsical as it sounds.

Think a huge garden space with more than 10,000 natural orchids hanging from above with mirrors all around AND the flowers move UP AND DOWN according to people's movement! It's a stunning piece of work, if you ask me.

For obvious reasons, the garden makes for a great photo spot but beyond that, what is amazing about it is the flowers react to the visitors. The flowers gradually start to rise up as I got closer to them, as if they were welcoming me!

Push shiny big rocks at the Moss Garden

In the 'Moss Garden of Resonating Microcosms - Solidified Light Color, Sunrise and Sunset, installation, huge silvery ovoids fill up the entire room.

They depict mosses which were said to be the first terrestrial organisms to appear on Earth, where there was no life on land yet. These ovoids in the Moss Garden are reactive to the actual sunrise and sunset, the touch of a person, and even the wind when it blows.

With sunrise, the ovoids begin to reflect the world around them. When pushed down by a person or blown by the wind, the ovoid falls back and then rises, releasing a resonating tone. The ovoids around it also respond one after another, continuing to resonate with the same tone.

As the sun sets, the ovoids shine by themselves. When an ovoid is pushed by a person or blown by the wind, it shines brightly and emits a sound tone, as it rights itself. The ovoids around it also respond one after another, emitting the same light color and sound tone that continues to resonate out.

FREE ACTIVITIES FOR ALL

Even without paying to enter teamLab Planets TOKYO, one can also enjoy some cool FREE stuff there!

Right in front of the main building sits a tall obelisk. The 'Universe of Particles Falling from the Sky' interacts with vistors, with its fire particles will reacting to your position when you stand in front of it.

Also, if you download the 'Distributed Fire' app, you can harness that flame from the art and connect it with others who have done the same thing too!

Kids will love the 'One Stroke Bench', which like the stroke of a brush, this bench is a continuous bench that turns and loops through itself. The bench is open to the public and can be used as a bench for having lunch, a playground for children, and even a lounging area for relaxing.

Want a snapshot of what to expect? Here's a short video I did:

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As teamLab Planets was not intended to be a permanent exhibition in the first place, it will CLOSE officially by the end of this year (2023) so if you are planning to visit Tokyo this year, be sure to include it into your travel itinerary!

Everyone in the family - from the young to the mature - will love it. Because teamLab Planets TOKYO is an awesome experience for all ages that will astound you not only visually, but also immerse your other senses as well!

USEFUL INFORMATION

teamLab Planets TOKYO

Dates: From now until end 2023

Address: Toyosu 6-1-16, Koto-ku, Tokyo [MAP]

Opening Hours: All days 9:00 - 21:00

* Extended opening hours: Saturday, April 1 - Sunday, April 2; Saturday, April 29 - Sunday, May 7 9:00 - 22:00

* Last entry 1 hour before closing time

Admission:

[TIP: Pre-book your tickets through KLOOK to secure your time slot and at a slightly cheaper price!]

WEEKDAYS:

Adults (18 Years and above) JPY 3,200 | Junior high school / High school JPY 2,000 | Children (Ages 4-12) JPY 1,000 | Under 3 years of age FREE | Disability discount JPY 1,600

WEEKENDS, PUBLIC HOLIDAYS & DATES WITH EXTENDED OPENING HOURS:

Adults (18 Years and above)  JPY 3,500 | Junior high school / High school JPY 2,300 | Children (Ages 4-12) JPY 1,300 | Under 3 years of age FREE | Disability discount JPY 1,900

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