If you’re planning a trip to Osaka and looking for offbeat things to do, then I’d highly recommend visiting teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka.
When I went last year, I was blown away by the scale and ingenuity of this gorgeous garden-meets-art museum. I was also pleasantly surprised to find that it was quintessentially teamLab yet distinct from teamLab Planets, making the trip 100% worthwhile.
In this teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka review, I’ll share my thoughts on why it’s worth visiting teamLab Osaka, tips on what to expect, how to prepare for your visit, and how it compares to teamLab Planets.
Read on to learn more about my experience so you don’t miss out on this must-see Osaka highlight!
- Is teamLab Osaka worth it?
- teamLab Osaka Overview
- What to Expect at teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka
- A Area – Symphony of the Ethereal Forest
- B Area – Ovoids in the Camellia Garden
- C Area – Reactive Birdscapes
- D Area – Large Ovoids in the Eucalyptus Forest
- E Area – Brushstrokes & Flames in a Digital Forest
- F Area – Floating Lamps & Illuminated Grass
- [NEW!] G Area – Dancing Wind Pillars
- TeamLab Planets Tokyo vs. TeamLab Botanical Garden Osaka Overall
- When is teamLab Osaka Open?
- When is the Best Time to Visit teamLab Botanical Gardens Osaka?
- teamLab Botanical Gardens Osaka Tickets
- How Long to Spend at TeamLab Botanical Gardens Osaka
- How to Get to TeamLab Botanical Gardens Osaka
This post may contain affiliate links for highly recommended products or services that I want to share with you!
You might also be interested in:
- 🎟️ TeamLab Botanical Garden Osaka Tickets
- ✏️ TeamLab Planets Tokyo Review
- ✏️ First-time Tokyo Traveler Tips
Is teamLab Osaka worth it?
100%! If you’re looking for something unique to do in Osaka, teamLab Botanical Garden is your answer.
As a huge fan of teamLab, I can confidently say that this botanical garden turned outdoor museum did not disappoint. The combination of nature and technology as well as the scale of the digital artwork installations is simply unmatched.
Even if you’ve already been to teamLab Planets, you’ll find this experience both recognizable and one-of-a-kind in a way that makes you appreciate teamLab even more!
teamLab Osaka Overview
⏰ Hours: 6:30 – 9:30 PM everyday (see website for closures & seasonal times)
🎫 Ticket Price: ¥1,800 (official website) l ~$12 (Klook)
📍 Address: teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka
What to Expect at teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka
teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka is an evening, outdoor exhibit that’s located in the massive Nagai Botanical Garden. Be sure to pack weather appropriate layers, wear comfortable shoes, and bring mosquito repellent.
There are 7 outdoor areas to explore:
- A Area – Symphony of the Ethereal Forest
- B Area – Ovoids in the Camellia Garden
- C Area – Reactive Birdscapes
- D Area – Large Ovoids in the Eucalyptus Forest
- E Area – Brushstrokes & Flames in a Digital Forest
- F Area – Floating Lamps & Illuminated Grass
- [NEW!] G Area – Dancing Wind Pillars
While there is no set route, most people (myself included) ended up walking in alphabetical order starting with the A Area.
💡 If you’re visiting for the first time, make sure to download the teamLab app. It provides an in-depth explanation of the artwork and allows for real time interactions with certain exhibits.
A Area – Symphony of the Ethereal Forest
Located near the park entrance, the A area is the starting point for most journeys through teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka.
The A-1 Exhibit “Life is Continuous Light – Bald Cypress” features tall cypress trees that are bathed in a soft light that changes with the elements. As you walk past the trees, the lights and tones will change, making you feel as though you’re entering a living and breathing forest.
You’ll notice the crape myrtle trees do something similar in the nearby “Resonating Crape Myrtles” exhibit (A-2). Here, delicate crape myrtle trees respond to touch by glowing and changing colors, creating a ripple effect of light that spreads to neighboring trees that echo back.
This exhibit is the first of many that will make you feel like you’re part of an interactive symphony of color, light, and sound that shows how interconnected we truly are.
B Area – Ovoids in the Camellia Garden
The B Area is located in the camellia garden and is one of the museum’s top highlights.
While technically there are 3 installations (B-1, B-2, & B-3), they interact so seamlessly that it feels like you’re walking through 1 very large exhibit where you don’t know when one ends and the other begins.
This area features translucent, egg-shaped, light structures that emit different colors and sounds. These ovoids respond to any interaction no matter how slight (like a gentle breeze) by shining brighter and singing louder, causing any nearby ovoids to produce the same lights and sounds.
You can push these ovoids and see for yourself how they create a ripple effect throughout the Camellia Garden until all of these structures produce the same tones and colors.
This was by far my favorite part of the whole museum and one I know you’ll find it absolutely enchanting.
C Area – Reactive Birdscapes
The C Area features 1 exhibit (C-1) titled “Sculptures of Dissipative Birds in the Wind.”
Here, you’ll find a visual display of Van Gogh-like images that resemble fragments of micro-movements that we can feel but can’t see. The colors and patterns change in response to the air produced by nearby birds flying around the installation – without which, the art turns dark.
D Area – Large Ovoids in the Eucalyptus Forest
The D area at teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka immerses you in a glowing eucalyptus forest. The sole exhibit in the D area is the “Forest of Autonomous Resonating Life – Eucalyptus” (D-1) where you’ll find eucalyptus trees surrounded by large, glowing ovoids. Similar to the ovoids in the Camelia Garden, these orbs will change color and sound when pushed by people or blown by the wind.
However, the orbs here are larger, leaving you feeling like you’re enveloped in a living, colorful, magical forest. As the light and sounds change, you can’t help but feel as though the entire forest is becoming a singular, interconnected thing where even the slightest ripple creates a chain reaction throughout the whole.
E Area – Brushstrokes & Flames in a Digital Forest
The E area consists of 4 exhibits that transform the Nagai Satoyama forest into a massive, digital canvas.
You’ll first walk through the “Concrete and Abstract – Secondary Forest Entrance” (E-1) exhibit where you’ll find thousands of digitized lines displayed on the tree’s surface.
Soon, you’ll find my favorite exhibit in the area: “Spatial Calligraphy in the Forest – One Stroke, Secondary Forest” (E-2). Here, traditional calligraphy meets digital art with the entire forest as the tapestry. You’ll find enormous digital brush strokes that float among the trees, each one created and modified in real time to respond to wind, light, and people.
The “Forest Path – Secondary Forest” (E-2) is a musical, illuminated path that will take you to the “Universe of Fire Particles in the Forest – Secondary Forest” (E-4), the area’s main piece. Right near the area’s exit, you’ll find thousands of glowing particles that form a spectacular flame. This particular installation explores the concept of Distributed Art, allowing you to to digitally take a piece of the flame with you that you can share with others.
💡 You will need the teamLab app to download the flame.
F Area – Floating Lamps & Illuminated Grass
The F area lights up the water and grass areas of the botanical garden.
The “Floating Resonating Lamps on Oike Lake – Fire” (F-1) exhibit is illuminated by lamps that float on the lake’s surface. Similar to the ovoids, these floating lamps will change color and sound when blown by the wind or when people are near them.
The experience extends onto the meadow of Muhlenbergia Capillaris grass located next to the lake. In the “Field of Light Color – Muhlenbergia Capillaris” (F-2), the grass also lights up and sings in response to movement.
[NEW!] G Area – Dancing Wind Pillars
The G area is the final section of the museum (assuming you moved in alphabetical order). The “Pillars that Dance with the Wind” (G-1) is the sole exhibit in the area and consists of two cylindrical pillars that respond to wind gusts by moving and changing light. You can play around with the pillars as they move in sync to your movements.
🏆 TeamLab Planets Tokyo vs. TeamLab Botanical Garden Osaka Overall
TeamLab Planets Tokyo and TeamLab Botanical Garden Osaka are both incredible digital art experiences that immerse visitors in a world of light, sound, and color. However, as someone who has had the pleasure of visiting both TeamLab Planets Tokyo and TeamLab Botanical Garden Osaka, I enjoyed my teamLab Osaka experience more.
⭐ OVERALL WINNER: TeamLab Botanical Garden Osaka. While I wouldn’t hesitate to visit both places (and I highly recommend doing so), if I had to choose, I found the Botanical Garden Osaka to be more serene and in greater harmony with nature.
👐🏻 Interactiveness of Exhibits at TeamLab Planets Tokyo vs. TeamLab Botanical Garden Osaka
⭐ WINNER: TeamLab Botanical Garden Osaka. While both teamLab Planets and Osaka have interactive elements, I enjoyed the interactive elements at teamLab Osaka more because I felt like I was part of the art and not just a spectator.
At teamLab Planets, it’s no question the digital art installations are gorgeous.
However, I’m merely observing the displays. The only exhibit where I felt truly immersed was in the digital koi pond where my movements made the fish swirl around and away from me.
In contrast, almost every exhibit at teamLab Osaka changes light and sound in response to your movements. Plus, it’s just so fun to push the ovoids around and watch them ripple throughout the garden.
📷 Instagram-Worthy Pictures at TeamLab Planets Tokyo vs. TeamLab Botanical Garden Osaka
⭐ WINNER: TeamLab Planets Tokyo hands-down. There’s simply no comparison for the glitz and sparkles at teamLab Planets.
TeamLab Planets feels like both a museum and photography set – there are just simply so many displays that offer great photo opportunities. From the crystal galaxy to the floating flowers, you’ll likely spend a bulk of your time taking pictures and in awe of the digital installations.
In comparison, the displays at teamLab Osaka are simply less colorful and dazzling. Instead of being bombarded by color and sparkles, it’s the scale of the displays that creates that same feeling of awe and wonder.
💭 Atmosphere at TeamLab Planets Tokyo vs. TeamLab Botanical Garden Osaka
⭐ WINNER: TeamLab Botanical Garden Osaka. While teamLab Planets definitely wins in terms of being the more glamorous and Instagrammable museum, teamLab Osaka is undeniably more expansive, less-crowded, and tranquil.
At TeamLab Planets Tokyo, there are so many people that it’s hard to take the time to appreciate all the displays. You’ll either feel rushed by other visitors to make sure everyone gets a chance to experience the art or the exhibit itself will fill up with the voices of others, making it hard to sit and reflect in silence.
TeamLab Botanical Garden Osaka offers a much more tranquil atmosphere in large part because you’re not running into people left and right. Plus, many of the displays are set up in such a way that you can meditate on the installations for a few minutes.
There’s also the option to touch and interact with many of the installations in a way you simply can’t at TeamLab Planets Tokyo. As I mentioned, my favorite part about teamLab Osaka is that you feel a greater connection with the art and surrounding nature because almost every exhibit responds to your movements.
📍 TeamLab Planets Tokyo vs. TeamLab Botanical Garden Osaka Location
⭐ WINNER: TeamLab Planets Tokyo. Located in Tokyo near the Toyosu Fish Market, the location simply can’t be beat. If you’re planning on staying in Tokyo, it’s likely not worth trekking all the way out to Osaka to just visit teamLab Osaka unless you’re a big teamLab fan.
While teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka is situated in the heart of the city, its location feels slightly more suburban. Frankly, there isn’t much else to do in the area apart from visiting the gardens. On the other hand, teamLab Planets Tokyo is located in Tokyo near the bustling Toyosu Fish Market, making it super easy to fit into your Japan itinerary.
More generally, Tokyo is a better city overall compared to Osaka. While there certainly are things to do in Osaka, there’s more sightseeing, food, and attractions in Tokyo.
When is teamLab Osaka Open?
Teamlab Osaka Opening Hours are generally between 6:30 and 9:30 PM everyday, with the last entry being one hour before closing. Be sure to check the website for any seasonal hours, upcoming holidays, or scheduled closures.
This is a permanent exhibit with no scheduled end date.
When is the Best Time to Visit teamLab Botanical Gardens Osaka?
The teamLab Osaka experience is only open after sunset. I’d recommend getting there as soon as it opens to maximize your time and take in the full experience. Since you’re in the dark, crowds aren’t as big of a problem compared to other teamLab experiences but try to avoid visiting on the weekends for a more intimate experience.
If possible, book your ticket the week of your trip so you can somewhat plan around the weather. Clear nights are the best for optimal light and sound showings!
teamLab Botanical Gardens Osaka Tickets
Ticket prices for teamLab Botanical Gardens Osaka are ¥1,800 (~$12) and can be purchased online or at the entrance on the day of your visit.
Do note that there are limited tickets available throughout the day and there may be a queue, which is why I always recommend booking your tickets ahead of time on the teamLab website or through Klook.
How Long to Spend at TeamLab Botanical Gardens Osaka
To make the most of your trip to teamLab Osaka, you’ll want to spend at least 1-2 hours. There’s so much to see and do here, you’ll likely find yourself lingering in certain areas for longer than expected.
I’d suggest allocating enough time so that you can pause, interact, and reflect on the artwork throughout your visit. We spent 1.5 hours but would have stayed longer and revisited certain areas if it hadn’t started downpouring.
How to Get to TeamLab Botanical Gardens Osaka
teamLab Osaka is located at the Nagai Botanical Gardens.
The best way to get there is to take the JR Hanwa Line to the Nagai Station. From the station, you’ll walk for 12 minutes before reaching the teamLab Osaka entrance. The walk is lovely and goes through the outdoor space surrounding the botanical gardens.
Final Thoughts: TeamLab Botanical Gardens Osaka Review
After an amazing time at teamLab Botanical Gardens Osaka, I can confidently say it’s one of the best things to do in Osaka and absolutely worth a visit.
The transformation of the 240,000 square meters at Nagai Park into a permanent night time exhibition creates a one-of-a-kind immersive art experience that beautifully integrates cutting-edge technology with nature. In lieu of a crystal universe, you’ll find a surreal forest that’s shaped by the birds, the winds, and – most importantly – you.
Once you’re done walking around and exploring, I highly recommend heading to Dotonbori for some delicious street food.
So what are you waiting for? Whether you decide to day trip from Tokyo to Osaka or spend at least a full day in Osaka city, this teamLab digital art museum is an absolute must-visit.
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