Ever since teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka came around in the summer of 2022, it has turned the massive green space of Osaka’s Nagai Botanical Garden into a surreal, permanent nighttime art experience.
Only a few weeks after teamLab Borderless was closed for good in the same year, this renewal project became one of the hottest spots in all of Osaka, beckoning families and friends in and out of the country to celebrate the stunning plants and trees illuminated by ever-changing lighting effects.
Teaming up with other teamLab projects, the one in Osaka aims to showcase the area’s flora and present the natural beauty of the site in a new light. The garden underwent a significant transformation in March 2022, expanding to a whopping 240,000 square meters and becoming home to over 1,200 plant species. It’s now the largest botanical garden in Japan.
Planning to venture out to teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka for the first time? Check out my ultimate guide below for a heads-up on buying tickets, dress code, and things to do.
Read More: teamLab Borderless Tokyo: Personal Experience, Best Route to Visit, Essential Tips and Online Tickets to Beat the Crowds
How Do You Get To teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka?
teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka is a minute’s walk from Nagai Station where you can reach the Midōsuji Line (Exit 3) from Umeda Station or the JR Hanwa Line (East Exit) from Tennōji Station. A train ride from Osaka Station to Nagai Station takes 30 minutes.
teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka: How To Buy Tickets?
teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka is open from 6 PM until 9:30 PM when darkness allows you to soak up the enchanting illustrations across the exhibits. During the day, the Nagai Botanical Garden remains open for public visits as usual.
Tickets can be purchased in advance via the teamLab’s official website or through an online operator.
Only tickets purchased through the official website allow you to amend your reservations up to three times until 9 PM on the day of entry.
In case of bad weather, the exhibitions will be postponed with an advance notice sent to your email address provided at the time of purchase.
If you book it via a third-party ticket platform, tickets are exempt from cancellations or refunds.
How Long Should You Visit teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka?
I’d recommend sparing at least an hour to make the most of your visit. teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka features 13 exhibits throughout its massive 240,000 square meter footprint. However, if you wanna get serious with the shots and try as many perspectives as you can, consider adding another 30 minutes.
What Do You Wear For teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka?
Most of the terrain is rough so make sure to have comfortable shoes. Due to the forest setting with many plants, put on mosquito creams and pants for extra comfort.
The Exhibitions At teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka: Things To See And Do
Check out this page to view the map before you head in. However, it’s not compulsory to follow any certain route. Some exhibits change by season while the rest remain the same year-round.
Here are some of my favorite areas to explore at teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka.
Life is Continuous Light – Bald Cypress
Cypresses from Nagai Botanical Garden to Oike Lake emit a radiant glow. The core idea is to ignite the illustration as you walk through the sensory, the lights shine brighter creating a tone. This light spreads to nearby cypresses, resonating with the same tone.
The only downside of this lighting illustration is that the limited number of visitors per entrance has been lifted. That means everyone is likely to flock in at once, causing the sensory to mis-signal. For that reason, actual interaction is missed.
Resonating Microcosms in the Common Camellia Garden – Solidified Light Color, Dusk to Dawn
The camellia garden showcases the shift of nature from day to night, bringing in captivating scenery for you to admire.
Under the sun, these ovoids mirror their surroundings. As sunset comes around, they autonomously radiate light and emit a melodic tone when interacted with. It may happen at even the slightest movement in the surroundings, whether pushed by a person, brushed by the wind, or touched by raindrops.
Each action sets off a chain reaction, with surrounding ovoids responding in harmony, resonating with the same tone and light color.
Sculptures of Dissipative Birds in the Wind/
Digital walled-up mountains erect in the middle of nowhere, reaching out to the sky. As night falls, these massive sculptures portray birds dissipating energy into the environment as they fly, painting lively, colorful strokes on a jet-black screen.
The movement of birds influences the airflow, and the sculptures capture the energy released into the world. As birds soar from sunrise to sunset, their present flight and past memories intertwine.
Without birds, the sculptures fade into darkness, emphasizing their dependence on avian activity.
Forest of Autonomous Resonating Life – Eucalyptus
Giant egg-like balls known as ovoids float around a dark mystical space in the heart of an Eucalyptus forest. Glide in and experience the shift in color in front of your eyes as your body touches the ovoids.
When pushed or toppled by people or the wind, each ovoid starts to change color and emits a specific tone. Interestingly, the nearby ovoids respond in sequence, creating a resonating symphony of light and sound.
In stillness, the ovoid lights blink slowly, awaiting interaction from the wind or passersby.
Spatial Calligraphy in the Forest – One Stroke, Secondary Forest
Don’t be scared! It’s only a white stroke!
As you meander along the path, an enchanting calligraphy art is unveiled in layers before it slowly disappears into darkness.
It’s a form of calligraphy drawn in three-dimensional space, capturing the brushstroke’s depth, speed, and power. The artwork transitions between two and three dimensions.
Universe of Fire Particles in the Forest – Secondary Forest
This small artwork is set at the end of the trail as you make your way out of the Spatial Calligraphy in the Forest. A sudden fire breaks out after you launch the Distributed Fire app as instructed by a signboard placed at the entrance.
Activate the app and approach the artwork up close to watch the flames ignite on your phone, making the artwork portable.
Field of Light Color – Muhlenbergia Capillaris
It’s not just a meadow, but a field of hidden lights that shine when you stand near it. Each light produces a tone that resonates with nearby Muhlenbergia capillaris. Waves of light indicate others’ presence, fostering awareness when different people are sharing the same space.
Floating Resonating Lamps on Oike Lake – Ambiguous Colors
Last but not least, come over to this magic lake blanketed by a chain of lamps that float independently. As you reach out to the lamps or even when the wind blows, the lamps change color, producing a tone. The light spreads to nearby lamps, resonating in harmony and extending to the islet’s trees.
Conclusion: Is teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka Worth A Visit?
This is a one-of-a-kind experience where digital artwork and natural beauty become one, seamlessly integrated into a real natural environment.
Unexpected weather and congested queues are the two biggest problems that may hold you back in doubt, even if you plan to arrive 15 minutes ahead.
On the flip side, strolling through the park and experiencing the enchanting illumination in nature is a delightful evening activity. The interactive exhibits add a magical touch, though capturing photos can be challenging due to the crowds.
Read More: A Guide To teamLab Planets TOKYO 2023: Getting There, Ticket, & Things To Do
Be Inspired With More Travel Guides In Osaka
- A Pocket Osaka Travel Guide for First-Timer: When Should You Really Go | 5-Day Itinerary | Ultimate Food Guide | Things to Do | Travel Tips
- Sennichimae Doguyasuji Shopping Street: Osaka’s Culinary Haven for Kitchen Enthusiasts
- Dotonbori Akaoni: A Must-Try for Osaka’s Takoyaki Lovers, Recognized by the Michelin Guide
- Where To Stay In Osaka For First-Timers? 3 Best Areas & 10 Recommended Hotels