When to book teamLab tickets (Planets vs Borderless)

There are two different teamLab attractions in Tokyo, and families regularly turn up at the wrong one or with the wrong shoes. Both are timed-entry, advance-booking, dynamically-priced digital-art experiences that routinely sell out on weekends and holidays — so the short answer to “when should we book?” is: as soon as your date is firm, and definitely before other flexible plans. Here’s how each one works and how to choose.

Planets vs Borderless — pick the right one

teamLab Planets (Toyosu) is the more kid-forward of the two: it’s a barefoot experience where you wade through water that can reach knee height on an adult, so children need rolled-up trousers or shorts and ideally a change of clothes. A January-2025 expansion added hands-on kids’ areas. Importantly, strollers are not allowed inside (baby carriers are fine; there’s stroller parking outside).

teamLab Borderless (Azabudai Hills) keeps your shoes on and has no water-wading; some rooms have mirrored floors, so trousers are advised over skirts. It’s a wandering maze of borderless rooms. Both are wonderful; with toddlers, Planets’ water play tends to win, but the no-stroller rule matters if you rely on one.

How tickets work

Both sell date-and-time timed-entry tickets through their official stores (Planets via the DMM ticket store; Borderless via the official teamLab ticket store). Entry is in short slots — Planets in roughly 15-minute windows, Borderless at 30-minute intervals. Pricing is dynamic/date-based: Planets adults from about ¥3,600, Borderless adults roughly ¥3,600–¥5,600 depending on the date; children 4–12 around ¥1,500 and under-3 free at both. Always check the exact price for your date on the official store.

How far ahead, and refund/change rules

The official sites recommend booking in advance but do not publish a fixed “tickets released X months ahead” window, so we won’t state one as guaranteed — the practical rule is simply to book as early as you can once your date is set, and target a weekday if you can for smaller crowds. Neither venue refunds a purchased ticket. Both let you change the date/time up to 2 hours before entry (up to three times for tickets bought on the official website); moving to a pricier date means paying the difference. If your preferred slot is gone, check back for released inventory, try a weekday or an off-peak time, or switch to the other venue.

Practical notes for families

Allow roughly a couple of hours (commonly cited, not officially fixed). For Planets: dress kids for water, bring a spare outfit, and remember the stroller ban. For Borderless: some rooms are dark and disorienting, which can unsettle little ones — hold hands and take breaks. Both photograph beautifully but are sensory-intense, so go early and pair with a calmer afternoon.

Once you’ve booked, drop the date into the free planner and it’ll build the rest of that day around Toyosu (for Planets) or Azabudai/Roppongi (for Borderless) so you’re not crossing the city afterwards.