teamLab Osaka is a Japanese art collective and interdisciplinary group of artists, designers, engineers, and programmers known for their immersive digital art installations. They create interactive and experiential artworks that combine technology, art, and nature. You get to experience nature like never before with teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka, a permanent nighttime exhibition at Nagai Botanical Garden in Osaka. You will immerse yourself in a world of light and shadow art that transforms the 240,000 square meter garden into a mesmerising wonderland. It is very very pretty indeed.
In Osaka, teamLab Osaka exhibition is hosted at the Nagai Botanic Garden.
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Nagai Botanic Garden
Nestled within the vibrant city of Osaka, Nagai Botanical Garden is a captivating outdoor haven that first welcomed visitors in 1974. Situated within the expansive grounds of Nagai Park, which originally opened as an urban park in 1944 featuring amenities like a baseball stadium, this delightful botanical garden spans an impressive 240,000 square meters. At its heart lies a serene lake, while the breathtaking flora gracefully transitions with the passage of each season, painting a vivid tapestry of nature’s beauty year-round.
Buying Tickets to teamLab Osaka
I bought the tickets online at its official web site. I understand it is possible to get discounted tickets at some sites (e.g. Pelago, Klook etc) but I did not want to take the risk of buying the wrong tickets. So I bought it online at its web site. It was also possible to change the date of the visit (subject to availability) AFTER I purchased the tickets. I did that as my schedule in Osaka was quite flexible and subjected to the whim and fancies of the kids.
Of course, do visit at a very DARK night for maximum impact 🙂
Getting to teamLab Osaka
So obviously you need to get to Nagai Botanic Gardens in Osaka to get to the teamLabs Osaka. It was pretty easy ! The Botanic Gardens is just 10 mins walk from the Nagai train station. This subway is on the RED line, The Midosuji Subway Line ! And as you aware by now, it is the line which is closest to my hotel, the amazing Marriott Courtyard at Shin Osaka.
Use Exit 3. Signs are everywhere. This is Japan…
There are also other subway stations. The Nagai Botanical Garden in Osaka is conveniently located near several train stations. Here are a few stations close to the garden:
- Nagai Station (JR Hanwa Line): This station is the closest to Nagai Botanical Garden, situated just a short walk away. It provides easy access to the garden for visitors traveling by train. This is the one I used.
- Tsurugaoka Station (Osaka Metro Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line): Tsurugaoka Station is another nearby option, located within reasonable walking distance from Nagai Botanical Garden. It offers access to the garden for those using the Osaka Metro.
- Harinakano Station (Osaka Metro Midosuji Line): Although a bit farther away, Harinakano Station on the Midosuji Line can also be utilized for reaching Nagai Botanical Garden. From there, you can either take a bus or enjoy a pleasant walk to reach the garden.
About teamLab Osaka
Of course, this is NOT the only teamLab park in Japan (and even in Singapore, there is one too at National Museum of Singapore). But both the two teamLabs in Tokyo and the teamLab in Fukuoka are in enclosed spaces, with rooms created for them. The teamLab in Osaka is in an open-air park!
So basically you are visiting an outdoor exhibition (under the dark starry starry night) in a park. There are quite a lot of walks to be done. So bring a good pair of shoes (and maybe a jacket) and enjoy your walk around the park.
Let me share a few photos….
Sculptures of Dissipative Birds in the Wind
Describing it as one of the most captivating and renowned sections of the park, “l website “Sculptures of Dissipative Birds in the Wind” has to be one of the most popular sites on the ground.
Supposedly, the colossal sculptures within this artwork embody the perpetual dispersion of energy into the environment by the graceful birds encircling them.
When these birds take flight, their energy permeates the surroundings, influencing elements such as the gentle breeze. The current wind and the memories of birds that traversed the skies from sunrise to sunset converge, forming a layered narrative. The sculptures vividly capture the energy diffusing into the wind, courtesy of the birds in the present moment.
In the absence of birds gracing the artwork with their flight, the sculptures dissolve into darkness, seemingly fading away. To cultivate a bird-friendly environment, the vicinity of the sculptures was adorned with flora that entices insects, serving as nourishment for the avian visitors. The sculptures manifest through the collective presence of birds gathering around the lush foliage. However, the existence of both birds and insects relies not solely on the island’s flora but on the expansive ecosystem that encompasses the forest and lake of the vast botanical garden.
Not sure.. but I thoroughly enjoyed this exhibit. The quietness of the night (Japan visitors do not speak loudly….) and the music on the exhibit and the beautiful lights on the display.. it was very very memorising for me.
Resonating Microcosms in the Common Camellia Garden
I called this exhibit, Alien. You know the movie series.. The one series were the iconic eggs hatching into terrifying aliens ? Yes… 🙂
Except they are called “ovoids” here..
resembling an egg in shape : ovate. an ovoid fruit.
Ovoid Definition & Meaning – Merriam-Webster
Within the enchanting camellia garden lies a mesmerizing display of transforming ovoids, shifting their essence from day to night.
Bathed in the radiant sunlight, these ovoids mirror the world that surrounds them, reflecting the beauty of their environment. As twilight descends, the ovoids come alive, emitting their own radiant glow. When touched by a person, caressed by the wind, or kissed by raindrops, an ovoid illuminates, accompanied by a melodic tone as it gracefully rises on its own. In a harmonious chorus, the neighboring ovoids respond in synchrony, resonating with the same ethereal tone and emanating a symphony of light.
During moments of tranquility, when the winds whisper softly and the hands of visitors cease their gentle pushes, the ovoids enter a gradual flickering dance. Within this serene ambiance, the ovoids unveil a palette of 61 uniquely defined Solidified Light Colors, embracing a world of ever-changing hues.
Kids will not resist touching (or… hitting) the eggs, I mean, the ovoids…
Floating Resonating Lamps on Oike Lake
Ok. Now there are “eggs” in the lake too.. Jokes aside, they are very beautiful actually.
Gracefully adorning the surface of Oike Lake, individual lamps float autonomously, each possessing its own luminous spirit. In the presence of a still-standing visitor or when stirred by the caress of the wind, a lamp radiates brilliance, accompanied by a resonant tone. This luminous energy cascades from one lamp to the next, akin to a symphony of light and sound, traversing the tranquil waters to reach the verdant trees nestled upon the islet at the lake’s heart. When light emerges from the opposite direction, it signals the presence of fellow beings, fostering a heightened sense of awareness and connection within the shared space.
During moments of stillness, when the wind lies dormant and human presence recedes, the lamps gracefully transition into a gentle blink, their soft radiance pervading the surroundings.
The White Ones..
Forest of Autonomous Resonating Life
Okie. Small ones, ones on the river.. and finally human sized ones.. This is a “Alien” movie to the max.
But the Forest of Autonomous Resonating Life is a very nice engaging part of the teamLab Osaka exhibition.
In the picturesque Eucalyptus park, a captivating assembly of closely packed light ovoids awaits. These ovoids possess an autonomous nature, capable of independent movement. When traversed by the footsteps of passersby or gently toppled by the caress of the wind, an ovoid gracefully rises, accompanied by a captivating change in its luminous hue and the emission of a distinctive tone harmonious to its new color. In an enchanting ripple effect, the neighboring ovoids respond one by one, resonating with the same melodic tone and bathed in matching luminosity.
During moments of tranquil stillness, when the wind subsides and human interaction momentarily wanes, the ovoids’ lights transition into a slow, rhythmic blink, imbuing the surroundings with a gentle, ethereal ambiance.
An intriguing phenomenon occurs when light approaches from the opposite direction, signaling the presence of fellow beings in the vicinity. This phenomenon serves as a poignant reminder, instilling a heightened awareness within individuals, fostering a profound recognition of others sharing the same space.
There are also other beautiful parts in the teamLab Osaka too
Besides the above I shared, there are other parts of the exhibits too. Such as Spatial Calligraphy in the Forest, Concrete and Abstract – Secondary Forest Entrance, Resonating Common Camellia Garden and the very interesting Universe of Fire Particles in the Forest too.
Check out the venue map. There is no set route. Please walk around the exhibition freely.
Conclusion teamLab Osaka : Go or No Go
Go… Just Go
Don’t just eat eat eat in Osaka. Enjoy this night special effects exhibit with your children… it is also quite romantic.
