I recently visited Tokyo for the first time and it was … magical. For me, perhaps the most mind blowing, mesmerising experience was the Teamlab Borderless Mori Digital Art Museum. I have never experienced anything like it, in all my life, anywhere else in the world.
The idea behind the exhibition was creativity; how humans are creative and how this skill, perhaps more than any other, will be needed to solve our current and future problems. Unlike a traditional museum, there was no map or floor plan. There were some signs on the walls, but the idea was to wander, explore and discover.
Light, sound, colour, touch and taste. Every sense was stimulated. We began in the Hall of Flowers. As you walked, the images flowed and changed before your eyes.
Next was the The Lantern Room. This incredible space was filled with lanterns. The room had mirrors on the walls and ceiling which reflected the lanterns, making it seem like an endless realm of colour.
The waterfall room had a waterfall projected onto the back wall and then cherry blossoms on the surrounding walls. Birds flew through the air, darting and soaring through the blossoms.
The second floor was the Athletic Forest. Here they had created a light forest which you could climb through, from one side to the other. The challenge was to only touch one colour, with both your hands and your feet. As you did this, you got special sound and visual effects along the way.
Located on the top floor, just outside the athletic forest, was the En Tea House. You could purchase various types of green tea for 500Y. After selecting your tea type, you were led into a darkened room with long tables and a circle of light above each place. Your bowl of tea was poured and, as it sat on the table, images of flowers began to bloom in the bowl. When you lifted the bowl to drink, the petals scattered and were blown across the table. It was a truly interactive and magical experience.
It is really hard to find a favourite in this amazing place. If I had to select one, I would say the aquarium room because it was filled with children and adults colouring sea creatures, having them scanned and then watching them appear on the walls around them. It was wonderful to watch their faces light up as they chased their creatures across this magical ocean. I loved the fact that it was so interactive. People were creating the art as well as viewing it.
Dziękuję, że w tak piękny i obrazowy sposób podzieliłaś się swoimi wrażeniami. To musi być niezwykłe miejsce. Nigdy nie byłam w Tokio. Czy to muzeum jest płatne? Jak długo zajęło Ci zwiedzanie?
Thanks for your feedback @AdamGT . Yes- it definitely was worth visiting. Being in such a creative space was both breath taking and mesmerising all at the same time!
You know @marcorp - it wasn’t even somewhere I really wanted to go. My daughters were really keen, so the trip was originally for them. But I was so totally blown away by Japan. It is so safe, the food is delicious, the people are helpful and polite and the culture is amazing. We had the best time there. Next time I want to see Kyoto and Osaka.
@JustineE i am sure it´s a wonderful country. I have many friends that went there and were amazed! as I said, very nice post! always happy to read your content
I have seen similar tech on very small areas of museums, but never in a whole place or in fun activities like the ones you shared. I really like the tea experience, I think I would drink it in little sips while taking it and setting it on the table to see the magic happen many times.
Thank you for sharing this great and unique place with us.
My pleasure @Jesi . Thanks for your feedback. That is exactly how I drank my tea- little sips, lifting the bowl up and putting it back down again to watch the petals blow away and then bloom again.
