What is teamLab Biovortex Kyoto? An immersive forest of digital art a short walk from Kyoto Station. If you’ve had your fill of temples and shrines, teamLab Biovortex Kyoto offers a complete change of pace. Biovortex combines light, sound, projection, movement and interactivity to create something that feels part art installation, part dreamscape and part science-fiction film.
teamLab Biovortex Kyoto © Chris Rowthorn.
It’s one of the few attractions in Kyoto that appeals equally to adults, teenagers and younger children. Even people who normally have little interest in museums or art often leave impressed.
Warning: Book Tickets Online Well in Advance!
teamLab Biovertex is very popular and entry is during each time slot so book your tickets online in advance or via Klook. Tickets go on sale about two months in advance. Unless you are in Kyoto during a quiet season, you probably won’t be able to get tickets. And, same-day tickets at the venue are very unlikely at any time of year.
Why Visit teamLab Biovortex Kyoto?
Kyoto is famous for preserving the past. teamLab Biovortex Kyoto is almost entirely about the future.
Visitors wander through a series of darkened spaces where constantly changing projections, light installations and interactive digital environments respond to movement and presence. The experience unfolds gradually, with one room leading into another, each revealing something unexpected.
I won’t describe too much of what you’ll see because surprise is a large part of the experience. Suffice it to say that words and still photographs struggle to capture what makes the place special.
For many visitors, it’s an ideal counterpoint to Kyoto’s more traditional attractions.
Entering Another World
One of the things I like most about teamLab Biovortex Kyoto is how effectively it separates visitors from the outside world. Within minutes of entering, it’s easy to forget that one of Japan’s busiest railway stations is just down the street.
Entering another world © Chris Rowthorn.
The spaces are deliberately dark and immersive. You move from room to room, never entirely sure what will appear next.
teamLab Biovortex Kyoto Highlights
One of the most beautiful installations is The Continuous Life and Death at the Now of Eternity.
Continuous Life and Death at the Now of Eternity © Chris Rowthorn.
The constantly changing imagery feels alive, evolving and dissolving in front of you. It is also, somewhat unexpectedly, the most convincing recreation of the open-eyed visual experience of psychedelics that I’ve ever encountered. The fact that teamLab chose such a magnificent title only adds to its impact.
Another favorite is Universe of Water Particles.
Universe of Water Particles © Chris Rowthorn.
Like much of teamLab’s work, it combines movement, light and interaction in ways that are difficult to capture in photographs.
I also loved Crows Are Chased and Chasing Crows are Destined to be Chased as Well.
Crows Are Chased and Chasing Crows © Chris Rowthorn.
The title is memorable. The installation itself is even better.
And then there’s the unforgettable Forest of Resonating Lamps.
Forest of Resonating Lamps © Chris Rowthorn.
For me, this was worth the admission fee on its own. The glowing lamps stretching away into darkness reminded me of swimming through a cave in the Bacuit Archipelago and emerging into a hidden lagoon filled with harmless jellyfish. It’s beautiful, slightly dreamlike and surprisingly moving.
Pairing teamLab with Other Attractions
Because of its location, teamLab Biovortex Kyoto is easy to combine with several nearby sights.
Good pairings include:
Families traveling with children who have reached their temple limit for the day can also combine a visit with AEON Mall Kyoto.
If you’re also visiting Tokyo or Osaka, you might want to visit Tokyo’s teamLab Planets or teamLab Borderless and Osaka’s teamLab Botanical Garden. Follow the links for our detailed reviews.
Final Thoughts on teamLab Biovortex Kyoto
I expected to enjoy teamLab Biovortex Kyoto. I didn’t expect to be as impressed as I was.
It’s imaginative, immersive and genuinely different from anything else in Kyoto. More importantly, it’s one of those rare attractions that works for almost everyone: couples, solo travelers, families with children and even people who generally avoid museums and galleries.
If you’re spending several days in Kyoto, particularly with kids or teenagers, I’d strongly consider making time for it. It’s one of the city’s best modern attractions and a refreshing change from temples, shrines and historical sites.
Book your tickets online in advance or via Klook.
How to Get to teamLab Biovortex from Kyoto Station
The easiest way to reach teamLab Biovortex Kyoto is on foot from Kyoto Station.
Exit Kyoto Station from the Hachijoguchi (South) Exit.
Exit Hachijiko side and cross toward Avanti © Chris Rowthorn.
Cross toward the Avanti building and continue straight.
Walk toward Daiwa Roynet Hotel © Chris Rowthorn.
Walk past the Daiwa Roynet Hotel, Mimaru and DoubleTree hotels.
Walk past Daiwa Roynet, Mimaru and Double Tree hotels © Chris Rowthorn.
Cross the main street and turn right.
Cross main street and turn right © Chris Rowthorn.
Take the first left and continue about 75 meters.
Take first left and walk about 75 meters © Chris Rowthorn.
The distinctive teamLab building will soon appear on your left.
teamLab building © Chris Rowthorn.
The walk takes roughly 10 minutes from Kyoto Station.
Name in English:
teamLab Biovortex Kyoto
Name in Japanese:
チームラボ バイオヴォルテックス 京都
English address:
21-5 Higashikujo-higashiiwamoto-cho, Minami-ku
Japanese address:
南区東九条東岩本町21-5
Opening hours:
9:00am to 9:00pm (last entry: 7:30pm), closed on irregular Tuesdays
Admission:
Adults: Starting at ¥3800 (varies by day)
13-17 years old: ¥2800
4-12 years old: ¥1800
Buy tickets in advance online at the official teamLab website or via Klook.
Non-smoking area: Yes
Nearest Transport:
7-minute walk from Kyoto Station (Hachijo East Gate).
Nearest Hotels:
:: Check availability and pricing for hotels near to teamLab Biovortex Kyoto on Booking.com or Agoda.com.
Telephone: 075-634-3923
Website: official website
Near To Here:
teamLab Biovortex Kyoto is located in Kyoto Station area. See our complete list of things to do in Kyoto Station area, including places to eat, nightlife and places to stay.
Where Is This Place Located?
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Kyoto Vacation Checklist
- ESSENTIALS – For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Kyoto guide
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- WHERE TO STAY – Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Kyoto
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- FLIGHTS – Compare Japan flight prices and timings to find the best deals
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About InsideKyoto.com and Chris Rowthorn
- Chris Rowthorn is the co-founder of InsideKyoto.com and has an unparalleled travel knowledge of Kyoto spanning three decades. Chris has written or commissioned and edited every page on the Inside Kyoto website.
- A former author of Lonely Planet Kyoto and Lonely Planet Japan guidebooks, Chris is also the director of the Kyoto walking tour company Chris Rowthorn Tours, and Japan Travel Consulting, where you can get bespoke travel advice for your Japan trip.
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