It’s official! The art world is buzzing because teamLab’s newest (and largest!) exhibition just opened its doors in Kyoto on October 7th.
I know what you might be thinking. Another teamLab? You’ve probably seen the glowing lamps and cascading digital waterfalls all over your Instagram feed. You’ve maybe even been to one before and are wondering: how is this one any different? Is it really worth the trip?
Lucky for you, we at Flip managed to get a sneak peek at a media preview before the crowds descended, and I’m here to spill all the details. Let’s get into it.
First Impressions: What Makes teamLab BioVortex So Special?
So, what’s the deal with this new exhibition? In short, it’s an experience that pulls you right into the cycles of nature. More than other teamLabs we’ve seen, this one mixes huge sculptures, art you can actually touch, and even sounds and smells to make you feel like you’re part of the art, not just looking at it.
The main theme is the natural cycle of life and death. For example, you’ll see digital flowers that bloom and fade in real time. How you move and what you touch changes the art around you, making you a key part of the show.
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A Walk Through the Artworks at teamLab BioVortex Kyoto
Flow Reaches Far
This piece explores the feeling of chaos and order. It was one of the first things I walked into, and it was fascinating to just stand still and watch the patterns swirl around our feet.
The lines on the floor look like intricate, moving engravings that react to everyone in the room. When there are fewer people, the patterns are slow and graceful; when it’s crowded, they become more complex and frantic.
It’s a very cool, direct way to see how our collective presence literally shapes the environment.
Morphing Continuum
This room is filled with these huge, glowing orbs that slowly pulse with a warm light, making the whole space feel like it’s breathing. I just found a spot and watched them for ages.
The patterns of light break apart into what looks like chaos, but then they always find their way back together into a perfect whole. It was incredibly relaxing and a really creative visual for how nature can bounce back and find its balance.
Nirvana: Fleeting Flower Shimmering Light
Honestly, this was one of the most beautiful and peaceful rooms for us. It has a quiet, almost reverent atmosphere. The walls act as a canvas for glowing animals and flowers that are drawn with light, inspired by the story of the Buddha’s final moments.
When you reach out and touch the wall, the flowers you touch dissolve into a shower of petals that float away, before they slowly and magically regenerate. It’s a lovely and a little bit sad all at once, making you feel like a small part of this endless cycle.
What a Loving and Beautiful World
This installation was just pure, interactive fun, and I saw everyone from kids to adults playing with it. Japanese kanji characters for words like “bird,” “tree,” or “waterfall” float down the walls.
The game is to touch a character, and when you do, its meaning springs to life as a gorgeous animation right before your eyes. It genuinely felt like magic, especially when a ‘bird’ you summoned flew over to a ‘tree’ that someone else had created.
Forest of Lamps
Of course, it wouldn’t be teamLab without the famous Forest of Lamps! This version is special for Kyoto, with colours that change to match the nearby mountains across the four seasons—we saw a warm autumn palette of reds and oranges.
The experience of walking in and having the mirrored walls and floor create an infinite, glowing space is just incredible. As you stand near a lamp, it shines brighter and sends a wave of light to its neighbours. That feeling of personally setting off the chain reaction of light never gets old.
Silent Radiance Within
This artwork, made just for Kyoto, felt like walking inside a priceless traditional Japanese folding screen (byōbu). It’s a very elegant and thoughtful piece. The flower-covered walls bloom more intensely as you get closer, inviting you to interact.
But when you touch them, the blossoms shatter and fade away more quickly. It’s a bittersweet experience; your curiosity and interaction are also what cause the beauty to disappear. It really made us think.
Massless Amorphous Sculpture
This was a wild one, and unlike anything we’ve done before. You get a protective coat and shoe covers, and then you physically wade through a room filled with a strange, heavy foam. It’s like pushing your way through a dense cloud that has weight to it.
The space is constantly collapsing and reforming around you, and it muffles sound, making it a very weird but totally memorable sensory experience.
Ephemeral Abstract of Life and Return
Being in this room was like being inside a microscope slide of living cells, but on a massive scale. Huge, liquid-like shapes drift across the dark space. The artists say they are meant to look like cells, constantly breaking apart and coming back together.
You wear special boots to walk on the floor, which is part of the projection, and your steps disrupt the flow, causing ripples and changes in the patterns around you.
Megalith’s Floor
This space truly felt like an enchanted forest out of a fantasy film. You walk among large, mossy-looking stones while projections of flowers, crystals, and water flow across the floor and even onto your own clothes.
I loved how the environment directly reacted to visitors—crystals would glow brighter as we got closer, and flowers would bloom where we stood. It was completely immersive and really beautiful.
Resonating Microcosms
You can’t help but smile in here. The room is filled with large, bouncy spheres that are all glowing softly.
When you push one, it changes colour and sends out a ripple of light and a musical tone to the spheres closest to it, which then pass it on. Setting off a huge chain reaction of colour and sound across the entire room is incredibly satisfying.
It’s simple, joyful, and we saw everyone having a great time.
Athletics Forest
For those with energy to burn, the Athletics Forest is a must-do. It’s a collection of more active spaces where you can jump, climb, and draw, turning your own movements into art.
Every element of Biovortex engages the senses. The rooms feature unique aromas, designed to enhance immersion and deepen the connection between visitor and artwork. Together, these elements create a multi-sensory meditation on energy, impermanence, and the beauty of existence.
How Does BioVortex Kyoto Compare to Other teamLabs?
If you’ve visited other teamLab locations, you’re probably wondering how this new one stacks up. We’ve been to the major ones, and here’s our take on how Kyoto’s BioVortex offers a unique experience.
vs. teamLab Borderless (Tokyo)
Borderless is famous for being a massive, seamless world where artworks roam freely between rooms. It feels like exploring a chaotic, vibrant digital city with no set path. BioVortex Kyoto, on the other hand, feels more thematic and meditative.
While you can still explore freely, the installations are more contained within their own spaces, and they all tie back to the central theme of nature, life cycles, and impermanence. It feels less like a sprawling digital universe and more like a single, enchanted ecosystem.
vs. teamLab Planets (Tokyo)
Planets is a very linear, sensory-focused journey that you walk through. It’s famous for its physical immersion, especially the installations where you walk through knee-deep water or navigate a room of shimmering crystal strings.
BioVortex Kyoto does not have any water sections, so you don’t need to worry about rolling up your trousers. Its immersion comes more from the combination of visuals, sound, and aroma, creating a more philosophical experience rather than the pure physical sensation you get at Planets.
vs. teamLab Botanical Garden (Osaka)
The Osaka location is a completely different beast, as it’s set entirely outdoors in a real botanical garden at night. The art there is projected onto and interacts with actual trees, plants, and landscapes.
BioVortex Kyoto is a fully indoor, self-contained world. It creates its own digital simulation of nature, allowing for total control over light and sound in a way the outdoor park can’t. Think of it as the difference between seeing art enhance the real world (Osaka) versus stepping into an entirely new, artist-created world (Kyoto).
teamLab BioVortex Kyoto FAQs
How long does it take to go through teamLab BioVortex?
We recommend setting aside at least 2 to 3 hours to experience everything properly. You could rush through it faster, but many of the rooms are mesmerising and you’ll want time to soak them in without feeling hurried. Plus, some popular installations like the Forest of Lamps might have a short queue.
Is teamLab Kyoto good for kids and families?
Absolutely. Kids will love the highly interactive rooms like “What a Loving and Beautiful World” and “Resonating Microcosms.” The Athletics Forest section is specifically designed for active play.
Is it worth going to teamLab Kyoto if I’ve already been to the ones in Tokyo?
Yes, we think so. While you’ll recognise some concepts (like the Forest of Lamps), the overall theme and many of the key artworks are brand new and specific to Kyoto. The focus on nature, life, and death gives it a more thoughtful and artistic feeling that sets it apart from the sheer spectacle of the Tokyo locations.
Do I need to book tickets in advance?
Yes, 100%. We strongly recommend booking your tickets online from the official website well in advance. Time slots, especially for weekends and holidays, sell out quickly. Buying at the door is often not possible.
Can I take photos and videos inside?
Yes, you can! Photography and videography for personal use are encouraged. However, flash photography is strictly forbidden as it ruins the experience for everyone. Tripods, monopods, and selfie sticks are also not allowed.
