I celebrated two year Japan-niversary this March, and I've got a lot of Nihon knowledge swirling around my brain. (Fun fact: Nihon=Japan in Japanese, also pronounced Nippon).
This year I decided to see as much of Japan as I can, in between teaching and grad school classes of course, and it's about time to put my knowledge to good use.
My first weekend getaway of this year was to Odaiba, a man-made area on the coast of Tokyo. It's a simple train ride if you're in Tokyo, and houses lots of shopping malls, a giant life-size Gundam robot (which I know nothing about), Ooedo onsen village- which I recommend (more on that later), and TeamLab Borderless Digital Art Museum.
You know that place that pops up on your Instagram feed or Pinterest board with all the cool lights? Maybe that's just me because I spend all my free time researching places to travel, but if you're planning a trip to Tokyo, this museum probably shows up on things to do. Let me refresh your memory:
The pictures are certainly intriguing...
But, is it worth it?
Yea, but not without some
careful planning.
I will give it this- the creativity and exhibits are quite mind-blowing. There is no set path or sense of direction to the museum, you are meant to wander in and out of rooms, big and small, so you will probably finally leave the museum more out of exhaustion rather than actually just finishing seeing everything. Because honestly, there's no way to tell if you have seen everything.
The museum is extremely dark throughout. There are no windows or overhead lights. The only light comes from the art itself. Your eyes will adjust, but don't hesitate from taking a break from the visual stimulation in one of their resting rooms found throughout the museum. It can be a lot to take in and between the crowd and constantly moving art, sensory overload can set in.
Don't get me wrong, this adds to the atmosphere and my jaw dropped several times, watching art dance across the walls, walking through unassuming doors to new exhibits, and occasionally bumping into other museum goers because you're eyes are wandering all over.
There were some things I did not expect- for one, kids. I don't know why, but seeing pictures of this museum online it seems very sophisticated and more of an adult activity. There were kids running rampant in many of the rooms, which to me seemed unsafe because of how dark it was. Maybe I'm just a cranky old lady, but this definitely took away from the experience. I wanted to put in headphones to drown out their screams of excitement, but the museum plays music that is also part of the exhibits.
Another- CROWDS. Holy moley. I know this is a popular tourist destination, but I hope one day the hype dies down a bit and museum goers can enjoy the experience more without having to queue to get in or go to certain exhibits. The museum opens at ten. I arrived at 10:15 and the queue just to get in was already about half an hour- on a random Monday in January. I've had friends go on weekends and they have queued for two hours!
Most of the exhibits you are able to just walk through, but for some there are lines. For example, the lantern exhibit was the one I wanted to see the most. It's difficult to find, and up a set of stairs, but I found it early and waited for about 20 minutes. I really wanted a picture with the blue and red lanterns together. Since I didn't carry my DSLR around with me, I was only shooting with my phone camera and knew the red/blue light would make for a more balanced lit picture.
The lights change every 4 minutes between red and blue (which I know because after the third time of queuing, I timed it!). The first two times I went in they changed to blue or red right before I went in, so the last time I stood in line, which was MUCH longer by that time, I actually waited outside the room and let people pass until I knew the timing would be right for the picture I wanted. No, I did not need to be that extra, but I had an image in my head and I wasn't leaving until I got it! After the third time the line wrapped around so many corners, I decided I was happy with what I got and moved on.
One last thing I didn't expect was the exhaustion! This place is big, and although there are drink machines, there is no food sold inside. I was HANGRY after four hours of exploring, queuing, and people dodging. You are allowed to bring in food, so I suggest bringing some small snacks. Also, I highly recommend dropping everything not necessary to carry in the coin lockers right after the entrance. It's only costs 100 yen (about a dollar), but your sanity is worth much more.
So, the take-away from all of my rambling:
1) Go before it opens
2) Buy tickets online- they often sell out on the weekends
3) Bring snacks
4) Drop your crap in a coin locker
5) Take breaks!
Oh, and if you go by yourself, be prepared to take a lot of mirror selfies if you want any pictures of yourself! No selfie sticks/tripods allowed!
If you are planning a trip to Japan, I want to know! I've got a ton of tips and advice, so send me a message.
Also, follow me on Instagram @travel.a.map for fun travel pictures and inspiration!
-Jessie
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