Japan Adventures – Day 13: Immersive Art and Tokyo’s Vibrant Streets

teamLab Borderless: A World Without Boundaries

Our adventure began with a visit to teamLab Borderless, a mesmerizing digital art museum in Tokyo. Having pre-booked our tickets, we enjoyed a smooth entrance into this world of artworks without boundaries. This museum, often described as a museum without a map, is a must-visit. We highly recommend it!

The kids were particularly enchanted by the room with a small hill, where they climb up and slide down repeatedly. Another highlight was the Sketch Ocean, where they colored fish, squids, turtles, or sharks and watched them come to life, swimming alongside other visitors’ creations. Each room offered unique and special artwork effects, making it easy to lose track of where you had been. The lack of a map added to the sense of exploration and wonder.

Exploring the Tranquil Meiji Shrine

After a couple of hours at teamLab Borderless, we headed to the Meiji Shrine, a serene Shinto shrine nestled in a vast park. Be prepared to walk, as the park is quite large. The peaceful surroundings provided a perfect contrast to the vibrant digital art we had just experienced.

Lunch and Fashion at Takeshita Street and Harajuku Street

Next, we made our way to Takeshita Street and Harajuku Street for lunch. These streets are famous for their teenage culture and eclectic fashion styles. We spent a couple of hours exploring the area, enjoying the unique shops and vibrant atmosphere.

Experiencing the Iconic Shibuya Crossing

In the afternoon, we headed to Shibuya to experience the famous Shibuya Crossing. This bustling intersection is a must-see, as it perfectly encapsulates the energy and chaos of Tokyo. Don’t miss the Hachikō Memorial Statue, a touching tribute to the loyal dog Hachikō.

Shibuya Station is massive and can be a bit overwhelming, but it’s a great way to explore the area. One of the walkways offers a good view of the crossing, but for the best view, head to the Starbucks Coffee – Shibuya Tsutaya 2F. Unfortunately, it was packed during our visit, so we opted for Tamago to Watashi, a Japanized western restaurant, for drinks and dessert instead.

Evening Shopping and Sushi in Shibuya

We spent the evening exploring the stores in Shibuya, including the MEGA Don Quijote, a massive discount store with a wide variety of products. For dinner, we went to Uobei, a conveyor belt sushi restaurant. It gets very busy in the evening, but the queue moves quickly, so the wait wasn’t too long.

After dinner, we explored a few more shops before heading back to our hotel, concluding a day filled with art, culture, and the vibrant energy of Tokyo.