Life and Trust [Immersive Experience]EmursiveEscape roomOther Some truly incredible dance and fight choreography in a sprawling, awe-inspiring environment.
teamLab Borderless [Immersive Art]teamLabEscape roomOther Too often, I see people comparing Planets and Borderless and coming to the conclusion that you only need to see Planets... which could not be further from the truth. Borderless is spectacular in its own regard, with an almost maze-like interconnected flow that is quite unique amongst teamLab's locations. Even for installations that appear elsewhere, at Borderless they meld into each other in a unique and rather enthralling manner. Every space is constantly changing, and even if you think you've already seen something, it's probably different this time around. Pay close attention to your surroundings as they're often more interactive and responsive than they may initially appear!
The Gunpowder Plot Experience [Immersive Experience]Gunpowder PlotEscape roomOther Gunpowder Plot blew our expectations out of the water! The immersive actors were top-notch and really were open to playing with us. The set was gorgeous throughout and beautifully lit, leading to a seamlessly coherent world. The VR was a bit old and glitchy, though it was well physically integrated into the flow and featured some nice little sensory enhancements. The story was memorable and nicely presented, though the finale was held back by an A-lister voiceover which inhibited the actors' ability to freely improvise. Overall, though, this one really impressed us — far more than War of the Worlds — and we were sad to see it closing shortly after our visit.
Meta Maze [Immersive Experience]DolorisEscape roomOther It's like Meow Wolf, but even more surreal, with more physical exploration, and a strict no-phones policy that prevents the experience from just becoming a selfie museum. I could have spent hours in here!
teamLab Planets Tokyo [Immersive Experience]teamlab(朝阳大悦城)Escape roomOther teamLab Planets is most known for *that thing* — and *that thing* is incredibly cool and unforgettable. But this immersive art installation is no one trick pony, and the flow through each zone is beautiful, surreal, and playfully engaging. The main downside to this location is its popularity... the crowds potentially get in the way of peacefully experiencing the work, so I'd recommend getting there early in the morning when things aren't too packed.
A Forest Where Gods Live [Immersive Art]teamLabEscape roomOther Hands down my favorite teamLab location in Japan! Whereas teamLab's art typically blend nature, art, and tech in beautiful and elegant ways - but all indoors - this Takeo location takes the magic up a notch by transforming an ancient forest at night. The art doesn't compete with the nature, instead framing and enhancing it with sublime finesse. This is a difficult spot to get to, but it's so very worth the pilgrimage.
Anemoia [Immersive Experience]DazzleEscape roomOther An absolutely stunning immersive dance piece full of passion, creativity, and energy. It would be hard not to fully fall into the captivating world they crafted. This piece reminded me why I love immersive.
teamLab Botanical Garden [Immersive Art]teamLabEscape roomOther teamLab's beautiful installations are at their best when framing and augmenting actual nature. While not quite as spectacular as their Mifuneyama Rakuen Onsen location in Takeo, the Osaka botanical gardens are a truly stunning setting for the magical worlds that teamLab concocts.
Escape The City - New York City - Central Park [Outdoor]Escapely - New YorkEscape roomOther Uninspired but perfectly playable simple puzzles that took us on a nice route through top features of Central Park.
teamLab Forest [Immersive Art]teamLabEscape roomOther A solid entry point to the teamLab lineup. Worth a visit if you're in Fukuoka, but it's not quite as unique or memorable as some of their other locations throughout Japan.