The Annual Outdoor Exhibition that Transforms an Ancient Forest into Art

Explore a magical fusion of art, technology, and nature at Mifuneyama Rakuen Park

A traditional Japanese garden dating from 1845, Mifuneyama Rakuen Park sits within a forest at the foot of Mt Mifune. It is home to ancient sacred trees, caves full of Buddhist statues and carvings, and an enormous rock believed to be the dwelling place of a god.

teamLab is an international art group that is always searching for the point where art, science, technology, and the natural word combine. “teamLab: A Forest Where Gods Live” is an annual exhibition held between July and November in Mifuneyama Rakuen Park. The concept is to explore how digital technology can transform nature into art without harming it. teamLab turns the entire garden into an art project that is designed to break down barriers between humanity and the natural world and make us more aware of the never-ending continuum of life and death. 
 

The garden is divided into six zones: the hotel area, the ruins area, the pond area, the garden area, the cave area, and the forest area. These areas are dotted with digital artworks that take advantage of the natural scenery. Examples include waterfalls of light falling upon a sacred rock, calligraphic effects of black light on rock walls, and resonating forests that brighten and fade as people approach, thus appearing to “breathe.“

Access: From JR Hakata Station, take the JR Kyushu Express to JR Takeo Onsen Station (about one hour 10 minutes). From there, catch a bus from the South Exit to Mifuneyama Rakuen (10 minutes).
 

teamLab: A Forest Where Gods Live