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Ibaraki prefecture’s Kairakuen Garden is considered to be one of Japan’s most scenic spaces, with a history that stretches back to 1842. Filled with roughly 3,000 plum trees of 100 different varieties, the garden flourishes between February and March, when plum blossoms are in full bloom. This year, however, the garden’s peak season will be even more beautiful with the addition of a special teamLab exhibition.
From March 1 to 31 2021, art collective teamLab is transforming the garden into an interactive art space that constantly shifts and changes according to the number of people passing through. To ensure there’s no damage to the plants or buildings, the installations feature light as a medium. As an after-dark event, the exhibition runs from 6pm to 8.30pm daily, with last admissions at 8pm.
The exhibition takes place in conjunction with the annual Mito Plum Blossom Festival, one of eastern Japan’s biggest events, which is celebrating its 125th edition this year. Garden visitors can picnic beneath the many varieties of plum blossoms and take part in the festival’s events and workshops. Visitors who enter the park before 5pm must re-enter in order to see the teamLab installations from 6pm.
Based on the photos and videos we've seen, this outdoor teamLab exhibition is a stunner. Here's a peek of the after-dark spectacle:
General admission for the teamLab exhibition is ¥1,500 for adults, ¥800 for students 18 years old or younger, and free for children under 13 years old. Tickets are now available for purchase online, but note that visitors from areas under the government-declared state of emergency will not be permitted entry.
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