5 Things to Look Forward to in Japan in 2024

teamLab Borderless (February 2024)

In August 2022, Tokyo lost one of its brightest stars when teamLab Borderless in Odaiba closed. Since opening in 2018, the exhibition never wavered in popularity owing to its stunning blend of digital art, physical space, layered sound, and more, transcending genres and mediums. In its first year, teamLab Borderless attracted more than 2 million visitors from 160 countries, and was considered one of Tokyo’s hottest tourist destinations.

Those who missed out on teamLab Borderless or who were hoping to visit again will be delighted to know that it will at long last reopen in early February 2024 in the Azabudai Hills area of central Tokyo, which includes Mori JP Tower, now Japan’s tallest office building.

The new teamLab Borderless: MORI Building DIGITAL ART MUSEUM will continue the collective’s mission of creating a world without boundaries. The museum will include popular past exhibits as well as new works and others that have not yet been shown in Japan, such as the mesmerizing galaxy of autonomous lights in “Microcosmoses” and the mind-bending rainbows of the “Sea of Clouds” light sculpture. Be sure to check it out together with teamLab Planets in Toyosu, too.

Official Website (Japanese): https://www.teamlab.art/jp/e/borderless-azabudai/

Official Website (English): https://www.teamlab.art/e/borderless-azabudai/

 

Universal Studios Japan SUPER NINTENDO WORLD Donkey Kong Themed Area (2024)

Nintendo fans rejoiceーSUPER NINTENDO WORLD at Universal Studios Japan (USJ) is scheduled to level up with Donkey Kong in 2024! Since its inception in 2021, this mega-popular segment of Osaka’s beloved Universal Studios Japan has been all about the Super Mario Bros. But in 2024, the jungle-filled realm of Donkey Kong will expand SUPER NINTENDO WORLD by a whopping 70%!

Originally released in 1981 as an arcade game, Donkey Kong has become an international icon, appearing in over 30 games across various platforms, and even featuring in 2023’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

The yet-unnamed Donkey Kong themed area will include lush jungles with “a roller coaster, interactive experiences, and themed merchandise and food,” according to Nintendo. Utilizing next-gen technologies, USJ is going all out on this new expansion, tapping Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of Super Mario and Donkey Kong, as part of the creative team. Prepare to go bananas at Universal Studios Japan in 2024!

Immersive Fort Tokyo (Spring 2024)

Immersive Fort Tokyo is an interactive live theater theme park set to open in spring 2024 in Tokyo’s entertainment hub Odaiba. Here, guests become part of the attraction, erasing the boundary between “audience” and “performer.”

Immersive Fort Tokyo is slated to become one of the largest indoor theme parks in Japan (approx. 30,000 m²), housing 12 attractions and 6 restaurants/stores where guests will be able to step into fictional worlds and create their own unique stories, from grandiose European backdrops to dark mystery. The park was inspired by the art of immersive theater, where actors break the fourth wall and involve the audience in the production, making each performance one of a kind.

Details of Immersive Fort Tokyo’s specific attractions haven’t yet been announced, but promotional materials hint at fairytale romances, murder mysteries, and more. It will take over the old VenusFort facility, which was once a popular Venetian-style mall. Its promise of rich fictional universes and intense emotions through highly personalized, live performances is sure to attract crowds.

Official Website (Japanese): https://immersivefort.com/

Fantasy Springs at Tokyo DisneySea (June 2024)

On June 6, 2024, Tokyo DisneySea will unveil its new Fantasy Springs area to further enchant guests in their trademark world of wonder. Along with its own hotel, Fantasy Springs will consist of the Frozen Kingdom from Frozen, Neverland from Peter Pan, and Rapunzel's Forest from Tangled.

 

Despite the name, Frozen Kingdom is shown to be full of warmth and celebration as the Kingdom of Arendelle is graced by the summer season, while Elsa's Ice Palace shines brightly in the distance on the North Mountain. Attractions include a boat ride through the heartwarming Frozen story with the iconic film soundtrack, along with a themed restaurant inside Arendelle Castle, and more.

In Neverland, guests will join Peter Pan’s Lost Boys on thrilling escapades through pirate ships, hideouts, and more with 3D rides, restaurants, and experiences. Rapunzel's Forest will be centered around the tower where Rapunzel had lived since she was a little girl, with the surrounding forest filled with the warmth of lanterns at night. To access Fantasy Springs, guests will need to purchase a regular park ticket and either a Standby Pass (available free of charge) or Disney Premier Access (available for a fee).

Official Website (Japanese): https://www.tokyodisneyresort.jp/special/fantasysprings/

Official Website (English): https://www.tokyodisneyresort.jp/en/topics/info/fantasysprings.html

Toyosu Senkyaku Banrai (February 2024)

From February 1, 2024, those in central Tokyo will be able to shop at a traditional Japanese market, then hop into a bath filled with hot spring waters at Toyosu Senkyaku Banrai. This upcoming Edo period-themed lifestyle and shopping destination will be the newest addition to Tokyo’s artificial island of Toyosu, which is best known as the home of Tokyo’s Toyosu Market, a famous seafood market relocated from Tsukiji.

Senkyaku Banrai literally means “thousands of customers coming one after another,” which is all but guaranteed considering everything that it has to offer. The multi-story commercial section, called the Edomae Market, is designed to resemble a bustling shopping street from the Edo Period (1603-1868). Here, visitors will be able to relish a hoard of seafood and more from the Toyosu Market, as well as at stores gathered from all over Japan selling authentic Japanese delicacies and products, cementing Toyosu as Tokyo’s go-to foodie destination.

The other highlight is the Tokyo Toyosu Manyo Club, a spacious bathing facility open 24 hours a day. Built as a “hot spring village in the heart of Tokyo,” it will boast open-air baths overlooking Tokyo Bay, a footbath garden with a 360-degree waterfront view, multiple types of saunas, bedrock baths, dining, and even accommodation. Although the spa does not stand above a hot spring source, it’ll have natural “onsen” waters transported daily from Yugawara in Hakone, one of Japan’s most renowned hot spring towns.

Pack Your 2024 Japan Itinerary With Brand New Attractions

2024 is set to be another exciting year for Japan! With the reopening of teamLab Borderless, the expansion of Universal Studios Japan and Tokyo DisneySea, and the opening of brand new facilities like Immersive Fort Tokyo and Toyosu Senkyaku Banrai, those planning a trip to Tokyo, Osaka, and more in 2024 will have plenty to fill their itineraries with!

Top image: PR Times

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