“teamLab TOKYO (Tentative Name)” to Open in Ariake in 2032; Tokyo Metropolitan Government Selects Prospective Operator

On September 8, 2026, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government announced that it had selected the prospective operator for Plots 1-6 and 1-7 in the Ariake North district of the Tokyo Waterfront City. The chosen operator is the Ariake North Project Limited Liability Partnership, with teamLab Inc. as its representative partner. It plans an art museum, a café and other facilities, and the rendering released by the metropolitan government is labeled “teamLab TOKYO (tentative name).” The operating periods are 10 years each, from January 2032 for Plot 1-7 and from July 2033 for Plot 1-6.

What kind of facility will it be? A two-story museum with about 33,700 m² of floor area

The metropolitan government’s document “Project Overview (Planned)” states the concept of the plan as “revitalizing the Tokyo Waterfront City with the largest-ever teamLab museum.” The facilities on both plots will have two floors above ground, with a maximum height of 19.8 m. The total floor area is about 19,000 m² for Plot 1-6 and about 14,700 m² for Plot 1-7, about 33,700 m² combined.

It will be a museum fusing technology and art, with content updated regularly. The plan calls for a “small forest” in the open space, along with a plaza and a café, to create a place where local residents and visitors can gather and relax. It also pledges cooperation with the community, such as programming lessons at nearby schools. The metropolitan government’s announcement was accompanied by images of teamLab’s “Massless Suns and Dark Suns” and “Megaliths” as examples of works. As of October 20, the specific works to be shown had not been announced.

Why Ariake? The tender called for “cultural functions”

Both plots will be leased under fixed-term business land leases. Each received one application, and a selection committee of outside experts and others (chair: Hirohito Kuse, Professor Emeritus, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology) held hearings and an evaluation on Thursday, August 6, 2026. The proposal was rated B for financial strength and creditworthiness and C for its business plan and contribution to urban development, for a total of 77.2 out of 100 points, meeting the passing standard of “C or above.”

In its overall assessment, the committee said the proposal matched the future vision for the Ariake North district and the “cultural functions” set as a tender condition. It also judged that, as one of the largest digital art museums in Japan, it would contribute to attracting visitors, mainly from overseas, and to enhancing the area’s brand. On the other hand, it pointed out that there was room for further consideration, in line with local conditions, of visitors’ means of transportation and of disaster preparedness.

teamLab museums in Tokyo

According to teamLab’s official website, “teamLab Planets TOKYO DMM” in Toyosu operates from July 7, 2018 until the end of 2027. Azabudai Hills is home to “Mori Building Digital Art Museum: EPSON teamLab Borderless.” The metropolitan government’s announcement does not mention the relationship between the Ariake plan and the existing facilities.

Editor’s perspective

The metropolitan government’s evaluation positions it as “one of the largest digital art museums in Japan,” but the facility’s name is still tentative, and its works and prices are unknown. The key question is how, as the plan takes shape, it will address the visitor transportation and disaster preparedness issues raised by the committee. There are a little over five years until Plot 1-7 opens.

Frequently asked questions

When and where will “teamLab TOKYO (provisional name)” open?

It will be built on Blocks 1-6 and 1-7 of the Ariake North district in the Tokyo Waterfront City area. The operating periods run for 10 years each, from January 2032 for Block 1-7 and from July 2033 for Block 1-6. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government announced the selection of the prospective operator on September 8, 2026.

How large will it be?

Both blocks will have two above-ground floors with a maximum height of 19.8 meters. The total floor area will be about 19,000 m² for Block 1-6 and about 14,700 m² for Block 1-7, about 33,700 m² combined. Tokyo’s materials describe it as “the largest-scale teamLab museum ever.”

What will happen to teamLab Planets in Toyosu?

According to teamLab’s official website, “teamLab Planets TOKYO DMM” in Toyosu will operate until the end of 2027. Tokyo’s announcement does not mention how the Ariake plan relates to the existing facilities.

Plan overview

Name: teamLab TOKYO (tentative name)
Location: Plots 1-6 and 1-7, Ariake North district, Tokyo Waterfront City
Prospective operator: Ariake North Project Limited Liability Partnership (representative partner: teamLab Inc.)
Use: Art museum, café, etc.
Scale: Two floors above ground, maximum height 19.8 m. Floor area about 19,000 m² for Plot 1-6 and about 14,700 m² for Plot 1-7
Operating period: Plot 1-7: 10 years from January 2032 / Plot 1-6: 10 years from July 2033
Disposal method: Lease under a fixed-term business land lease
Announcement: Bureau of Port and Harbor, Tokyo Metropolitan Government (September 8, 2026)
Press release: https://www.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/ja/information/press/2026/09/2026090809
*Information as of October 20, 2026. Please check the official website for the latest information.

*Top image: Ariake Arena (Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo) (photo: Arne Müseler, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE, from Wikimedia Commons)

*This article was compiled by the TOKYO ART SPHERE editorial team based on the press release from the Bureau of Port and Harbor, Tokyo Metropolitan Government (September 8, 2026) and its attachments, and information on teamLab’s official website.

Text: TOKYO ART SPHERE Editorial Team