Travel Diary Azubadai Hills – Day 5

Our main itinerary for today was to visit TeamLab Borderless, since we had a free day on our tour. So we took our time exploring the area before heading in on our designated entry time of 12 noon.

Azabudai Hills is a modern shopping centre with a sleek architecture and High end shops inside. There were so many. bread shops and food stalls inside too.

But that wasn’t what caught my eye. From down below, I noticed a temple perched high above the complex, almost watching over the whole place. I wasn’t sure what it was, but I knew I wanted to go up there and see it for myself.

The temple I saw from below turned out to be Nishikubo Hachiman Shrine, tucked quietly right beside Azabudai Hills. It’s such a beautiful contrast—this peaceful, traditional shrine sitting next to one of Tokyo’s newest developments. It’s one of those hidden spots that reminds you just how seamlessly Tokyo blends modern life with its deep history.

Love all the simple details.

By 12 pm, after exploring the area, the highlight of the day was finally heading to teamLab Borderless. It’s one of those places that’s hard to describe because it doesn’t feel like a normal museum at all. Instead, we walked through dark halls that suddenly burst into colour, light, and movement. The installations shift and flow around you, with flowers blooming on the walls, lights dancing overhead, and artworks that reacted as we moved around. Such fun! I am linking this post to Natalie’s Photographing Public Art Challenge.

Some short videos that I hope you can view because they are so pretty.

Overall, it was such a relaxing and fun day—nothing rushed and not a lot of walking (well, except inside the museum). And somehow I still hit more than 14,000 steps without even realising it!

This was in 5 November 2025.

15 Comments Add yours

  1. restlessjo says:

    5th November was my birthday. What a perfect way to spend it, Teresa xx

    1. Teresa says:

      Oh, was it? Belated happy birthday Jo! I hope your day was amazing and that you had as much fun as I did.

    2. margaret21 says:

      Oh, my elder daughter’s a Bonfire baby too. She was meant to be a Hallowe’en baby, but started as she meant to go on. Always late ….

      1. Teresa says:

        Haha

      2. restlessjo says:

        Hmm, I can sympathise xx

        1. margaret21 says:

          But didn’t you believe, when tiny, that all those fireworks were just for you?

          1. restlessjo says:

            I still do! xx

  2. margaret21 says:

    What a fun day. Great little videos too.

    1. Teresa says:

      Glad it works. But a bit longer videos don’t work for me.

      1. margaret21 says:

        Videos have their own minds!

  3. Toonsarah says:

    How wonderful to find that beautiful shrine right next to the modern shopping centre! And the museum sounds very interesting. Thanks for including the videos – I liked the middle one with the white birds in particular.

    1. Teresa says:

      Oh yes the bird one is so beautiful. Thanks Sarah.

  4. Natalie says:

    The shrine looks beautiful, Teresa. What a great find! The museum looks like a fabulous sensory experience. Thank you for sharing your photos and video clips.

    1. Teresa says:

      Everything in Japan looks different and amazing. Thanks Natalie.

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