teamLab: Hidden Traces of Rice Terraces Hot Spring - Izura — Attraction in Kitaibaraki

Come visit my wonderful countryside in Ibaraki, and explore the dreamscape of Hidden Traces of Rice Terrace. Avoid spoilers, and just go! Happy!

Here are a couple of tips from the Izura Master: Service is quite bad out in the woods, so you can join the local Wi-fi for free. The name and password are on the wooden signs next to every exhibit. Please download the TeamLab app, or scan the QR code on these signs to learn more about the exhibits. They often tell you how to interact with them.

After the happy color-changing Christmas tree near the beginning, there is a mysterious, red glowing light, shining through the trees from the distance. Many people passed it by, but it is one of the major attractions. Please watch it closely. Maybe it’s trying to communicate…?

Most importantly, please make sure to pack a cheap pair of sandals during the summertime, or totally close-toed shoes in the winter in a backpack, in case you want to walk through the water. I know you want to! The water came up a little above my toes. It’s very chilly during the winter, so gather all of the gusto you can! Fight!

I went on a Thursday after work, so this isn’t an attraction you have to spend an entire day doing, or can only do on weekends.

Also, it’s a long, dark, forested, and (for those going) slightly eerie walk from Otsuko Station, so it might be harder to experience for those without a car during the summer, when the attraction opens later. The last Southbound train leaves at 22:28, and the last Northbound train leaves at 23:32.

The closest McDonald’s is a little far, and it’s not fun to walk to when you forgot to bring an extra pair of shoes, and your socks are sopping wet and cold like mine. There is a Mexican restaurant fairly close by. It cannot bring you back to your home, but it can fill your stomach with happy Mexican food.

I personally liked walking to and from the attraction, because it filled me with a strange, uncanny feeling, like I was crossing a threshold from the real world into a dream. You don’t pass through a gift shop on your way out, you just walk back to the station. If you decide to experience this yourself, please plan accordingly, and be safe. This is not recommended to minors or young women going there by themselves. Bring a flashlight and a portable charger.

Last, people with disabilities or weak knees should reconsider the Rice Terraces. Some hills are quite steep and are not optional. There is one precarious staircase you climb down in near pitch-darkness on slightly uneven terrain. It is exciting and happy for people like me, but may be scary and not happy for some. You may still enjoy the atmosphere though by renting a luxury cabin, and enjoying the hot springs. I am the tail of an ebifry, so I cannot sit in water for very long without dissolving and making the water dirty.

I want to visit again! Please come with...

A magical experience that feels like being spirited away into an 80s dark fantasy movie.

This was my fourth teamLab experience after visiting Borderless (old and new), Planets, the temporary one in SF, and the somewhat similar Kamuy Lumina in Akan (Hokkaido). This one feels totally unique.

Maybe it was because we were practically alone when we walked through the expansive area, but it felt like exploring a fantasy world, where the light and sound installations were merely elements in harmony with nature. The sounds of the cicadas, crickets, and ocean waves blended seamlessly into the soundscape created by teamLab. Though it felt less interactive in the straightforward sense, the level of interactivity felt more "being-in-the-world", making one realize their role as part of nature, yet whimsical and unique.

Like all teamLabs, photos and videos of this place will be nowhere nearly as incredible as actually experiencing the installations, but for this teamLab in particular, the most understated installations might be the nicest.

One highlight is certainly the rice terraces with the lanterns and the hidden pathways. It felt like part of the adventure to figure out that there were parts of the terraces accessible to visitors by walking across metal footbridges partially under the water (since we were practically alone when we were there). However, it felt less thought out that there were no towels provided for wiping your feet afterwards (as it is probably good to take of your shoes if you're not wearing rain boots) and you have to walk through dirt to get to the benches. I'm assuming that those might be provided in the future (like in Planets).

Overall, this is an experience well worth a visit for anyone living in Tokyo or visiting the Izura coastline and nearby Hitachi Seaside Park.

Please note that the experience is not accessible for wheelchair users, people afraid of insects, and those that feel unsafe...

Visited on April 13, 2025. It was a rainy day, and only my group and one other were there. The open-air museum, nestled in a dark forest, felt a bit eerie with so few visitors, but it was undeniably beautiful—especially the final show, which was truly stunning.

Having experienced other teamLab installations (Borderless, Planets, Hidden), I found this one to be the shortest. You can comfortably explore everything in about 1 to 1.5 hours.

One thing to note: the last stage requires walking in water about 3 cm deep. If you visit in early autumn, your feet might freeze! Unlike teamLab Planets, there isn’t a proper station to clean your feet afterward. It’s a good idea to bring a plastic bag to put your feet in or some soaked tissue paper to clean off any dirt.

I would recommend this to anyone traveling in or around Ibaraki, as it’s one of the few activities you can enjoy at night in the area. However, I wouldn’t suggest making a trip from Tokyo solely for this attraction—it may not be worth...