Japanese Pop Culture: Anime & Manga
Summer '25 Applications Open
The Take-Aways
Real-World Experience
Discover the history and development of anime and manga and develop skills to critique forms of popular media. Come home with a portfolio of creative work.
Credentials for Your Future
Topics for your college essays, experience to inform your future career, a portfolio to document your artistic ideas and to showcase your work in various media and techniques.
Lifelong Skills and Friendships
Return with greater self-confidence, independence, and adaptability. Enjoy a broader worldview and diverse friendships from across the U.S.
45
Hours Of Expert Instruction
3
Weeks Pursuing Your Passion
1
Life-changing Experience
The Destination
Welcome to Tokyo, a vast, neon-lit metropolis made up of many different cities in one.
Tokyo's blend of retro, new, and cutting-edge modernity captivates teens worldwide. Temples, shrines, parks, and zoos contrast with high-tech art installations at exhibits and on the sides of tall buildings. Pop art fans delight in places like the Tokyo Anime Center and the Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo. Akihabara, the otaku district, is where anime, manga, retro video games, and cosplay coexist with niche cafés (like animal cafés with cats, dogs, owls, and even miniature pigs!)
With a population of around 14 million, Tokyo is a city of diverse worlds! There’s tradition in Asakusa and new trends in Shibuya and Harajuku. In Chuo ward, Tsukiji and Ginza are only a few blocks apart but are complete opposites. Throughout Tokyo, you'll find an abundance of things to do, including trying delicious dishes. Get ready to expand your palate with range of Japanese favorites, such as ramen, soba, yakitori, gyoza, and anything you can grill on a stick.
Cultural Awareness
CIEE wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. Local CIEE staff have provided details about conditions and cultural attitudes that students with specific identities might encounter in Tokyo.
Weekly Learning Goals
Sample Activities
Just imagine all the fun you’ll have!
- Discover Akihabara, the heartland of otaku culture, and spot your favorite anime, manga, and retro video games.
- Feel the magic of the Edo period, the final period of traditional Japan, at Sensō-ji, Tokyo’s oldest temple.
- Design your own anime character from scratch with guidance from instructors at an anime school in Tokyo.
- Experience the man-made island of Odaiba in Tokyo Bay, a buzzing teen entertainment hub. See the enormous, life-size Gundam statue, representing the science fiction media franchise.
- Visit the Kagenomori Art Museum, designed by world-renowned shadow puppet master Suiji Fujishiro. Enter an exhibition room in the basement where there is no natural light to highlight the unique aspects of shadow puppetry art.
Please note activities are based on past programs and subject to change at CIEE's discretion to adapt to local circumstances and participant feedback. Our goal when arranging activities is always to enhance your experience.
Tokyo Adventures and Beyond
Our students are already settling into Tokyo life! These past two weeks have been a whirlwind of exploration and learning. From navigating the train system like pros to savoring delicious... keep reading
Tokyo Time Travelers!
Our Tokyo Global Navigators have gotten this week off to a strong start exploring Tokyo's culture and history! On Saturday they journeyed into the future of science and technology with... keep reading
Together in Tokyo
38 Global Navigators have come together in Tokyo, Japan! After their arrivals, the students were taken to their new home for the next 3 weeks, a hostel located in Iidabashi... keep reading
Eligibility
- Participants must be 14 years old and above.
- Program open to all current high school students: Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors.
- For scholarship eligibility requirements, please check our scholarship page.
For more information, refer to the detailed Program Essential Eligibility Criteria.
Dates & Fees
Application Fee
$25
Program scholarships and tuition include iNext Travel Insurance, but do not cover the cost of flights. Find additional details about what’s included with your tuition.
More questions? Find answers, get application support, sign up for virtual presentations or contact us!
Program |
Application Due |
Start Date |
End Date |
Costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program Summer Session I 2025 3 weeks | Start Date | End Date | Costs $6,350 | |
| Program Summer Session II 2025 3 weeks | Start Date | End Date | Costs $6,350 |
Ready to change your life?
What's Included
Interactive Classes
Housing
3 Meals/Day
(Dietary Needs Accommodated)
All Ground Transportation
(Once In-country)
Optional Flight Chaperone
(Flight Cost Not Included)
Pre-departure Advice and Orientation
Access to WIFI
(No international data plan or SIM card included)
All Cultural Activities and Excursions
Comprehensive Medical and Travel Protection
24/7 Emergency On-site Support
Our Staff
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