Location
  • Japan
    • Tokyo
Length
2 - 4 weeks
Need-based funding, General grants/scholarships
Health & Safety

Program Details

Timeframe
Summer
Housing
Host Family Hotel
Language
Japanese

Pricing

Starting Price
8238
Price Details
Program fee includes all lodging, meals, activities, conferences, in-country transportation, health insurance, experienced group leaders, and 24-hour on-call support. Excludes international airfare.
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Meals Transportation
What's Included (Extra)

Health insurance, Experienced group leaders

What's Not Included
Airfare
Dec 06, 2022
Aug 27, 2019
48 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Learn from the best as you attend an authentic anime school in Tokyo, one of the safest and largest metropolitan areas in the world. Develop your artistic ability and style through classes taught in Japanese by design and animation professionals. Learn voice-acting in Japanese from a professional voice actor and experience dubbing a scene in a studio.

Practice animation techniques such as color blending with Copic markers; inking with fountain pens; and screen-toning, a method of applying textures and shades to drawings. Work on character development; then take your characters from paper to the screen through digital animation using programs like Photoshop, Adobe Premiere, and After Effects.

Immerse yourself in Japan’s pop culture with visits to vibrant neighborhoods. Play games in the colorful arcades in Akihabara, the city’s anime, manga, and tech district, or Ikebukero, known as the Pokémon Center. See the famous alternative street fashion of the Harajuku neighborhood.

Video and Photos

Diversity & Inclusion

BIPOC Support

Diverse identities and experiences are essential to intercultural exchange. We are committed to recruiting and supporting participants of the broadest socioeconomic, racial, ethnic, and geographic diversity of any high school exchange program in the world.

LGBTQIA+ Support

Diverse identities and experiences are essential to intercultural exchange. We are committed to recruiting and supporting participants of the broadest socioeconomic, racial, ethnic, and geographic diversity of any high school exchange program in the world.

Impact

Sustainability

Environmental sustainability is a key component of all programs. Participants minimize their environmental footprint by using public transit, eating local food, and participating in community service projects in collaboration with, and according to, the needs of local communities.

Ethical Impact

Social and environmental responsibility is more critical now than ever. We are committed to delivering programs that support and are respectful of the diverse communities and ecosystems that host our programs.

Our programs are developed in close consultation with local and international partners and with a critical understanding of the communities and regions we visit.

Program Highlights

  • Develop your illustration skills and design techniques through interactive classes with industry experts.
  • Learn about Japanese history by visiting shrines and hot springs.
  • Explore diverse neighborhoods such as Harajuku and Akihabara, and visit iconic locations such as the Sky Tree and Shibuya crossing.
  • Visit a high school to interact with local students by lunching together and participating in their club activities.

Scholarships

The Experiment in International Living Scholarships

The Experiment in International Living offers a variety of need-based and merit-based scholarships to worthy high school students looking to participate in their program. The eligibility requirements vary depending on where you live and other demographics -- and your GPA is taken into account for some scholarships too.

Value
$250 - $5,000

Program Reviews

5.00 Rating
based on 8 reviews
  • 5 rating 100%
  • 4 rating 0%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Growth 4.9
  • Support 4.9
  • Fun 5
  • Housing 4.65
  • Safety 5
Showing 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
Default avatar
Ella
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best Summer Ever

Through the Experiment of International living, I was able to learn about manga and anime from professionals. I made amazing friends and traveled all around Tokyo and Sapporo. The most important thing that I learned or gained from this program was a new sense of independence. Going on public transportation alone definitely made me more confident. In general, it is a really cool but niche program so you get to meet a lot of people who are interested in the same things as you. On the program, there is a week when the students each stay with a different Japanese family. I had the most amazing homestay family. They were so beyond welcoming and I am still in touch with them. This was definitely the experience of a lifetime and I recommend it!
Ella

What was your funniest moment?
My funniest moment was when I played a game with my host family called guess who. My host mom, Shie, put wasabi in one cream puff. Then three family members would take a cream puff and the family members who did not eat them had to guess who ate the one with wasabi. Kaho, the youngest, always pretended like she got wasabi which was really funny.
74 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Kofi
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

So Much Fun

In Japan I had lots of fun. From the streets of Tokyo to the woods of Nanae in Hokkaido, our group traveled everywhere. The anime classes we attended were great, as it was a type of learning that always introduced an exciting aspect to it. We did voice lessons, worked with professional animation technology and tools, and we learned from experienced instructors. The people I met were amazing, and I'm sure to keep in touch with them.

What would you improve about this program?
It is perfect as it is.
70 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Diamond
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Impacting Trip

The Experiment placed me in a program that I abouseltly loved and adored. The people I spent time with made the experience so much better for me. I made life long friendships and I was able to experience things an average person wouldn’t have in just a plain trip to japan. We learned how to be independent, travel alone, explore and test our language skills.

Our host families were amazing, and I created an incredible bond with mine. Our leaders took the most care of us, and made sure we were on our right tracks. I learned how to style with animation and how to become an greater artist and person.

I would definitely recommend The Experiment to everyone I know!

69 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Abraham
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Memorable

My experience in japan was beyond expected, it was an amazing experience and I believe that I grew a lot as an individual. Traveling all around tokyo was amazing especially eating all different types of traditional meals. The homestay experience was amazing and the leaders really care a lot about our safety. Through out the whole trip I felt included and never felt bored, the program made sure we always have something to do everyday of the trip. We never had a day off from experiencing something new in Japan, however we even had time to be independent and do our own thing in japan as well, which allowed us to do what interests us.

What would you improve about this program?
This program doesn’t need much improvement, it excelled beyond my expectations.
66 people found this review helpful.
Read my full story
Default avatar
Julian
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best Summer Ever

This trip allowed me to learn new things about Japanese culture and advance in the field I love to study, Animation. Going to school in Japan was a different experience than in America. I made a lot of friends. I wish I could have stayed longer, so that is something to improve upon. I miss the food. It was super tasty and cheap. I also enjoyed the trains. I wanted to get pushed into a rush hour train and I got that experience. I would gladly do this again and again. I met amazing people and I still keep in contact with them. This trip is well worth the time.

What would you improve about this program?
More communication between leaders and program
69 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Mathieu
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A Culturally Enlightening and Overall Amazing Experience

This program, Japanimation: Anime & Manga was an unforgettable experience in which one can explore the culture and language of Japan, while also exploring and reflecting on yourself.
I had felt extremely safe during the trip and my leaders were exceedingly helpful, whether pointing your group towards a point of interest or giving insight into adapting into the culture. There were several oppertunities and activities which encourage one to work outside their comfort zone that had created a sense of a wonderful and inviting community. This program had also aided in the development of my own leadership skills as well as providing encouragement to work outside my comfort zone more offen. There were also a variety of other things to do other than animation and manga such as admiring Japan's natural beauty, plentiful cafés, and Arcades. This program had become an unforgettable experience to me as I look forward to going abroad with The Experiment again.

What would you improve about this program?
For the duration of the program, a majority of the group had felt that the amount of free time given to explore certain areas were limited. Giving future Experimenters a chance to explore more in this program would serve a less rushed feeling in places they may have wanted to revisit.
65 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Dara
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Japan

My experience living in japan was amazing. My animation got along with each other pretty well. The food over there was delicious! The architecture were outstanding. The program was great because of my leaders in my group. They made sure we were safe. They made each day of our trip fun! One thing to prepare for this trip is being out your comfort zone. At one point you will taking bath in a public bath. Also, you will be walking a lot. I got to learn more about the language and culture. The animation classes were super exciting. Looking at your drawing skills improving gives you a great excitement. My homestay family was amazing. I got to participate in the shrine festival and walked around the forest with the family. Overall this trip is 100 percent worth it and safe.

What would you improve about this program?
Longer homestay
77 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
True
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Japan was lit fam

Everyone in my group, including myself, really enjoyed their time in Japan. We got along fairly quickly and learned and did so much in such a short time. We were going somewhere different just about every day. There was a lot of walking, bootleg Japanese language and gestures and trying to find wifi at seven eleven's. It was a lot of fun and I would recommend this program to just about any human being anywhere.

What would you improve about this program?
Living standards could be better. At one point we stayed somewhere where we unable to wash the bedsheets and efficiently dry clothing. Because of this, many participants got sick and reeked of mildew.
70 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers

Do you do any courses for 19+?

You need to be between 14 and 18.

Hi, Jarell! Applications to this program are accepted on a rolling basis. While we are not selective based on artistic ability, we do require teacher recommendations as part of the application process. Apply early, this is one of our most beloved and popular programs!