CIEE HS Summer Abroad: Manga Drawing & Culture in Kyoto

Live a manga fan's dream in Kyoto and write your own story.

With their diverse genres and story lines, manga have become the bestselling comic books in the world. Through expert-led classes, enter the Japanese comic book universe in Kyoto, Japan’s cultural and artistic capital. Experiment with Japanese visual storytelling techniques in character design, sketching, and story boarding, discovering your own creative process, from concept to creation.

Meet manga artists and industry professionals. Trace the history of manga at Kyoto International Manga Museum and Kozanji Temple, which houses the Choju Giga, a thirteenth-century scroll thought to be the origin of Japan’s manga heritage. In the end, you’ll have your own portfolio of artwork—inspired by your adventures in Kyoto!

It won’t be hard to find story ideas exploring iconic sites like Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine and Nijo Castle and bustling downtown markets like Nishiki. On excursions, travel to Takarazuka in Hyogo and to Akihabara, the heart of manga culture in Tokyo. In and out of Kyoto, you’ll sharpen your drawing skills while living your own exciting densetsu (story).