Tokyo Anime Drawing Class & Museum Tour Private

Learn anime drawing from a working studio instructor in Tokyo

You visit the Suginami Animation Museum to learn how anime is produced, tour a working anime school and studio in Nakano with a guide, and then draw in the anime style yourself with an instructor who teaches to your level. The experience is private to your group, lasts three hours, and includes all materials and transportation between stops.

Step-by-step itinerary

Anime museum and drawing class

• Meet tour guide and group
• Visit Suginami Animation Museum
• Travel to anime school in Nakano
• Tour anime school and studio
• Join hands-on anime drawing workshop

The experience

You're probably wondering if three hours is enough time to actually learn something about anime production, not just skim the surface. Turns out it is, if the day is structured right. This private experience starts at the Suginami Animation Museum, where you walk through how Japanese animation actually gets made: the history, the process, the layers of work that go into a single episode. It's not a museum where you stand behind velvet ropes. You're learning the mechanics of something you've probably watched.

After the museum, your English-speaking guide takes your group to an anime school and studio in Nakano, which is where the real work happens. You'll see the creative environment, meet people who actually work in production, and get a sense of the different roles: character design, storyboarding, all of it. The studio visit isn't a performance. It's a real look at how anime gets made, though what you see depends on what's happening that day. Then comes the hands-on part: a drawing workshop with an experienced instructor who teaches you the anime drawing style. No experience needed. They provide the materials, and the instructor adjusts the lesson based on who's in the room, so whether you've drawn before or you're picking up a pencil for the first time, you're not out of place.

The whole thing runs three hours, and the schedule depends on the day: Tuesday afternoons are 12 to 3 PM, Wednesday through Friday mornings are 10 AM to 1 PM. Because this is a private tour for your group only, you're not waiting around for strangers or adjusting to someone else's pace. Transportation between the museum and the studio is included, so you're not figuring out Tokyo's train system in the middle of your experience. Kids as young as eight can join, though anyone under 18 needs an adult with them.

What’s included

• Private experience arranged exclusively for your booked group.
• visit to the Suginami Animation Museum with guide.
• transportation between the museum and anime school.
• tour of the Anime School and Studio in Nakano with introduction to production roles.
• hands-on anime drawing workshop with an experienced instructor.
• all standard drawing materials.
• English-speaking guide throughout the 3-hour experience.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to FridayDepartures at 10:00 and 12:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (8 and older) · Under 8: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Japanese

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Japan Awaits

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to understand how anime actually gets made without spending a day researching studios on your own. The private format means your group moves at one pace, and the instructor adjusts the drawing lesson to whoever shows up.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Japanese.

Do I need to know how to draw?

No. The workshop is designed for complete beginners, and the instructor adjusts the lesson based on the group's experience level. All drawing materials are provided.

What days and times does this run?

Tuesday 12:00 PM–3:00 PM, Wednesday–Friday 10:00 AM–1:00 PM. The tour operates only on these days.

Is transportation included between the museum and studio?

Yes. Transportation between the Suginami Animation Museum and the Anime School and Studio is included in the experience.

Can children go on this tour?

Yes, minimum age is 8 years old. Children aged 8–17 must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or older, and the adult must be included in the booking.

What if I'm running late?

The guide can wait up to 30 minutes after the scheduled start time. Contact your guide immediately if you expect to be late. After 30 minutes, the booking is treated as a no-show.

Is this tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes. All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible, and transportation options are wheelchair accessible.

Can I bring a stroller or pram?

Yes. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller throughout the experience.

How many people can join?

This is a private experience for your booked group. The per-person price varies depending on group size. Larger groups may require advance confirmation.