Tokyo Nakano: Manga Drawing Lesson with Pro Artist Nao Yazawa

Draw manga in Nakano with a real artist and hands-on guidance

You’ll step into Nakano’s creative side with this manga lesson led by pro artist Nao Yazawa. Try authentic tools, get gentle feedback in English, flip through real published art, and walk away with your own manga panel — plus a few stories you probably won’t forget.

What’s included

Your session includes two hours of personal instruction from professional manga artist Nao Yazawa in Nakano. All necessary materials—manga paper, pens, ink, screen tones—are ready for you on arrival so you can focus on drawing (and maybe laughing at your mistakes) before heading home with your own finished artwork as a souvenir.

Traveler reviews

4.88★★★★★★★★★★

83 verified traveler reviews

Ratings come from travelers who booked this exact experience. We never edit or filter them.

Read all the reviews ›

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Manga drawing lesson with professional artist

• Attend 2-hour manga drawing class
• Learn step-by-step drawing techniques
• Receive guidance and corrections in English
• Use authentic manga tools and materials
• Create manga artwork to take home

The Experience

I’ll admit, I was nervous walking into the little studio in Nakano — my hands were cold, and honestly, I wasn’t sure if I’d embarrass myself. But then Nao Yazawa smiled and waved us in, her hair clipped back and ink stains on her fingers (which made me feel better right away). She asked what kind of characters we liked, and when I said “something like Ghibli but not too cute,” she just laughed and nodded. The room smelled faintly like paper and marker ink — sort of comforting, actually.

We started by flipping through some original manga pages she’d drawn for Wedding Peach (she let us touch them — felt weirdly sacred). Nao showed us how to use the dip pens and screen tones. My first line was wobbly, but she leaned over my shoulder and quietly said, “Try slower.” It helped. She switched between Japanese and English without missing a beat; sometimes she’d pause to find the right word or gesture what she meant, which made it feel more real than any YouTube tutorial. There were only two other people with me that day — both way better at drawing than I was — but somehow it didn’t matter.

At one point I smudged ink across my page, groaned out loud, and Nao just shrugged: “It happens.” We all laughed. She showed us how to fix mistakes using white ink (never knew that trick before). By the end of the two hours, my hand was cramped but I had a finished manga panel that looked… well, honestly not bad. I still think about that moment when Nao signed my drawing — she wrote a little note in Japanese I can’t read yet. Maybe someday.

Top questions

Who teaches the manga lesson in Nakano?

The class is taught by professional manga artist Nao Yazawa.

Is the manga lesson suitable for beginners?

Yes, all skill levels are welcome and the lesson is adjusted to each student.

How long is the manga drawing class?

The lesson lasts about 2 hours.

Are materials provided during the class?

Yes, all manga tools such as pens, paper, ink, and screen tones are included.

Is English spoken during the lesson?

Yes, instruction is given in English by the artist herself.

Can children join this manga class?

Infants and small children can attend with an adult; non-participating infants/accompanying adults are free.

Do I need to bring anything for the class?

No need; just bring yourself—everything else is provided.

Where is this manga lesson located?

The lesson takes place in Nakano, Tokyo.