Fashion Design & Japanese Culture
A Summer for Fun, Friends, and Your Future
Explore
Have fun discovering Tokyo's fashion scene and global influence.
Network
Meet new friends and fashion experts. Build your own community.
Get Inspired
Launch your future today! Sketch, prototype, and showcase! Gain skills to create your own fashion designs.
The Destination
Welcome to Tokyo, where fashion, architecture, food, and pop culture come together in one of the world’s most creative cities.
Greater Tokyo is one of the largest urban areas in the world (36 million people!), giving the city its fast-paced, trend-driven energy. Yet traditional Japanese design still influences the scene, from kimono fabrics and indigo-dyed textiles to centuries-old textile craftsmanship. Tokyo is also known for its vintage, reuse, and remake culture, where secondhand shopping and experimental styling are part of everyday life. It is the perfect place to explore how history, creativity, and self-expression come together.
Spend your days wandering through Tokyo’s endless unique neighborhoods, where colorful streetwear spills into the streets, and eating mouth-watering treats like taiyaki (a fish-shaped pastry filled with custard or red bean paste) or monjayaki (Tokyo’s gooey, sizzling comfort food cooked right at your table). Between the fashion, food, and unforgettable city energy, every day in Tokyo is an incredible adventure to share with your fellow Global Navigators.
Cultural Awareness
CIEE wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. No matter where you choose to study abroad with CIEE, our staff will be on hand throughout your program to provide advice, resources, and support.
Social feed above may feature posts from all CIEE Study Abroad programs, including college programs.
Sample Itinerary
Top Rated Activities
Afternoon in Shimokitazawa
Visit Shimokitazawa, a young and hip neighborhood where narrow side streets are lined with colorful murals, tiny cafés, record stores, and—most importantly—carefully curated secondhand shops. After Japan’s economic bubble burst in the 1990s, this neighborhood became the city’s vintage clothing hub, and even after the economy recovered, that culture stuck. Vintage became about more than saving money; it became a form of creativity, self-expression, and sustainable style.
As you browse, think about how resale culture, upcycling, and secondhand shopping can reduce waste, extend the life of clothing, and weave history and individuality into an outfit in a way fast fashion never could. By the end of the day, you may leave with a new favorite piece, fresh inspiration, and a whole new way of thinking about fashion.
Day Trip to Yokohama
Take a day trip to Yokohama, a waterfront city just south of Tokyo, where Japan’s relationship with the outside world changed forever. After more than 200 years of isolation, Japan opened a small number of ports to foreign trade in the 1850s, and Yokohama quickly became one of the country’s main gateways to the world. Western goods, fabrics, clothing styles, foods, architecture, and new ideas all entered Japan here for the first time, helping transform the country into the modern nation it is today. This is where Japanese fashion first began incorporating tailored jackets, hats, leather shoes, and European-inspired silhouettes—and where you can still feel that history today.
Walk along the waterfront with the smell of salt air coming off the bay, and explore the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse, where early 1900s warehouses have been transformed into boutiques, cafés, and creative spaces. Between the old brick buildings, sparkling harbor views, and busy shopping streets, you’ll see how history, commerce, and cultural exchange continue to shape fashion and design today.
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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.
- Please note: Japan maintains strict regulations regarding medications brought into the country. We encourage student families to consult with their doctor and research whether the student’s medications are legal and available in Japan.
- Due to the local cuisine and available food options, this program cannot accommodate allergies to fish and/or soybeans.
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 2027 3 weeks | Start Date | End Date | Costs $7,200 | |
| Program Summer Session II 2027 3 weeks | Start Date | End Date | Costs $7,200 |
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
Brendan Delahunty
Center Director
Program Leaders guide and support our High School Summer Abroad participants through every step of their program.
Get Started
1
2
Connect with your Teachers or Parents
Share your plans and confirm you're on track to meet all required steps to go abroad.
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Contact Us
Send us an email if you still have questions or need information about enrolling.
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