The Tale of Ihsan: The Makers of Japan
About the Tale
Bismillah!
Caravan Tales welcomes you on a journey to explore the vibrant cities, tranquil nature, and excellent makers of Japan amidst the beauty of the Autumn colors. This Tale will be through the lens of travelers on a quest to learn principles of Islam from the Japanese.
Participants will be compiling stories and reflections from their journey in Japan to create the collective story: “The Tale of Ihsan.”
Before take-off, we will gather (virtually) to become acquainted with one another, relay travel expectations, logistics and packing information! Companions of Caravan Tales are expected to uphold the highest level of respect and courtesy when traveling. Specific guidance will be provided pre-departure based on Al-Ghazali’s Ihya Ulum Al Din - Chapter on the Conduct in Travel. This trip is open to all soul seekers, but will adhere to Islamic principles (e.g. no drinking).
Trip at a Glance
All participants 18+ are welcome! This will be a walking/public transportation intensive trip with an average of 20,000 steps/day (some days could exceed this count).
Arrival Date - Friday, November 22, 2024
Book your flight to arrive by this date to Haneda Airport (recommended) or Narita Airport in Tokyo, Japan
Program Start Date - Saturday, November 23, 2024
4 nights in Tokyo
4 nights in Kyoto
Program Departure Date - Saturday, November 30, 2024
Book your flight to depart on this date from Kansai International Airport in Osaka, Japan OR Osaka International Airport (Itami Airport)
Please note: Below shows the TENTATIVE plan, as plans are subject to change! This is purely to give you an idea of what theme of activities to expect. You will be added to a WhatsApp group a month from the start of the program which will include a detailed daily itinerary.
Once upon a time, there was a Caravan of companions who embarked on a journey to a land where grace meets excellence and vibrancy meets solemnity so that they may learn principles of Islam through the lens of the Japanese…
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Friday, 11/22/24
They arrived to Tokyo, Japan, eager to meet the other Companions and embark on a journey to an unfamiliar land. They were introduced to the electric city of Tokyo and perhaps tried their very first 7-11 onigiri!
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Saturday, 11/23/24
The Companions jumped straight into their exploration of Tokyo including visiting temples, traditional shopping streets, masjids, and a quick sojourn to a neighboring village to see autumn in its illuminated glory!
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Sunday, 11/24/24
On their last day in Tokyo, they explored some of the makers of Tokyo, familiar characters and a mosque built in partnership between Japan and Türkiye.
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Monday, 11/25/24
They boarded a 2 hour bus ride to spend the day visiting the revered Mount Fuji and the areas that surrounds the graceful giant.
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Tuesday, 11/26/24
It was time to say goodbye to Tokyo and take the much awaited Shinkansen (bullet train) to Kyoto. They looked outside the train window in amazement at the fast speed and the beauty of the towns/cities in passing. They had a brief introduction to Kyoto before the resting for the evening.
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Wednesday, 11/27/24
They headed to the old capital of Nara, home to Japan's oldest and largest temples, bowing deer, and men pounding mochi!
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Thursday, 11/28/24
They explored Kyoto in depth including the history of the city, temples nestled in a forest, and serene gardens. They hoped to attend a traditional tea ceremony so they could compare concepts of Sufism to the ceremony.
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Friday, 11/29/24
Their last day in Kyoto was spent visiting makers including an indigo-dying master.
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Saturday, 11/30/24
The Companions bid each other farewell with a heart full with newfound friendships, stories and direction for what is to come after the trip, including how they will benefit their communities.
Registration
Cost: $2,100/person
The registration is two parts:
Complete the registration form by clicking the “Register Here” button
Send your payment of $2,100 via Zelle to admin@caravantales.org
Upon successful receipt of your payment, you will be considered officially registered. Once you receive a confirmation from admin@caravantales.org, you should proceed to purchase your flight.
If you are registering for multiple Companions, complete a form for each Companion.
Each room will be shared. The form will include a field for you to submit your choice for roommate. Requests can be made for a solo rooms for an additional charge of $1,000 (including both Tokyo and Kyoto).
Please contact admin@caravantales.org for details on options for payment plans, if needed.
Please be sure to check flight prices before registering!
PLEASE READ THE CANCELLATION POLICY VERY CAREFULLY BEFORE REGISTERING.
Cancellation policy
Caravan Tales is delighted to have you on board and is working hard to create an experience for you that will be as enjoyable and seamless as possible. The business downside is unpredictable world events, natural disasters, and sudden life changes that may affect your ability to attend once registered. The Cancellation Policy serves as a contract between Caravan Tales and the registrant. When you acknowledge the contract during registration, you are committing to your end of the contract and acknowledging the risk/unpredictability associated with travel.
Once your payment is processed, there will be a non-refundable $350 USD amount (included in your registration fee). Anything outside the amount CAN be recuperated until 9 PM EST on September 15, 2024 if you decide to no longer attend the trip. After 9 PM EST on September 15, 2024 , the full registration amount is non-refundable under any circumstances. To allow flexibility, you CAN transfer your slot to a family member or friend at any time of the same gender.
Gender Balance/Group Size - There is no guarantee the trips will fill up/have a gender balance. The trip will have a married couple at a minimum (one male and one female) inshaAllah. The trips will continue even if one other person is registered. You are committing the $350 non-refundable amount with the assumption of risk. If you are un-willing to take the risk, please contact admin@caravantales.org to get information on group demographic BEFORE registering, however understand that people may cancel, causing a gender imbalance. Accommodations will be separated by gender unless you are a married couple.
Visa/Passport Process - It is your responsibility to ensure you meet the passport/visa requirements to enter the country from your origin country. Please note, this includes insuring your passport doesn’t expire a certain number of months after departure. Any untimely delays/rejection based on passport validity is not the responsibility of Caravan Tales. Delayed arrival of visa will not be the responsibility of Caravan Tales.
Flight Costs - It is your responsibility to book your flight in a timely fashion to avoid price spikes that will affect your ability to attend the trip.
COVID - Due to the lifting of mask mandates, participants are not required to wear a face mask on the journey. Participants may choose to if they are comfortable but please understand the risk of illness with travel. Prevention and safe care will be the responsibility of the participant and will not be the responsibility of Caravan Tales.
Please note: if the Tale has to be cancelled for unpredictable world events/natural disasters, the decision on postponing or cancelling will be made as soon as possible. Your safety is the top priority.
Questions/Concerns?
Please reach out via email at admin@caravantales.org, including requests to schedule a call or in person meeting!