The Tale of the Seedling: Spring in Japan
April 25 - May 3, 2025
About the Tale
Bismillah!
Caravan Tales welcomes you on a journey to explore the vibrant cities, tranquil nature, and non-profit organizations of Japan. 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 the Seedling.” The theme of the Tale is in parallel with spring: renewal, revival from rest and setting intentions for beautifying the world. Caravan Tales is about immersion and connection to people we meet. There will be limited stops to traditional tourist spots but guidance will be provided to those interested in visiting them on personal time!
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. daily prayers, no drinking).
Trip at a Glance
All participants 18+ are welcome! This will be a walking/public transportation intensive trip with one day hike with an average of 20,000 steps/day (some days could exceed this count).
Arrival Date - Friday, April 25, 2025
Book your flight to arrive by this date to Haneda Airport (recommended) or Narita Airport in Tokyo, Japan
If you need longer for shopping/want to see tourist sites not covered in the itinerary, I suggest you arrive earlier or prolong your stay!
For friends arriving earlier, we will pray Jummah at Tokyo Camii inshaAllah
Program Start Date - Saturday, April 24, 2025
4 nights in Tokyo
4 nights in Kyoto
Program Departure Date - Saturday, May 3, 2025
Book your flight to depart on this date from Kansai International Airport in Osaka, Japan OR Osaka International Airport (Itami Airport)
You can also take the Shinkansen (bullet train) back to Tokyo and fly from there! Please keep adequate time between the Shinkansen and your flight time to account for potential delays
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.
Sakuras are NOT in peak at the time we are traveling but you will still be spellbound by the beautiful nature of Japan as it comes back to life after winter’s rest.
Once upon a time, there was a Caravan of companions who embarked on a journey to a land so they may learn principles of Islam through the lens of the Japanese. Each day they would start with their spiritual vitamins of recitation of Surah Yasin, Wird-al-Latif, and setting intentions. They would end each night with reflections, game night to build camaraderie, and recitation of Surah Mulk.
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Friday, 4/25/25
They arrived to Tokyo, Japan, eager to meet the other Companions. After unpacking and getting settled in their cozy accommodation, they had a brief introduction session and then headed to the local konbini to initiate Japanese immersion! Those who arrived early in the day prayed Jummah at Tokyo Camii!
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Saturday, 4/26/25
The Companions jumped straight into their exploration of Tokyo including visiting the oldest Buddhist temple in Tokyo and the surrounding streets buzzing with food vendors, visiting the Japan Muslim Association with a session with a beloved Japanese sheikh about Islam in Japan! They ended their day in an electrifying display of Tokyo city’s lights!
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Sunday, 4/27/25
In spirit of renewal and the coming of spring, they took a day trip out of the city to visit display of flower gardens. From this experience they learned about how beauty, nature and gardens are important to the Japanese people, conservation work of these gardens, and a visit to traditional housing and art studios!
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Monday, 4/28/25
The Companions strapped on their hiking boots as they would be hiking the day with hidden places of worship along the way, hopeful of views of Mount Fuji if the day is clear!
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Tuesday, 4/29/25
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. The days preceding were packed with action so they needed time to recharge before joining back with their Companions for a game night, reflections, and recitation of Surah Mulk!
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Wednesday, 4/30/25
They headed to a suburb of Kyoto, passing breathtaking views of the Hozukyo Gorge to meet with an organization to bring awareness to local resources and conservation. They were surrounded by the serenity of the mountains and learned about the projects of the suburb. On the way back to their accommodation, they stopped by a bamboo town.
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Thursday, 5/1/25
They traveled to the heart of matcha production in Japan, learned tea preparation from a non profit organization working with tea farmers and producers. Then they journeyed on to Nara where they met with a sweet student to teach them about Japanese architecture and the deer park!
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Friday, 5/2/25
Phew! It was a busy past few days! The Companions prepared for Jummah in Kyoto and checked out local temples. They ended their day of exploration with a maghreb tour of the magically illuminated shrines!
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Saturday, 5/3/25
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: $2,550/person
The registration is two parts:
Complete the registration form by clicking the “Register Here” button
Send your payment of $2,550 via Zelle to admin@caravantales.org
If you plan to pay with credit card, there will be an additional 2.5% service charge for payment processing
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 March 25, 2024 if you decide to no longer attend the trip. After 9 PM EST on March 25, 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.
On Ground - If you choose to skip activities stated in the itinerary, you will not be refunded the amount from your registration fee.
Questions/Concerns?
Please reach out via email at admin@caravantales.org, including requests to schedule a call or in person meeting!