Explore Japan

Abdul-Rehman Malik, an award-winning journalist, educator and cultural organizer, will be the guest faculty escort for the tour, supported by Bayan faculty and staff. He is Lecturer and Associate Research Scholar at the Yale Divinity School, and serves as Director of the Muslim Leadership Lab, an innovative student leadership program at the Dwight Hall Center of Social Justice at Yale. He has a lifetime of experience in community organizing, broadcasting and peacebuilding. His work has spanned the UK, United States, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sudan, Mali, Singapore, Canada, Malaysia and beyond.

Our group size tends to be in the range of 20-30 participants from North America and beyond. However, the capacity for this tour is limited to 20 participants. Bayan's tours are focused on providing a well-rounded experience featuring scholarly knowledge, cultural exposure, recreational activities, and free time. Most tour groups are multi-generational and diverse in nature. In addition to historical and contemporary sites of interest, the itinerary includes visits to mosques and other places of worship to accommodate the religious needs of group members. Participants are able to get to know one another and develop bonds of friendship and camaraderie that can last a lifetime. By participating in a tour, you are helping sustain and advance Bayan's mission as a non-profit educational institution.

This tour involves a combination of local public transportation in cities (subway trains, buses, taxis), private A/C coach for excursions, and inter-city high speed trains. In cities, we will walk from site to site and/or use the various forms of local transportation mentioned. In different cities and historical sites, there will be a fair amount of walking, including walking up and down inclines and flights of steps. The guides will take into account the differing abilities and health conditions of group members and regulate the pace and intensity of the tour accordingly. Participants should expect to walk roughly 8,000-10,000 steps (about 4-5 miles in aggregate) on several days, and fewer on some days.

Japan is renowned for its unique cuisine, which is appreciated worldwide. In designing this tour, we plan to frequent many restaurants and eateries that provide zabihah halal meat options, as well as seafood and vegetarian fare. In addition to sushi and sashimi, our goal is to enjoy halal versions of Japanese ramen, udon, soba (buckwheat noodles), curry, yakitori (skewered meat), wagyu steak and kobe beef, and more. We will also try baked goods, breads, and desserts made with halal ingredients, not to mention the viral egg sandwich sold at 7-11 shops. Beverages include green tea, matcha, fruit sodas, and yuzu lemonade, among others.

Yes, all participants who have completed their full payment will receive a detailed information packet that includes descriptions of the cities and sites to be visited, the daily schedule, currency exchange, local prayer times, electrical adapters, weather, what to pack, and more.

We encourage participants to be fully vaccinated with at least one booster shot for all who are eligible to receive these shots. We will update participants regarding PCR or antigen testing requirements, if applicable. At the time of our travel, it may be that fewer requirements will be in place. We do not expect to mandate masking during the tour, but we encourage masking whenever possible and according to each individual's comfort level.

Tourist visa is not required for U.S. and EU citizens.