Terms & Conditions

This Terms and Conditions Agreement is a legal agreement between you and Akashi Travel for your access to and use of this website (akashitravel.com) and the content. We reserve the right, at our sole discretion, to update, change or replace any part of these Terms and Conditions by posting updates and changes to our website. It is your responsibility to check our website periodically for changes. Your continued use of or access to our website following the posting of any changes to these Terms and Conditions constitutes acceptance of those changes. If any of these terms of use or any future changes are unacceptable to you, do not use this website. By using the website, you accept and agree to the terms and conditions without any reservations, modifications, additions, or deletions, and whether or not you have read them. If you do not agree to the terms and conditions, you are not authorized to use the website. In all cases the person making the booking shall be deemed to have accepted these Terms and Conditions on behalf of all the other person(s) named in the booking and who partake in the booked tour(s).

1. Booking

1-1. You can make a reservation with a deposit until 61 days before the start of the particular tour.

1-2. Full payment must be made more than 60 days before the start of the particular tour. Once full payment is made, a confirmation will be emailed to you. This emial is your confirmation of booking. This should be printed and saved for own reference.

1-3. We accept no responsibility for incorrect email or inability to deliver email. If your confirmation does not arrive on time or at all, then you must ask us to resend the email confirmation of the tours you have paid for.

1-4. All internet bookings will be confirmed by email.

1-5. We reserve the right to sell any places reserved with deposit if the reserved places are cancelled or full payment is not made  60 days before the start of the particular tour.

1-6. It is the responsibility of the passenger to check the accuracy of dates booked upon receipt of their travel documents.

1-7. All transaction fees that occur for reservation are paid by the payer of the reservation.

2. Insurance

2-1. There is no travel insurance cover included in the price of our tours.

2-2. By signing up to our tours you understand and agree that each tour carries its risks. Although Japan is a very safe country, it also has unexpected natural phenomena such as earthquakes, typhoons, and other meteorological phenomena that can affect or alter the course of the trip. Tour organizers are not responsible for any injury, loss or death due to these or other risks.

2-3. We take no responsibility for any injuries or loss to you incurred while you are taking part in our tour. It is mandatory that you take out comprehensive insurance cover for cancellation, medical expenses, personal accident, emergency evacuation, repatriation of remains, dismemberment, and accidental death. It is also recommended that you take out insurance cover for personal baggage, money and public liability before you travel. You may not be accepted as a Akashi Travel’s passenger unless you have arranged satisfactory insurance and give us a copy of travel insurance before the tour. We accept no responsibility for the theft, loss or damage to personal belongings from at any time during the duration of your tour.

2-4. In the case of private tours, tour leaders might rent a car and drive to move around. By signing up to our private tour, you understand and agree with the risk of it. The tour leaders will not be responsible for any traffic accidents or injuries that may occur during the tour.

2-5. In the case of private motorhome tours, you will drive a rented motorhome in Japan. By signing up to our private motorhome tour, you agree that you will drive safe under the Japanese traffic laws. The tour leaders will not be responsible for any traffic accidents or injuries that may occur during the tour.

3. Cancellation 

i) for group tour

i) 3-1. Cancellation of your booking must be in writing or by email to Akashi Travel.

i) 3-2. You are entitled to a full refund of deposit only if you give us more than 61 days notice of your intention to cancel and the place(s) are filled with another participant(s).

i) 3-3. If you choose to cancel within 60 days before the start of your tour, no refunds of deposit will be granted.

i) 3-4. If you made a reservation with full payment without deposit, you are entitled to a full refund of full payment only if you give us at least 61 days notice of your intention to cancel and the place(s) are filled with another participant(s). Otherwise, the official amount of deposit for your tour will be deducted from a refund.

i) 3-5. If you made a reservation with full payment without deposit and if the cancellation is made within 60 days before the start of your tour,  the official amount of deposit of your tour will not be refunded.

i) 3-6. If the cancellation occurs between 60 and 45 days before the start of your tour, you are entitled to a full refund of balance due (amount of full payment minus deposit) and full single room fees (if applicable).

i) 3-7. If the cancellation occurs between 44 and 22 days before the start of your tour, the cancellation will cost 25% of the balance due (amount of full payment minus deposit) and 25% of single room fees (if applicable).

i) 3-8. If the cancellation occurs between 21 and 8 days before the start of your tour, the cancellation will cost 50% of the balance due (amount of full payment minus deposit) and 50% of single room fees (if applicable).

i) 3-9. If the cancellation occurs between 7 and 4 days before the start of your tour, the cancellation will cost 75% of the balance due (amount of full payment minus deposit) and 75% of single room fees (if applicable).

i) 3-10. If the cancellation occurs within 3 days before the start of your tour, nothing will be returned.

i) 3-11. All transaction charges related to cancellations will be deducted from the amount to be refunded.

ii) for private tour

ii) 3-1. Cancellation of your booking must be in writing or by email to Akashi Travel.

ii) 3-2. You are entitled to a full refund of payment only if you give us more than 91 days notice of your intention to cancel.

ii) 3-3. If you choose to cancel within 90 days before the start of your tour, no refunds will be granted unless you show us official certificate of unexpected serious illness, hospitalization, and death of your family that made you cancel the tour.

ii) 3-4. If you choose to cancel within 90 days before the start of your tour because of the unexpected serious illness, hospitalization, and death of your family, we will refund the full payment but we will deduct ¥100,000 per person from the refund as cancellation fees.

4. Refunds

4-1. Any refund which has been agreed with Akashi Travel will be processed within 28 days.

5. Changes and cancellation by us

5-1. We reserve the right to change our typical itineraries at any time and at our discretion.

5-2. We reserve the right to alter our itinerary in the event of happenings outside the control of Akashi Travel such as natural disasters. This includes also outbreaks of contagious diseases, revolution, national or local strikes and/or protests, social disorder, political unrest.

5-3. We reserve the right to decrease the price of our tours at any time.

5-4. In the case that a serious event should arise to us before starting the tour (meaning such as a serious illness or hospitalization, or death of a relative), and we decide to cancel the tour, the whole cost of the tour, including deposit and single room fees (if applicable), will be returned in full. But your international flights will not be refunded or compensated by us.

5-5. In the case that participant(s) cancel the tour and we cannot carry out the tour due to the lack of participants, the whole cost of the tour, including deposit and single room fees (if applicable), will be returned in full. But your international flights will not be refunded or compensated by us.

6. International flights to and from Japan

6-1. Your international flights to Japan to participate in our tour and from Japan after our tour are not included in our tour price. Tour organizers can not accept any responsibility for loss or additional expenses in the air fare due to the cancellation or alteration of the Tour. We recommend you to reserve a refundable seat or to have travel insurance just in case your tour should be canceled, postponed or altered.

7. Travelling

7-1. You must obey the laws of Japan, while travelling on our tours. We would ask you to show respect to the customs that exist in Japan. If you do not do so, you may be asked to surrender your ticket, which may be cancelled without any refund. It is our tour leaders who will decide to cancel your pass or not and their decision will be final.

7-2. Our tour leaders may need to make a decision in the interests of safety. It is a condition of bookings that you comply with the authority and decisions of the tour leaders. If you do not comply with our tour leaders and are not compatible with the general enjoyment and well being of members of the tour, we reserve the right to refuse to allow you to continue the tour. In such a case we will not be liable for any refund, compensation or any additional costs incurred by you. We cannot accept liability for the behaviour of others on your tour nor if any facilities are curtailed as a result of their actions.

7-3. It is your responsibility to meet your tour at arranged points at scheduled time. Because of the nature of the service, Akashi Travel will not be liable if any service leaves or arrives later than its specified time, even if as a result you miss a connecting service. Akashi Travel will endeavour to ensure that departure and arrival times are met.

8. Your obligations and responsibilities

8-1. You must inform us in writing of any medical condition that’s requires attention or medication before your tour commences.

8-2. It is your responsibility to have all necessary visas, passports, permits and certificates required for your selected itinerary as well as any necessary vaccinations and to comply with all applicable laws.

8-3. During your tour your tour leaders may take photographs and films of you (as part of a group) while you are a passenger and these may be used in our website or brochures and/or advertising and publicity material without obtaining any further consent or payment in respect of such photographs and/or films.

8-4. When you book with us, you accept responsibility for any damage or loss caused by you. Full payment for any such damage or loss must be paid at the time direct to the accommodation owner or manager or other supplier. If you fail to do so, you will be responsible for meeting any claims (including legal costs) subsequently made against us as a result of your actions.

8-5. You are obliged to respect the right of residents living close to our hotels used by us during your tour, to live free from noise, vandalism or any other source of annoyance. Especially at night time. Any tour member who contravenes this policy will be reported to the local police.

8-6. We would ask you come to our tour with a positive frame of mind, ready to enjoy your adventure with us. At all times you must show courtesy and respect to your driver/tour leaders and more importantly the other Tour members. Failure to do so may result in you being asked to leave the tour at the management’s discretion.

9. Complaints

9-1. In the highly unlikely event that you may wish to make a formal complaint against Akashi Travel, please inform us at the time. If the matter cannot be resolved immediately or during your trip after the tour leaders’ best endeavours to do so, your complaint should be made in writing to  Akashi Travel as soon as is reasonably possible after the holiday, but within 30 days thereof so that your complaint can be investigated. Akashi Travel will not consider any claims after the 30-day period. You will be assured of respect and courtesy while your complaint is being dealt with.

10. Weather Conditions

10-1. Under no circumstances can we be held responsible for weather conditions. No ticket can be cancelled or amended by you at any time on the basis of weather conditions. We accept no responsibility for weather conditions that may affect the delivery and implementation of our itinerary.

11. No Smoking Policy

11-1. We do not permit smoking on any of our vehicles.

12. General

12-1. The booking conditions detailed herein contain the entire contract between you and Akashi Travel. No representation, term, warranty or condition can be expressed or implied by reference to any other writing, advertisement or conversation. This contract may only be varied in writing by Akashi Travel.

12-2. This contract and all matters arising out of it are governed by Japanese law. We both agree that any dispute, claim or other matter which arises out of or in connection with this contract or your holiday will be dealt with by the Courts of Japan only. Changes to these Booking Conditions will only be valid if agreed by Akashi Travel in writing.

12-3. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of our webiste and other printed material at time of going to publish, however Akashi Travel cannot be held responsible for publishing and typographical errors, or errors arising from unforeseen circumstances.

13. Exchange rate and direct effects in the price of the tour

13-1. The price of the tour could be modified if there was a sudden and radical change in the price of the exchange rate between the currencies of Euro and Yen caused by international markets and beyond the control of the organizers. In case there was a drastic change we would study the ways of compensating, for example by raising the price of the tour, making changes in the category of accommodation (if possible) or shortening the duration of the trip.

14. Copyright

14-1. As between you and us, you acknowledge that we own solely and exclusively, all rights, all title and copyrights in and to the content provided on the website, or are the sole users authorized to display this content within the site. All title and intellectual property rights in and to the content provided on the website is the property of Akashi Travel and the photographers of Akashi Photos, or is licensed and authorized for use solely for the purpose of display on the website, and may be protected by the applicable copyright or other intellectual property laws and treaties and subject to use restrictions under such laws or treaties. When you use or download any content from the website you do not acquire any ownership of any such content, code, data or materials. Copying, reproducing, downloading, posting or re-posting any content from this website is strictly prohibited and constitutes a violation of copyright laws.