Terms and Conditions
The following information is provided to ensure that the conditions and circumstances are clearly understood under which Japow LLC, (“us”, “we” and “our”) doing business as Japow, its agents and service provider’s offer services. All references in these booking terms and conditions to “tour”, “booking”, “contract”, “reservation”, “activity” or “arrangements” mean such services unless otherwise stated. References to “departure” mean the start date of these arrangements.
Booking Deposit
Unless otherwise stated, bookings are confirmed upon receipt of a 50% deposit payable within 3 days of your booking confirmation.
Balance Payment
Balance payment is due no later than 90 days prior to your departure. If, for any reason, the balance payment (including any surcharge where applicable) is not received by the due date, we reserve the right to treat the booking as cancelled by you. If your booking is made less than 91 days prior to your arrival, immediate full payment is required. Customers are responsible for any bank service fees incurred if using a bank transfer or wire service.
Cancelation Penalties
If canceled more than 90 days prior to departure, a 20% cancelation penalty of the total cost will be charged in addition to any transaction and amendment fees, unless otherwise stated. All cancelation requests must be received via email. If cancelled within 90 days of departure a cancellation penalty of 100% of the total cost will be incurred in addition to any transaction and amendment fees.
Cancelation Penalties
91 days or more 20% of tour cost
90 days or less 100% of tour cost
You may transfer your place to someone else (introduced by you) if you are prevented from traveling, providing we are notified not less than 21 days before departure and subject to the practicality of changing certain bookings made in your name. In addition to an amendment fee of US$100, all costs and charges incurred by us and/or incurred or imposed by any of our agents or service providers as a result must be paid before the transfer can be confirmed.
Refunds or partial refunds will not be issued should the guest decide to leave early for any reason. Refunds will not be issued for any unused portion of a tour or booking including lodging or services provided by our agents or service providers.
Group Tour Minimum Participation Requirements
Group tours require a minimum number of participants in order to operate. You will be advised 31 days or more prior to departure in the unlikely event a group tour has not reached the minimum number of participants in order to proceed.
In the unlikely event of a group tour being canceled by us you will have the option to transfer to another available group tour, or have the full amount returned to you and all liability of Japow and/or its agents and service providers shall cease. Japow shall not be liable for any incidental costs that may be incurred by the guest should a tour be canceled or not proceed. This includes but is not limited to flights, lodging or travel insurance excess.
Japow and/or its agents and service providers reserve the right to decline any person as a member of any group tour at any time.
Cancelation by Japow
Bookings are accepted subject to the availability of services or lodging. Japow and/or its agents and service providers reserve the right to modify, cancel or withdraw any of the arrangements due to circumstances outside of our control. Any refunds are at the discretion of Japow. Japow shall not be liable for an incidental cost that may be incurred by the guest should a booking be canceled or not proceed. This includes but is not limited to flights, lodging or travel insurance excess.
Prices and Surcharges
Although not expected, prices may be modified due to unexpected significant external factors not forecasted at the time of publishing. Japow is under no obligation to give a breakdown in costs of any tour or booking.
Japow reserves the right to impose surcharges up to 30 days before departure due to unfavorable exchange rates, and unforeseen increases charged by our agents and suppliers, or should government actions require us to do so.
We may add a surcharge to the published or quoted price to compensate for these unforeseen increases however, if this means that you have to pay an increase of more than 10% of the price of your confirmed booking you will have the option of canceling within 3 days of the email notification of the surcharge and receive a full refund. If we do not receive a cancellation request via email within 3 days of the surcharge notification full cancellation penalties shall apply.
All group tour prices are per person double occupancy except where indicated.
Passports and Visas
You must ensure you are in possession of all necessary travel and health documents before departure. All costs incurred in obtaining such documentation must be paid by you. A valid passport is required for U.S. and Canadian citizens traveling to Japan and other international destinations. We recommend Passports be valid for six (6) months after completion of the Journey. We regret we cannot accept any liability if you are refused entry onto any transport or into any country due to failure on your part to carry all required valid documentation. Japow shall not be responsible should any guest be denied entry to a country due to noncompliance with these requirements.
Your Personal Details
Your privacy is important to us. All personal data will be handled as per the terms specified in our Privacy Policy which can be found here.
Requested Changes
An amendment fee of US$100 may be charged if changes to a booking are requested by the guest prior to departure, such as but not limited to bedding configuration and change of dates. We shall do our best to accommodate any changes, however we cannot guarantee the ability to make changes. All amendment requests must be received via email.
Modifications to a confirmed booking that incurs a lower price may see the difference in deposit or final payment value forfeited. Any modification request cannot be guaranteed.
Room Upgrades and Special Requests
Please advise us of any special requests such as dietary requirements or single room requests via email at the time of booking. Where possible, we will endeavor to meet any such reasonable request, however we cannot guarantee special requests can be accommodated.
Changes to Itinerary
The tour itinerary is a flexible guide intended to provide the best guest experience based on local conditions. Japow reserves the right to make minor modifications to the tour itinerary to take advantage of favorable weather and snow conditions. We may also make changes to the intended tour itinerary due to local unforeseen conditions such as but not limited to difficulties in travel, travel delays, road closures, resort closures, inclement weather, snow conditions, and changes, cancelations, delays, or restrictions place on us by our lodging and service providers.
Lodging
All properties and rooms are non-smoking. It is our expectation that guests be courteous, respect Japanese customs and culture, and be mindful of their neighbors. As is Japanese tradition, please remove your shoes when entering lodging properties where required.
In the unlikely event that any policies of our lodging partners are violated we reserve the right to ask you and/or your group to leave the reserved lodging or group tour. In this situation a refund will not be issued and any additional required cleaning or repairs will be charged in full. These charges will also be levied by any further costs incurred moving later guests affected by the damages to an alternative property.
Should the lodging described in the tour itinerary become unavailable for reasons outside of our control we reserve the right to substitute lodging to an equivalent property to the best of our ability and what is available at the time. No refunds shall be issued on the basis of a required change of lodging.
Images displayed on our website and promotional material are indicative of the lodging properties and rooms available. The actual room type and layout may vary depending on location and availability.
Snow and Weather Conditions
While we schedule our tours and bookings to take advantage of historically favorable conditions, we cannot be held responsible for unfavorable snow and weather conditions, or the availability of services due to snow and weather conditions. No booking can be cancelled, altered or amended by the guest without penalty on the basis of snow and weather conditions.
Group Tours Authority on Tour
The safety and wellbeing of our guests is paramount. The decision of the Japow tour guide and/or host is final on all matters likely to affect the safety and/or well-being of any person participating in a tour. If you fail to comply with a decision made by a guide or host, or interfere with the well-being of the group, the guide or host may ask you to leave the tour immediately, with no right of refund. In such a circumstance, Japow shall not be liable for any incidental cost that may be incurred by the guest. This includes but is not limited to flights, ground transportation, lodging or travel insurance excess.
Acceptance of Risk
You acknowledge that skiing and snowboarding involves a degree of inherent personal risk. You also acknowledge and clearly understand that during the course of the tour certain risks and dangers may be present, including but not limited to the potential hazards associated with traveling in mountainous regions, skiing and snowboarding in uncontrolled and unpatrolled areas and in mountainous regions where extreme weather and avalanches may be possible. You acknowledge that by the very nature of these activities you are exposed to an element of personal risk and agree to assume all risks associated with participating in this tour or activity. You acknowledge Japow and its agents and service providers, shall not be liable for any injury, death, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity that may be caused to person or property.
Minimum Age Requirement
There is no minimum age limit for private tours and bookings unless otherwise stated.
The minimum age to participate in our group tours is 12 years when accompanied by a parent or guardian who is also participating in the tour. Otherwise, the minimum age to participate in our group tours is 18 at the time of departure.
Traveling with Children
Guests traveling with children who are not related are recommended to carry documentation which provides evidence they have permission to travel with the child. A parent or guardian traveling alone with a child may need to provide documentation that proves their relationship to the child and evidence that they have permission to travel with the child.
Guests are advised to check with the appropriate government authority to determine the necessary documents required for travel with children. We cannot be held responsible should the guest, child or any member of the traveling party be denied entry to a country due to noncompliance with a country’s requirements.
Health and Proficiency
For your own safety and the safety and enjoyment of other guests and tour members you must be adequately fit, healthy and of adequate proficiency to undertake the itinerary set out in the tour you have chosen. Please contact us should you have any questions regarding the required ability level for a particular tour or activity.
Travel Insurance
We highly recommend you obtain travel insurance for the duration of your tour or booking. Travel insurance should be purchased at the time of booking. We recommend your insurance provide coverage for personal accident, death, medical expenses, emergency rescue and emergency repatriation, with a minimum coverage of US$250,000. We recommend the travel insurance purchased cover activities likely to be undertaken during the tour itinerary such as skiing and snowboarding with a guide outside of a ski area boundary. It is highly recommended that insurance coverage also includes trip cancellation (including cancellation fees and penalties), trip delays, interruption and curtailment, loss or delay of luggage and personal effects, and personal liability. Travel insurance is required for all Group Tours. If you are participating in a Group Tour we ask that you provide us with evidence of adequate insurance coverage a minimum of seven (7) days before departure.
Photography During Tours
It is likely that your guides and tour hosts will capture images and video during your tour or booking to share with you and your fellow guests, unless otherwise requested by you. We may also use this material for promotional purposes. We therefore reserve the right to take photographs and video of guests during the operation of any tour or part thereof and to use, re-use, publish, and republish their image, identity likeness, voice, interview, statements, video clips and sound recordings, and/or photographic portraits or pictures in which a guest(s) may be included for promotional purposes during the tour and thereafter. By booking a tour with Japow, guests acknowledge that Japow is the owner of the photographs and video and agree to allow their image to be used in such photographs and videos, which may thereafter be used by Japow. Guests who prefer that their images not be used must identify themselves to their guide or host at the beginning of their tour and notify Japow by email in a timely manner of this choice. In the event the guest fails to comply with both obligations the guest, individually and on behalf of any Minor traveling with them, has granted unrestricted rights and permission for Japow to use these images.
Amendments
Japow reserves the right to correct any errors or omissions in its published materials and to amend these Terms and Conditions from time to time. All amended Terms and Conditions shall automatically be effective upon being posted to the Japow website. Guests should check the website prior to travel in order to ensure they are aware of any changes.
Optional Services and Activities
Guest shall be responsible for the cost of meals other than those specifically included in the itinerary, all beverages, room service charges, sightseeing and activities not included in the itinerary, and personal expenses such as laundry, communication charges, personal transport and optional meals and activities.
Severability
In the event that any term or condition contained in these Terms and Conditions is unenforceable or void by operation of law or as being against public policy or for any other reason than such term or condition shall be deemed to be severed from this contract or amended accordingly only to such extent necessary to allow all remaining terms and conditions to survive and continue as binding.
Claims and Complaints
If you experience any problems with your tour whilst away, you must immediately inform your tour guide or host and the supplier of the service in question so that we can address your issue in a timely manner. If any complaint or problem is not resolved to your satisfaction by the tour guide or host, local agent or supplier, you must email us giving us full details of your complaint or problem. Until we know about a complaint or problem, we cannot begin to resolve it. Most problems can be resolved quickly. If you remain dissatisfied, however, you must email us within 14 days of the completion of your tour giving full details of your complaint. We regret we cannot address your complaint or accept liability if you fail to notify us entirely in accordance with this clause.
Force Majeure
Japow and its agents and service providers shall not be liable for any injury, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity that may be caused to person or property, affected by “Force Majeure”. For the purposes of these Terms and Conditions, Force Majeure means any event beyond our or our agents and service providers’ control, the consequences of which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken. Examples include acts of God, warfare (declared or undeclared) and acts of terrorism (and threat thereof), insurrection, explosion, civil strife, epidemic, plague, pandemic significant risks to human health such as the outbreak of serious disease at the travel destination or natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, avalanches, forceful wind or weather conditions which make it impossible to travel safely to the travel destination or remain at the travel destination, the act of any government or other national or local authority including port or river authorities, industrial dispute, labor strikes, lock closure, quarantine, government intervention, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, chemical or biological disaster, unavoidable technical problems with transport and all similar events outside our, or our agents and service providers control.
Limitation of Liability
Japow shall not be liable for any injury, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity that may be caused to person or property, however caused. Bookings for lodging and services may be subject to additional lodging and/or external service providers’ Terms and Conditions. A copy of these Terms and Conditions are available upon request.
Jurisdiction and Applicable Law
The provisions of this contract shall be in accordance with the laws of the state of Colorado, in the United States of America.
By paying your deposit you accept the Terms and Conditions detailed here.
Should you have any questions please feel free to contact us.
(Updated 12 December, 2025)