Terms of Service

1. Acceptance

By booking a tour or otherwise using japanlocalexperience.com, you agree to these Terms. If you don't agree, please don't book a tour.

2. Bookings

Tour bookings are processed by our partner Bókun (a JTB company). When you click "Book Now", you are taken to a Bókun-hosted checkout. Your booking contract is between you and Japan Local Experience, with Bókun acting as the booking platform. By completing checkout you also accept Bókun's terms.

You will receive a confirmation email shortly after a successful booking. If you do not receive one within an hour, contact us at info@japanlocalexperience.com.

3. Pricing & payment

Tour prices are listed on this website in Japanese yen (JPY). USD approximations are shown for convenience and are not guaranteed exchange rates. Bókun charges your payment method at the time of booking.

Tours include the items listed on the tour page (food, drinks, entry fees where stated). Anything not listed — including transport to the meeting point, additional drinks beyond the included amount, gratuities, and personal expenses — is your responsibility.

4. Cancellations & refunds

Each tour's cancellation policy is shown during checkout via Bókun. As a general rule:

• Cancellations 24+ hours before the tour: full refund
• Cancellations under 24 hours: refund at our discretion
• No-shows: no refund

We may cancel and refund a tour due to severe weather, illness of the guide without backup, or other force-majeure events.

5. Conduct on tour

We ask all participants to:

• Arrive at the meeting point on time. Late arrivals miss the tour without refund.
• Follow the guide's instructions, especially around safety and access to private establishments.
• Respect other participants and the staff and patrons of the venues we visit.
• For nightlife / izakaya tours: drink responsibly. We may decline service or shorten the tour for any participant who becomes unsafe to themselves or others.

6. Age & accessibility

Public group tours are open to participants of all ages, but the nightlife tour involves visits to bars where guests must be 20+ (the legal drinking age in Japan). All public tours involve walking 2–5 km on uneven streets and stairs. If you have a mobility limitation or other access need, please tell us before booking so we can advise on suitability or arrange a private alternative.

7. Limitation of liability

We take all reasonable care to provide a safe and enjoyable experience. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Japan Local Experience is not liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential losses arising from your participation, except where caused by our gross negligence or wilful misconduct. Our maximum liability for any single tour is the price you paid for that tour.

Your travel insurance is your responsibility. We recommend obtaining it before your trip.

8. Photography & privacy on tour

We may take photos during tours for use on our website and social media. If you do not want to be photographed, please tell your guide at the start of the tour. We will not publish identifying photos of participants who have asked not to be photographed.

9. Intellectual property

All content on japanlocalexperience.com — text, photos, videos, design elements — is owned by Japan Local Experience or used with permission. You may not republish or sell our content without our written consent. Linking to our pages and quoting short excerpts with attribution is welcome.

10. Privacy

Our handling of your personal information is described in our Privacy Policy.

11. Changes

We may update these Terms from time to time. The "Last updated" date at the top reflects the most recent change. The version in effect at the time of your booking applies to that booking.

12. Governing law

These Terms are governed by the laws of Japan. Any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms or your tour will be brought exclusively before the courts of Tokyo, Japan.

13. Contact

Questions about these Terms? Email info@japanlocalexperience.com.