Welcome to Akatsuki Ryoko! These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the Akatsuki Ryoko website (the "Site") and all travel-related services provided by Akatsuki Ryoko Co., Ltd., a travel agency licensed in Japan ("we," "us," or "our"). Our services include, but are not limited to, pre-arranged tour packages primarily focusing on Japan, customized travel itineraries, flight and accommodation (hotels, ryokans) reservations, guided tours in Japan, transportation arrangements (e.g., Japan Rail Pass assistance), and providing information related to travel within Japan and select international destinations (collectively, the "Services"). By accessing our Site or using our Services, you agree to comply with and be bound by these Terms. Please read them carefully. If you do not agree with any part of these Terms, you must not use our Services.
1. Acceptance of Terms and Eligibility
By using our Services, you confirm that you are at least 18 years of age (or the age of majority in your jurisdiction, whichever is older) and possess the legal capacity and authority to enter into this binding agreement. If you are using the Services on behalf of an organization, another person, or a group, you represent and warrant that you have the full legal authority to bind them to these Terms, and you agree to these Terms on their behalf.
2. Description of Services and Scope
Akatsuki Ryoko provides comprehensive travel planning and booking services, with a strong specialization in travel to and within Japan. This includes offering pre-designed tour packages showcasing Japanese culture and attractions, crafting bespoke customized travel itineraries tailored to individual preferences, facilitating flight and accommodation reservations (including traditional Japanese ryokans and modern hotels), arranging expert-led guided tours, coordinating transportation arrangements (such as Shinkansen tickets or private transfers), and providing valuable information and support related to your travel. All Services are subject to availability, supplier terms, and these comprehensive Terms.
3. Bookings, Payments, and Confirmations
3.1. Booking Process and Confirmation: All bookings made through Akatsuki Ryoko are subject to confirmation by us and/or our third-party suppliers (e.g., airlines, hotels in Japan). A booking is considered fully confirmed only after you have received a formal written booking confirmation from Akatsuki Ryoko and the full payment or the required deposit (as specified for the particular Service) has been successfully processed and received by us.
3.2. Pricing and Currency: Prices for Services are typically quoted in Japanese Yen (JPY) for services within Japan, or United States Dollar (USD) or other specified currencies for international clients or components. Prices are subject to change without prior notice until a booking is fully confirmed and paid. Quoted prices generally include taxes as specified at the time of booking (e.g., Japanese consumption tax), but may not include local tourist taxes, resort fees, visa application fees, travel insurance costs, or personal expenses (such as meals not specified, souvenirs, optional activities) unless explicitly stated in your itinerary and booking confirmation.
3.3. Payment Terms: Full payment or a specified deposit is required at the time of booking to secure your reservation. The exact payment schedule (including deposit amount, balance due date) will be communicated clearly during the booking process. Accepted payment methods will also be detailed (e.g., credit card via secure gateway, bank transfer to our Japanese bank account). Failure to make timely payments as per the agreed schedule may result in the automatic cancellation of your booking and forfeiture of any deposit paid, subject to the specific cancellation policy of your booking.
3.4. Accuracy of Traveler Information: You are solely responsible for providing accurate, complete, and up-to-date information for all travelers in your party at the time of booking. This includes, but is not limited to, full legal names as they appear on passports, correct dates of birth, passport numbers, expiry dates, nationalities, and primary contact details. Akatsuki Ryoko is not liable for any issues, additional costs, or denial of service arising from incorrect or incomplete information provided by you.
4. Changes, Cancellations, and Refunds Policy
4.1. Changes Requested by You: If you wish to make any changes to your confirmed booking (e.g., travel dates, itinerary components, number of travelers), you must notify Akatsuki Ryoko in writing (email is acceptable) as soon as possible. All change requests are subject to availability, the terms and conditions of our suppliers (which can be stringent, especially for popular services in Japan), and may incur administrative fees charged by Akatsuki Ryoko, as well as any additional costs or penalties imposed by the suppliers. We cannot guarantee that all change requests can be accommodated, particularly those made close to the departure date.
4.2. Cancellations Initiated by You: Cancellation policies vary significantly depending on the specific Service booked (e.g., custom Japan tour package, flight segment, hotel night, special event ticket). The applicable cancellation policy, including details of any cancellation fees, refund eligibility, and deadlines for notification, will be clearly provided to you at the time of booking and reiterated in your booking confirmation documents. To cancel a booking, you must notify Akatsuki Ryoko in writing. Cancellation fees are calculated based on the date we receive your formal written notification during our Tokyo office business hours (JST).
4.3. Refund Processing: Any applicable refunds will be processed strictly according to the specific cancellation policy of the Service you booked. Refunds, if due, will typically be returned via the original payment method used for the booking. Please note that processing times for refunds can vary depending on banking systems and supplier processes, and may take several weeks. Some Services, particularly discounted fares or special promotional packages, may be entirely non-refundable or subject to very strict cancellation penalties.
4.4. Changes or Cancellations by Akatsuki Ryoko or Suppliers: While Akatsuki Ryoko endeavors to operate all Services as advertised and confirmed, we and our third-party suppliers reserve the right to modify or cancel bookings due to unforeseen circumstances, essential operational requirements (e.g., hotel renovation, guide unavailability), Force Majeure events (as defined in Section 8), or if minimum participation numbers for group tours are not met. In such rare instances, we will promptly notify you and offer you, where possible, comparable alternative arrangements. If no suitable alternative is available or acceptable to you, a full or partial refund for the affected part of the Service will be provided, as appropriate and in accordance with applicable Japanese travel industry regulations and supplier policies. Our liability in such cases will be limited to the amount paid for the affected Service.
5. Traveler Responsibilities and Conduct
5.1. Passports, Visas, and Health Requirements: You are responsible for ensuring that all travelers in your party possess valid passports (typically with at least six months validity beyond your intended stay in Japan), any necessary visas for Japan or other transit/destination countries, required health certificates (e.g., vaccination records if mandated), and any other travel documents required for entry, transit, and stay. Akatsuki Ryoko can provide general advice regarding these requirements for travel to Japan but is not responsible for verifying the correctness or adequacy of your documentation, nor for any consequences (e.g., denial of boarding, refused entry) resulting from inadequate or incorrect documentation.
5.2. Comprehensive Travel Insurance: We strongly and unequivocally recommend that all travelers purchase comprehensive travel insurance prior to their departure. This insurance should cover, at a minimum, trip cancellation or interruption, medical emergencies and repatriation, baggage loss or damage, and personal liability. Akatsuki Ryoko does not typically include travel insurance in its standard packages unless explicitly stated and itemized. You are responsible for arranging your own adequate insurance coverage.
5.3. Health, Safety, and Local Customs: You are responsible for checking and complying with all health advisories and safety recommendations for your destination(s), particularly for travel within Japan. This includes any recommended vaccinations or health precautions. It is also your responsibility to be aware of and respect local laws, customs, traditions, and cultural etiquette in Japan and any other countries visited. Akatsuki Ryoko provides resources on Japanese etiquette, but ultimate responsibility for respectful conduct lies with the traveler.
5.4. Traveler Conduct: You and all members of your party agree to conduct yourselves in a manner that is respectful of local culture, fellow travelers, guides, and service staff. Akatsuki Ryoko and its suppliers reserve the right to refuse service or remove any traveler from a tour or service, without any right to refund or compensation, if their conduct is deemed illegal, disruptive, offensive, threatening, or dangerous to themselves, others, or property.
6. Limitation of Liability and Disclaimers
Akatsuki Ryoko acts as an intermediary or agent for third-party suppliers such as airlines, hotels, ryokans, transportation companies (e.g., Japan Railways), local tour operators, and activity providers in Japan. We exercise due care and diligence in selecting these suppliers, but we do not own, operate, manage, or control them directly. Therefore, Akatsuki Ryoko is not liable for any personal injury, death, loss, damage to property, accident, delay, inconvenience, or irregularity which may be occasioned by reason of any act or omission (negligent or otherwise) of any such third-party supplier, or by any other cause beyond our direct and immediate control.
Our liability, if any, for direct damages arising from our own proven negligence in providing the Services shall be limited to the total amount actually paid by you to Akatsuki Ryoko for the specific Service in question giving rise to the claim. In no event shall Akatsuki Ryoko be liable for any indirect, consequential, special, incidental, or punitive damages (including loss of enjoyment, loss of profits, or emotional distress), even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages. This limitation applies to the fullest extent permitted by Japanese law.
We are not responsible for the content, privacy policies, or services of any third-party websites that may be linked to or from our Site. Any such links are provided for your convenience only.
7. Intellectual Property Rights
All content on the Akatsuki Ryoko Site, including but not limited to text, graphics, logos, images (including photographs of Japan), icons, audio clips, video clips, digital downloads, data compilations, and software, is the property of Akatsuki Ryoko Co., Ltd. or its content suppliers and is protected by Japanese and international copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. You may not copy, reproduce, republish, upload, post, transmit, modify, distribute, or otherwise use any of this content in any way without our express prior written permission.
8. Force Majeure (Act of God)
Akatsuki Ryoko shall not be liable for any failure to perform, or delay in performance of, any of our obligations under these Terms where such failure or delay is due to causes beyond our reasonable control (a "Force Majeure Event"). Such events include, but are not limited to, acts of God (e.g., earthquakes, typhoons, tsunamis, floods, volcanic eruptions common in Japan), war or threat of war, acts of terrorism, civil unrest or riots, strikes or labor disputes, natural disasters, pandemics or epidemics, government actions, orders or restrictions (e.g., travel bans, lockdowns), significant failure of public utilities or transport networks, or any other event which is unforeseeable and unavoidable.
9. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution
These Terms and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them, their subject matter, or their formation (including non-contractual disputes or claims), or the Services provided by Akatsuki Ryoko, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Japan, without regard to its conflict of law principles. You agree that any legal action or proceeding arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Services shall be brought exclusively in the Tokyo District Court in Tokyo, Japan, and you hereby consent to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of such courts.
10. Amendments and Modifications to Terms
Akatsuki Ryoko reserves the right to amend, modify, or update these Terms at any time, without prior notice, by posting the revised Terms on our Site. Any such changes will be effective immediately upon posting. Your continued use of our Site or Services after such changes are posted constitutes your unqualified acceptance of the new or modified Terms. We will indicate the "Last Updated" date at the top of these Terms to inform you of the latest version.
11. Severability Clause
If any provision (or part of a provision) of these Terms is found by any court or administrative body of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, that provision or part-provision shall, to the extent required, be deemed to be deleted, and the validity and enforceability of the other provisions of these Terms shall not be affected. If any invalid, unenforceable or illegal provision would be valid, enforceable or legal if some part of it were deleted, the provision shall apply with the minimum modification necessary to make it legal, valid and enforceable.
12. Entire Agreement
These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, and any specific booking confirmation documents provided by Akatsuki Ryoko for your travel, constitute the entire agreement between you and Akatsuki Ryoko Co., Ltd. with respect to your use of the Site and Services, and supersede all prior or contemporaneous communications and proposals, whether electronic, oral, or written, between you and us with respect to the Services.
13. Contact Information for Akatsuki Ryoko Co., Ltd.
If you have any questions, concerns, or require clarification regarding these Terms of Service, please contact us at:
Akatsuki Ryoko Co., Ltd. - Legal Department
Email: legal-jp@
Address: 5th Floor, Shinjuku East Building, 3-chome, 7-ban, 12-go, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 160-0023, Japan
Phone: +81-3-6881-9540 (Please ask for the Legal Department regarding Terms of Service inquiries)