Terms & Conditions

Please take the time to read and understand our Terms of booking set out below. This outline of tour conditions represents part of the terms of transaction stipulated in Article 12-4 of the Travel Agency Law, and the contract specifying services rendered for travel and other matters as stated in Article 12-5 of the law.

1. A client under 17 years of age and travelling alone during the tour period shall provide The Backstreet Guides with the written consent of his/her guardian. Clients under 15 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
2. The Backstreet Guides may refuse an application if the client’s age, qualifications, skills and other conditions do not conform to those designated for tours aimed at specific customer categories or purposes.
3. Clients who require special attention from The Backstreet Guides during the tour for reasons of chronic disease, general ill-health, pregnancy or physical handicap, shall advise The Backstreet Guides of this when applying for the tour. The Backstreet Guides shall comply with such requests to the extent deemed feasible and reasonable. In such cases, The Backstreet Guides may require clients to present a medical certificate. The Backstreet Guides may refuse a client’s application if conditions at travel destinations and facilities are such that safe, smooth tour operation cannot be guaranteed, or require the client to be accompanied by an escort. Notification concerning acceptance or rejection of client participation in the tour shall be made by The Backstreet Guides within one week after the application is submitted.
4. If The Backstreet Guides determines that the client needs medical diagnosis or treatment by a physician owing to illness, functional disease or other reasons during the tour, The Backstreet Guides shall take measures necessary to ensure the smooth operation of the tour. All costs resulting from such measures shall be borne by the client.
5. Independent activities for reasons of the client’s own choosing shall not be arranged by The Backstreet Guides during the tour. However, The Backstreet Guides may depending on the tour course, arrange such activities under separate conditions.
6. The Backstreet Guides may refuse client participation if it determines that he or she threatens to embarrass, inconvenience or interfere with the collective activities of tour participants.
7. The Backstreet Guides may also refuse client participation in the tour for operational reasons.

Important: For our one-day trips where we pre-book seats on trains it is the customers’ responsibility to meet their guide at the stipulated time. If the customer is late meeting the guide and we miss the booked train then the guide will ask the customer to pay for the new train fare.

The following may include items unrelated to the tours you choose. Please note that the items included in the tour fare are only those specified in the itinerary at the time of booking.

1. Meals – Only the meals/drinks stipulated in each tour itinerary.
2. Transport – Only the transport stipulated in each tour itinerary.
3. Sightseeing activities/locations – Only the activities/locations stipulated in each tour itinerary.
4. Guide service – An English-speaking guide for sightseeing and tours will be provided.
5. Tax – A consumption tax
6. Note – In principle, The Backstreet Guides will not make refunds for the above fare even if clients choose not to use the relevant services.

1. Food/Drink in addition to that stipulated in the tour itinerary.
2. All transfers to the start point of the tour and all transfers after the end of the tour.
3. Any additional activities not stipulated in the tour itinerary.
4. Any additional personal expenses.
5. Medical expenses for injury or illness.

The Backstreet Guides may, after the conclusion of the Travel Contract, cancel the tour or revise its contents and services for any of the following reasons: natural calamity or disaster, weather conditions, civil unrest, suspension of services rendered by transport/accommodation facilities, provision of transportation not based on the original operational plan, governmental orders, or other circumstances beyond The Backstreet Guides control. The Backstreet Guides reserves the right to take necessary measures when safe, smooth tour operation according to the itinerary is deemed impossible, or when there is a valid reason to believe that the tour cannot continue.

Important: For all of our small group tours we require a minimum of two people to operate the tour. If this number is not met then a decision will be made to cancel the tour at least 48 hours before the start of the tour. We will inform customers of this and offer either to swap on to an alternative tour or issue a full refund.

Tour Cancellation Policy

The client is at all times entitled to cancel/amend the Tour contract but must pay The Backstreet Guides a cancellation/amendment charge as stipulated below.

1. Notice of cancellation received by The Backstreet Guides 30 days or more before the starting date of the tour will incur a charge of 20% of the tour fare.
2. Notice of cancellation received by The Backstreet Guides 29 days to 7 days before the starting date of the tour will incur a charge of 40% of the tour fare.
3. Notice of cancellation received by The Backstreet Guides 6 days to 3 days before the starting date of the tour will incur a charge of 60% of the tour fare.
4. Notice of cancellation received by The Backstreet Guides less than 3 days before the starting day of the tour, including no-show, will incur a charge of 100% of the tour fare.
5. Any tickets purchased are non-refundable unless otherwise stated.

Cancellation policy for certain small group city tours:

1. Notice of cancellation received by The Backstreet Guides 72 hours or more before the starting time of the tour will be refunded the total amount less a 300 JPY/person handling fee.
2. Notice of cancellation received by The Backstreet Guides 72 hours to 24 hours before the starting time of the tour will be refunded 50% of the total amount.
3. Notice of cancellation received by The Backstreet Guides less than 24 hours before the starting time of the tour, including a no-show, will be 100% non-refundable.

Date changes and amendments:

1. Notice of amendment to the date of a tour booking received by the Backstreet Guides 7 days or more before the starting date of the tour will incur no charges providing the new dates are in the same season and are available. Date changes to a new season may incur additional costs to the client.
2. Notice of amendment to the date of a tour booking received by the Backstreet Guides less than 7 days before the start date of the tour will incur a charge of 2000 yen per change for group tours and 5,000 yen per change for private tours. If you have any pre-booked tickets included in your tour then there may be additional charges to date change these.  Date changes to a new season may incur additional costs to the client.
3. If a date change is requested within 48 hours of the start date of the tour then cancellation conditions apply.
4. Any transfer of names of persons booked on a tour/service will incur a charge of 2,000 yen per name change.