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Liability Waiver & Assumption of Risk

Hokkaido Tour Guides

By booking, participating in, or accepting services provided by Hokkaido Tour Guides, you acknowledge and agree to the following Liability Waiver and Assumption of Risk terms.
 

1. Assumption of Risk

Sightseeing and guided tours in Hokkaido may involve walking on public streets, sidewalks, stairs, uneven surfaces, trails, parks, mountains, beaches, outdoor attractions, historic sites, and other natural or man-made environments.

You understand and acknowledge that participation in a guided tour involves certain inherent and unavoidable risks, including, but not limited to, slips, trips, falls, uneven or slippery terrain, steep or difficult walking surfaces, crowds, traffic, public transportation, wildlife, falling objects, and other conditions that may result in personal injury, illness, property damage, or other loss.

By participating in a tour, you voluntarily accept and assume these ordinary and inherent risks.
 

2. Natural Terrain and Environmental Conditions

Hokkaido Tour Guides shall not be responsible, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, for injury, illness, loss, damage, delay, or other consequences arising from conditions beyond the reasonable control of Hokkaido Tour Guides, including:

  • Natural terrain hazards, including uneven, steep, rocky, wet, icy, snowy, or slippery surfaces;

  • Sudden or severe changes in weather or environmental conditions;

  • Rain, snow, ice, strong winds, extreme temperatures, earthquakes, or other natural phenomena;

  • Conditions at public facilities, parks, trails, roads, sightseeing locations, or other third-party premises;

  • Wildlife or other naturally occurring hazards;

  • Traffic conditions or incidents involving vehicles or public transportation;

  • Acts, omissions, or negligence of third parties;

  • Delays, cancellations, closures, or changes imposed by transportation providers, attractions, facilities, government authorities, or other third parties;

  • Circumstances arising from the personal physical condition, limitations, health, fitness, or abilities of the participant; and

  • Any other circumstance that could not reasonably have been anticipated, prevented, or controlled by Hokkaido Tour Guides.
     

3. Personal Responsibility

Participants are responsible for exercising reasonable care for their own safety and for following all reasonable instructions, warnings, and safety directions provided by their tour guide.

Participants are responsible for informing their guide in advance of any physical limitations, mobility concerns, allergies, dietary restrictions, or other circumstances that may reasonably affect their ability to participate safely.

A participant who chooses to disregard a guide's reasonable safety instructions, leave the designated tour route, engage in unsafe behavior, or otherwise act negligently accepts responsibility for the consequences of such conduct to the extent permitted by law.
 

4. Personal Belongings

Participants are responsible for their own personal belongings, valuables, luggage, electronic devices, cameras, passports, money, and other property during the tour.

Hokkaido Tour Guides is not responsible for loss, theft, damage, or disappearance of personal property except to the extent that such responsibility cannot lawfully be excluded.
 

5. Independent Contractors and Third Parties

Hokkaido Tour Guides may provide tours through freelance or independent tour guides and may utilize public transportation, restaurants, attractions, facilities, and other third-party services.

Hokkaido Tour Guides does not own or control all locations, transportation services, facilities, or activities visited during a tour. Accordingly, Hokkaido Tour Guides is not responsible for the acts, omissions, negligence, conditions, policies, closures, delays, or failures of independent third parties, except to the extent that applicable law provides otherwise.
 

6. Changes, Delays, and Cancellations

Tour routes, schedules, activities, meeting points, and sightseeing locations may be changed, shortened, or cancelled when reasonably necessary because of weather, safety concerns, transportation disruptions, facility closures, government restrictions, natural disasters, or other circumstances beyond the reasonable control of Hokkaido Tour Guides.

Hokkaido Tour Guides will make reasonable efforts to provide an appropriate alternative where practical, but does not guarantee that every advertised location or activity will be available on the day of the tour.
 

7. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Japanese law, Hokkaido Tour Guides shall not be liable for any injury, illness, death, property damage, loss, expense, delay, inconvenience, or other claim arising from or connected with a participant's voluntary participation in a tour where the loss results from an inherent risk of the activity, natural or environmental conditions, the participant's own acts or omissions, the acts or omissions of third parties, or circumstances beyond the reasonable control of Hokkaido Tour Guides.

Nothing in this Liability Waiver is intended to exclude or limit any liability that cannot legally be excluded or limited under applicable Japanese law, including liability arising from intentional misconduct or gross negligence where such limitation is prohibited by law.
 

8. Medical and Emergency Situations

If an accident, injury, illness, or emergency occurs during a tour, Hokkaido Tour Guides and its guides may take reasonable steps to obtain emergency assistance or medical attention for the participant.

Participants acknowledge that emergency response, ambulance services, hospitals, medical treatment, evacuation, and other emergency services are provided by independent third parties and may involve costs for which the participant is responsible.

Participants are strongly encouraged to maintain appropriate travel insurance covering medical expenses, accidents, personal belongings, cancellations, and emergency transportation while traveling in Japan.
 

9. Acceptance of These Terms

By booking or participating in a tour operated or arranged by Hokkaido Tour Guides, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and voluntarily accepted this Liability Waiver & Assumption of Risk.

You understand that sightseeing in Hokkaido involves risks that cannot always be predicted or eliminated and that you are voluntarily participating in the tour with knowledge of those risks.

If you do not agree to these terms, you should not participate in the tour.
 

10. Governing Law

These terms shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of Japan.

Nothing in these terms shall be interpreted as depriving a consumer of any mandatory rights or protections provided by applicable Japanese law.

Hokkaido Tour Guides reserves the right to update or amend this Liability Waiver from time to time. The version applicable to a participant's booking will be the version in effect at the time of booking, unless otherwise required by law.

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