Corona Virus Update as of 25th April 2020 – Message From JPCT
Japan Powder Culture Tours understand that due to the ongoing developments of the Coronavirus situation that you may be having some anxiety and doubts with regards to your winter travel plans to Japan this season. Rest assured JPCTs are full steam ahead this season with guides and instructors on the ground so they will be operating tours as usual this season.
However, we are under no illusions that there will not be ongoing problems with this situation which may include your ability to get to Japan. Bearing this in mind we are easing our cancellation policy for bookings made for the 2020/2021 season to assist skiers, borders and telemark skiers and give you the peace of mind that your deposit will not be forfeited if you are unable to join us.
So, for the 2020/2021 season, the following will apply:
We have a 20% deposit which is payable within 7 days of invoice to secure your spot on the tour. You can cancel by 30th September 2020 with no penalty. To then confirm your booking a further 20% will be charged on the 1st October 2020 and the remainder is due 40 days prior to your tour.
If you must cancel your 2020/2021 tour your 20% deposit can then be used for a credit for later in the season, bearing in mind we operate right into May, or the deposit can be used for the following season.
In the past we have not ever cancelled a trip due to tour group size and we hope to continue this tradition. We run our beginner programs with a minimum of 2 people and our longer 8 and 10 day tours with a minimum of 4 people, and our policy of running our tours regardless will remain.
So we hope our new policy puts your mind at ease and we wish everyone of you the best through these trying times. We would love to see you in the future and share with you our little piece of utopia here in Japan with a truly authentic Japanese ski and riding experience next to none.
Japan Powder Culture Touts (JPCT) Booking Conditions
DEPOSIT & FULL PAYMENT
- Deposit is 20% of full tour price per person.
- All deposits are non-refundable.
- Final balance due: 30 days prior to departure.
- All payments are in Japanese Yen (JPY)
CANCELLATION BY YOU
- more than 30 days prior to departure, full deposit forfeited.
- Less than 30 days 100% forfeited.
- Tour operator highly recommends you take out travel insurance at time of sending your deposit.
CANCELLATION BY JPCT
JPCT reserves the right to cancel any tour prior to departure. In this case you will receive a full refund. You will not be entitled to make any further claim for compensation, damages, expenses, loss of time or inconvenience.
All bookings are subject to JPCTs terms and conditions and subject to availability at time of booking.
Other Important Information
Terrain & Safety
The rules when skiing at resorts in Japan can be a lot different to what is experienced in Western resorts around the world. At a high percentage of the resorts in Japan, trail skiing is the norm and anything off the main marked trails is deemed "out-of-bounds". The out of bounds is not patrolled so as far as the resort is concerned; skiing there is at your own risk. The out of bounds skiing provided by ESA is deemed (what has been termed in Japan by westerners) “slack country” or “side country”. Many times these out of bounds areas are in between two marked courses so at the bottom of the run you meet up on a marked course to take you back to the lifts, hence the term “slack country”.
Some resorts are more lenient with "out-of-bounds" skiing and others very strict. Some will have signs that state "ski at your own risk" where others may not. JPCT consider everything that is not on a marked trail to be out of bounds.
If you wish to experience the "out-of-bounds" (skiing off any of the marked trails) areas:
- You must carry the essential avalanche safety equipment (beacon, shovel, probe & backpack to carry such gear)
- You must be able to ski at a sufficient ability / level to manage the conditions on the day for any out-of-bounds runs
- You will need to undertake an safety instruction session on the use of your avalanche equipment (even if you already know how to use it)
- You will be required to sign a release of liability agreement prior to undertaking any out-of-bounds skiing with ESA
The JPCT team have the following credentials:
- knowledge and experience at skiing the various resorts they visit in the Nagano and Niigata areas
- accreditation and different combinations of instructors, ski patrol, avalanche awareness and first aid
- ski instructors have a minimum of level 2 NZIAS certification
Exclusion of Liability & Risk
Adventure sports activities involve many risks, dangers and hazards. These risks and hazards are outlined in the
JPCT release of liability, waiver of claims, assumptions of risks and indemnity agreement which all participants are required to read and sign before participating in adventure sports activities.
This agreement will affect your legal rights should you be involved in an accident.