The Legendary Roadie

The Legendary Roadie is a roadie for advanced to expert skiers and snowboarders with 2 bases in Yudanaka in Nagano and Tenjin in Gunma.

So what's a "roadie"? One definition is “a member of a crew for a travelling group of musicians or other entertainers, whose work usually includes the setting up of equipment”. Well, that is similar to what your ski guide does for you on tour. A second definition is when you have a drink in the car on the road, and this is something the guests will enjoy after a day on the slopes. The third definition of "roadie" is an adventurous road trip with a group of mates or like-minded individuals. 

This road trip won't be too taxing though because there are only 2 bases and you only have to move accommodation once, and from these hubs your guide will do all the driving to different ski areas each day.

The first six nights are based in Yudanaka which is a culturally rich area and has great ski resorts nearby. You will then hit the road and ski at Kagura ski resort in Niigata Prefecture and use Tenjin Lodge as a base for four nights for some legendary skiing in Gunma.

Your Japanese ski adventure is not complete without being immersed in a culture that has to be experienced to be appreciated. Visit the world-famous snow monkeys up close, be part of a traditional taiko drum, shamisen guitar and lion dance performance, participate in a karate performance, visit the famous Takaragawa Onsen and soak your tired muscles, taste the local sake and beer recipes, and visit historic Shibu Town. There is also a night where the group eats together at a sushi train restaurant followed by a legendary night in the karaoke bar. You will get an authentic Japanese ski experience.

There are only 6 spots for each tour date and spots fill quickly, so if this sounds of interest you can submit a booking request. 

Skier/Boarder Ability

This tour is for advanced to expert skiers & boarders (in powder, not on-piste ability) with no exceptions. There is no leeway on this and JPCT will be vetting guests ski level prior to signing up for the tour. Please let us know if you have any questions about ability level or other logistics. 

Ski Areas Visited

This tour has the ability to visit a number of resorts in the Nagano, Niigata and Gunma prefectures. The resorts have been hand-picked based around our three Q’s criteria – quality, quantity and quietness. The resorts visited are dictated by the conditions on any given day and each area has its own individual micro climate so don’t be surprised if you visit the same resort more than once. Transport to these mountain is provided and whilst in Yudanaka it will be mixed together with other groups whilst the Niigata and Gunma part of the tour has its own vehicle. The resorts that may be visited: Nagano - Shiga Kogen (with 18 interconnecting resorts), Madarao, Tangram, Togakushi and Nozawa Onsen; Niigata – Kagura; Gunma – Tenjindaira and Minakami Houdaigi. Drive times to these resorts vary from 5 minutes to 50 minutes in good road conditions.

Terrain and 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 on this tour 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. The guides consider everything that is not on a marked trail to be out of bounds so any clients who wish to experience the out of bounds need to have the appropriate avalanche equipment and be able to ski at a high enough level to manage the conditions. 

The guides have rental avalanche equipment available for those that do not (beacon, shovel, probe and pack).  

Accommodation & Meals

10 nights accommodation in summary:

• 6 x nights accommodation at Hotel Omodaka in twin share Japanese style rooms with private bathrooms
• 4 x nights at Tenjin Lodge in twin share Japanese style room

Hotel Omodaka

Hotel Omodaka in Yudanaka Onsen, sits adjacent to the Yomase River, and the onsen and many of the guest rooms enjoy lovely views of the surrounding mountains. The open-air onsen baths overlook the Five Mountains of Hokushin.

Omodaka is owned and operated by an amazing family who make your time there a true authentic Japanese experience. 

Rooms

Most of the rooms at Omodaka Hotel are washitsu ie Japanese style rooms with tatami flooring. All twin/triple/quad share rooms have a toilet and handbasin and a shower, or you can bathe in the onsen. The single supplement rooms have a toilet and wash basin, with bathing in the onsen. Beds are futons, and if you like a soft bed, there are extra futons to double up. Rooms are larger than most in Yudanaka and all rooms have a flat screen TV, small fridge & kettle. Your room also has a traditional yukata (cotton kimono), which is not mandatory to wear at this hotel, although it is definitely comfortable attire after a day on the slopes.

You can upgrade to the deluxe western room which is double the size of the Japanese style rooms and sleeps a maximum of  4 people. It has 2 oversized twin beds plus a large tatami seating area for 2 futons. This room has a large bathroom, with a bath and rain shower.

Facilities

The hotel has an onsen, with gender segregated baths on an elevated floor, and the balcony of the rotenburo (outdoor bath) offers views across towards Mt Myoko and other mountains. In addition to the outdoor onsen, there are indoor baths and a sauna which is rare in Yudanaka.

Other amenities:

• Small lounge in lobby
• Gift shop that also sells some sundries
• Free wifi throughout the hotel
• Bar and River Cafe that serves up great burgers and toasties in case you're hankering for a non-Japanese meal
• Massage services available
• Drinks vending machines
• Table tennis room
• The hotel does not have clothes washing facilities however there is a public laundry a short walk away.

Dining

The breakfast dining room has traditional Japanese décor such as shoji screens and tatami flooring, along with comfort of western-style tables and chairs. Breakfast (included) is served buffet style and includes some classic Japanese breakfast fare such as miso soup, rice, salad, dumplings, pickles, mini sausages, and omelette rectangles, as well as a few western staples. Coffee and juice are also provided.

Evening meals are multi-course Japanese cuisine served in a traditional dining room by your personal waiter. Dinner is a great opportunity to sample lots of Japanese fare.

Location

The hotel is located adjacent to the river and it is 1.1km southeast of the Yudanaka train station, and arrival and departure shuttles are provided by the hotel. The main hub of Yudanaka restaurants and the bar district are about 1km from the hotel, and you have the option of getting the one-way shuttle to get to restaurants in the evening.

Omodaka has a free drop off service to the snow monkey park 20 minutes earlier than the other accommodation in town so that you get the luxury of arriving at the park early, so you have the place to yourself for a length of time (it is a tourist attraction so gets busy). 

Tenjin Lodge - Gunma

Tenjin Lodge is a Tenjin Lodge is a mountain lodge deep in the Joetsu National Park, and just minutes away from Tenjindaira Ski Resort. Your hosts Kieren and his team provide a homely experience for travellers and the family pet Lucky is the ever-attentive receptionist.

There are two types of rooms, Western or Japanese style, with their own toilet and wash basin with shared lodge bathing facilities. Each room has a powerful winter heater with a fridge and free WI-FI throughout the property. The western rooms are first in best dressed as they are limited in number.

The male and female baths are fed by the same natural mountain spring which supplies water to the lodge. They are not onsens as the water is heated to temperature and the room has a pleasant ambiance with views of the forest outside. The water is not re-circulated so the baths are operating on a constant flow.

Breakfasts are served in house and are made up of either the western breakfast consisting of a hearty serving of scrambled eggs and toast or the mountain breakfast consisting of warm oatmeal served with chopped seasonal fruit and yogurt. Both breakfasts come with coffe/tea or juice.

On one night the group dines in at Tenjin Lodge and also travel into the local town of Minakami for two of the nights to sample some of the tasty cuisine from the local restaurants. A must is Restaurant Daruma – Japanese izakaya in Minakami where the Master is always welcoming and serving up some great value cuisine.

Be aware this is a different accommodation experience to that of Hotel Omodaka which is very Japanese. Tenjin Lodge is owned and run by westerners and is very remote and experiences more extreme weather conditions, so it will give you a different level of service to that of a Japanese property. Variety is the spice of life.

Tenjin Lodge

...western-style rooms...

.....a nice communal area

Itinerary

This itinerary is a guide as the tour is dictated by the weather each day and your guide will fit around where the best conditions are. The set dinners and evening performances of the geisha, taiko drum, karate and magic performances may vary on which night they fall.

This is a powder tour so wider skis are recommended to get the best out of your time on the trip. A full equipment checklist will be provided.  

Day 1

Make your way to Yudanaka (home of the snow monkeys) on either the amazing rail system or a shuttle from Narita or Haneda airport and be picked up at the drop off points. The guides needs to know a minimum of one day in advance what time your shuttle arrives and what time you arrive to the Yudanaka train station so the ryokan can have a shuttle van to pick you up.

The area has a history of over 1,300 years as a hot spring resort and more recently was put on the map due to the 1998 Nagano Olympic Winter Games. You are treated like a rock star at the ryokan with exceptional service, immaculate surroundings and food to die for.

After settling into your lodging and perhaps taking a stroll of the town, your guide will take the group to the sushi train restaurant or one of the many fine eating establishments in Yudanaka.

Day 2

Known as the birthplace of skiing in Japan in 1911, Shiga Kogen is the largest ski area in Asia with the highest lift access in Japan 2,307 metres and has 18 interconnecting resorts. Because Shiga is so large and elevated, fresh lines can be found days after a snowfall. And because relatively few westerners have discovered this area the queues are almost non-existent, and another bonus is that very few Japanese ski off-piste.

After skiing and riding, why not try an onsen to sooth any aches and pains followed by a local beer or wine from the lounge bar.

Tonight the group will eat in house so bring your camera and this is followed by an amazing interactive geisha performance by a second generation geisha to the area.

Day 3

Madarao (Madapow) is another of the Japanese ski fields that does not attract the hordes of gaijins (foreigners). This field seems to have its own microclimate and when it snows here it can be very magical.

On the way home there is the option to eat at one of the few okonomiyaki restaurants in Nagano, which is a specialty from Osaka and Hiroshima. 

Day 4

After breakfast the group will travel to Nozawa Onsen if the conditions are favourable for some more action on the snow. With its 300 hectares of terrain and 50km means it the second largest resort on the itinerary next to Shiga Kogen. Nozawa Onsen is reasonably high profile so it can be busier than the other resorts so the guides will try to time the visit when there will not be long lift lines or too many people on the precious powder.

If time permits at the end of the day, you can take a walk through Nozawa Onsen township and enjoy the many shops and eating treats.

After two days on the snow the new muscles you have used are fatigued so you may decide to rest so that you will be strong to finish the rest of the tour in style. You may just decide to chill for the day; there are a series of cultural side treats on offer. These are outlined at the end of this itinerary.

Day 5

Shiga Kogen is back on the ski menu and if the conditions are right the group will head to the highest lift elevation for a Japanese ski resort called Yokoteyama. The 360 degree views from the top are the best you will find anywhere in the world, looking over the Nagano prefecture and if it is clear enough you can also view Mt Fuji which is Japan’s highest peak at 3,776 metres.

After you dine out at one of the many outstanding restaurants around Yudanaka there is a magic show from Fred who is a "local foreigner" and has performed magic for 30+years around the world. The performance is something between great magic, fun comedy and silly stuff. The audience participation adds a bit of improvisation that brings a lot of surprises.

Day 6

Togakushi ski resort may be on the menu today. This area is highly significant to the Japanese as it is the home of towering cedar trees and the Okusha Shrine sits at the base of Mt. Togakushi, so some good walking shoes are required for the cultural side stash walk after the skiing.

Another amazing in house dinner and for your final night’s scheduled entertainment, you can participate in a karate performance and teaching session from one of Japan’s Grand Masters champions followed by a taiko drum, shamisen guitar and lion dance performance. 

Day 7

Roadie time! This is the part of the trip where you'll need to lighten the load (see below). The skis and boards go on the roof and the boots in the back. Each person has a small bag akin to a carry-on bag in a plane.

Time to bid farewell to your amazing hosts at Hotel Omodaka.

No visit is complete to Yudanaka without some interaction with the famous “Snow Monkeys”. This is the only place in the world you can see the snow monkey soaking in natural hot pools up close and personal. Afterwards the group will explore historic Shibu Onsen town. The van then leaves Yudanaka for a 2-and-a-half-hour drive and on the way to Tenjin Lodge you will visit Kiyotsu Gorge and the tunnel of light, then a soak in a very famous onsen in Japan named Takaragawa Onsen.

Dinner will be at Tenjin Lodge followed by a beverage and chat with your guide for the game plan the next day.

Day 8

Game on. After breakfast if the Snow God has co-operated, you'll be are off to Tenjindaira. This is where things start to get real. Tenjin is not an area to be trifled with and the area turns up the volume to what you have been experiencing thus far on the tour in regard to steepness, depth and risk. So, on this part of the tour JPCT engage the local guide Kieran’s knowledge and experience on this mountain and there is a lead and tail guide.

Tonight, the group dines at a Minakami favourite restaurant – Daruma.

Day 9

Because Tenjin gets so much snow and storms there are times it is just not possible to ski it. So, a backup plan is needed which the Gunma area provides in the resort of Minakami Houdaigi nearby to Tenjin Lodge. There are very few if any westerners at Houdaigi and the mountain has a real local feel. Mount Hotaka (Hotakasan) in Gunma has various ski resorts sitting on its flanks, yet the Hodaigi Ski Resort is located on the northwestern slope and many of the runs face due north, so the snow quality is particularly nice.

Dine out and about in Minakami.

Day 10

After breakfast you will travel to Kagura in the Niigata prefecture which is a three-in-one ski resort that incorporates the areas of Kagura, Mitsumata and Tashiro. The Kagura Ski Resort is also interconnected with Naeba Ski Resort via a super long gondola, the Dragondola, to form one large ski area referred to as Mt Naeba. The real goodies are off the top lift which gives you access to a wide range of terrain with some very light snow if the Snow God plays ball.

For the last night the group will either eat on the Kagura side or head back into Minakami to enjoy some authentic Japanese fare and relive our stories from the last 10 days.

Day 11

Time to bid farewell. You can either leave by train from Minakami if you wish to get the fastest route to Tokyo or come back to Yudanaka if you want to extend your tour and continue with some skiing and riding.

Self-Guided Cultural Excursions

Here are a number of options for those that either have a scheduled rest day in Yudanaka or for those that have ascertained they need to rest to lower the probability of injury. Yudanaka is a very rich cultural area with so many options that will give you that truly authentic Japanese ski experience. Maps and train schedules are all provided for these adventures. These are all achievable daily excursions; however you can chop and change them to suit how much time you would like to stay at each venue.

Option 1 (Snow Monkey – Shibu Onsen – Obuse Town)

8.30am leave from ryokan to snow monkey park on complimentary shuttle. Walk to park through national forest. Stop at Enza café at the start of the track after viewing monkeys for a hot drink and snack. Walk to the Sake Museum then down through Shibu Onsen town (this area is over 1300 years old and is where the Samurai used to bath to rejuvenate and where the famous Japanese movie “Spirited Away” was based) then to the worlds tallest bronze Buddhist statue. Take the 12.31pm train to Obuse that arrives at 12.53 and a short walk to Obuse Town. Visit the Hokusai Museum and explore this wonderful little town. Take the 17.11 train to arrive back at Yudanaka train station at 17.33.

Option 2 (Snow Monkey – Obuse Town – Zenkoji Temple in Nagano)

8.30 leave from ryokan to snow monkey park on complimentary shuttle. Walk to park through national forest. Stop at Enza café at the start of the track after viewing monkeys for a hot drink and snack. Pickup at 10.20 from start of monkey park to be transported to train station to take the 10.50 train to Obuse that arrives 11.12 for a short walk to Obuse Town. Visit the Hokusai Museum and explore this wonderful little town and have lunch at the many quality restaurants. Take the local 13.55 train from Obuse to arrive at Nagano 14.30. Exit the train and make way your way to ground level on the west exit of station. Take the Zenkoji bus to the temple. Nagano is the only temple city in Japan which means the temple was built first and the city afterwards. Purchase a ticket in the temple to do the underground chamber tour under the temple to find the gate to eternity and make sure you look in the large mirror when you exit to be born again. Take the walk from the Zenkoji Temple to the train station (Many cool shops and restaurants along the way) and either travel back to Yudanaka on the 18.00 express train or dine in Nagano and take the 19.40 express train.

Option 3 (Obuse Town - Zenkoji Temple and Olympic Museum in Nagano)

Take the 8.39 train from Yudanaka to arrive at Obuse at 9.14 for a short walk to Obuse Town. Visit the Hokusai Museum and explore this wonderful little town. Take the 11.12 or 11.56 express train from Obuse to arrive at Nagano either 11.36 or 12.30. Exit the Yudanaka express train and make way to ground level on the west exit of station. Time for lunch either at the Midori train complex or at the many street restaurants close to train station. Take the Zenkoji bus to the temple from the west exit. Nagano is the only temple city in Japan which means the temple was built first and the city afterwards. Purchase a ticket in the temple to do the underground chamber tour under the temple to find the gate to eternity and also the ticket for the Zenkoji Museum which is behind the Zenkoji Temple. Take the walk from the Zenkoji Temple to the train station (many cool shops and restaurants along the way). Another great place to visit is the M-Wave which is where the Olympic Museum is and the long course speed skating facility which is still in operation. An amazing building with the largest wood suspended ceiling in the world. Would need to get a taxi from train station to this venue. Option to take the 18.00 express train back to Yudanaka or stay for dinner in Nagano and get the 19.40 train from Nagano which arrives in Yudanaka at 20.29.

Travel Luggage

When the group leaves for the Niigata and Gunma part of the tour, there is only limited room in the van for luggage. Bring a ski or snowboard bag and pack your clothes around your gear and a backpack or small suitcase. The trip takes 2 and half hours from Yudanaka to Tenjin Lodge. Skis, boards and clothing will be stored on the roof in your bags and ski boots in the luggage compartment. This leaves room for one bag each and is limited to a pack or small suitcase the size you would put in carry-on luggage in a plane. If possible, you can store this gear in your aviI pack to create more room in the vehicle. At the end of the tour you have the option of leaving by train from the Minakami area or travelling back to Yudanaka in Nagano.

2025 Rates & Inclusions

Rates

Prices are in Japanese Yen per person
Package	Twin-Share	Single Occupancy Add
Hotel Omodaka	539,000	enquire

 

• Base rates & invoice currency is in Japanese Yen - convert to your currency here
• Rates are per person
• If you have a group of advanced to experts who would like to book this tour as a private trip on different dates please enquire.

JAPAN POWDER CULTURE TOURS TERMS & CONDITIONS

Terms of Agreement & Policies/Booking Information

Please carefully read the policies below before you make a reservation.

CUSTOMER INFORMATION FORM

To enable us to complete your arrangements you must complete the customer information spreadsheet as complete as possible at the time.  This does not guarantee your booking as we need to confirm that the accommodation you have requested is available.  If there is no availability for some/all of your components we will advise you of this and offer an alternative where possible. The alternative product offered may be a different price and prices will be adjusted accordingly.   The information which you provide may be used by JPC Tours for further communication to you (unless requested otherwise) but no information will be divulged to any third party.

BOOKING YOUR HOLIDAY

Once we have confirmed your accommodation requirements JPC Tours will send you a deposit invoice of 20% of the total booking which is nonrefundable once received.  We do hold the deposit in credit for you if you wish to book with us at another date. You will then have 7 days to reconfirm your space with your deposit.  The payment options for the deposit are through our New Zealand or Japanese bank account or via Flywire as bank transfer or credit card.  Any fees associated with the transfer are the client’s responsibility. The final balance is to be paid 60 days prior to the commencement of the tour either via our New Zealand or Japanese bank account or through Flywire.  We also have the option to pay by cash yen at the start of the tour for those who wish to avoid the transaction fees and perhaps gain by purchasing cash yen at the time you consider the best rate.  If you pay directly into our Japanese account from an overseas institution you are required to cover any applicable fees. This is usually a fee on your end and a 3000JPY fee when the funds land into our account. If we have been charged any fees for accepting such transactions these fees will be passed on in full.  

CANCELLATION

Once we receive written notification that you are cancelling your trip the following fees will apply. The 20% deposit is non-refundable however we do hold it in credit for the following season.  For guests that have paid the balance of tour early and cancel between 2 and 4 months prior to the trip then 50% of that balance will be refunded.  Cancellations made with less than two months of advanced notice will not be refunded. Unfortunately, due to the time-sensitive nature of our business, and the difficulty in re-booking a trip close to the departure date, we cannot make exceptions to this policy.

JPC Tours cannot be held responsible for snow conditions. Trips cannot be cancelled or amended on the basis of snow conditions. No refunds will be made if you voluntarily leave a tour for any reason after the tour has begun. Refunds will be at the discretion of JPC Tours if you are involuntarily forced to leave a tour for any reason. No refunds will be given for any accommodation, transport, sightseeing, meals, services, lift tickets or any component of the tour not utilized.

AMENDMENTS

If you need to amend any arrangements after your original booking these must be advised in writing. One amendment is free of charge. Any further changes will incur administration costs of ¥3000 per amendment plus any costs levied by our overseas agents and suppliers. Any change to an existing booking constitutes ‘an amendment’. A transfer to another tour is viewed as a cancellation and not as an amendment, and cancellation fees will apply.

BOOKING CONDITIONS

JPC Tours receives bookings subject to the following conditions.
 

1. A booking is accepted only after JPC Tours receives the deposit and issues the client a Confirmation Invoice. The balance must be received 60 days prior to the commencement of the tour; otherwise JPC Tours may treat the booking as cancelled by the client. 
2. It is our policy to run our tours even if we have only one guest booked and to date, we have never cancelled a tour in over a decade of operation, however we did have a world shut down due to COVID which meant we were unable to operate for two season hence JPC Tours reserves the right to cancel any tour prior to departure, including a confirmed tour, due to circumstances beyond our control. If this occurs, you will be given the option of changing to another tour or receive a full refund. JPC Tours is not responsible for any incidental expense you have incurred as a result of your booking. If you choose and alternative tour and it is at a lower value than your original tour, you will be refunded the difference. If the alternative tour is of a higher value, then you will pay the difference in price. 
3. Date changes are subject to availability. Date changes may be requested at any time up to 2 months prior to your departure date. Date changes made between 2-3 months prior to the tour will be charged a ¥20,000 fee per person. A ¥10,000 fee will be charged per person for all date changes made more than 3 months prior to the tour.
4. Where this booking would otherwise be subject to the provisions of the Consumer Guarantee Act (C.G.A) 1993, if the supply is a supply for business purposes the client agrees that the services are supplied for business purposes in terms of section 2 and 43 of the C.G.A 1993, and that the provisions of the said Act do not apply to the supply to the client. Such client is not a consumer for the purposes of these booking conditions.
5. Adventure sports activities involve many risks, dangers and hazards.  These risks and hazards are outlined in our release of liability, waiver of claims, assumptions of risks and indemnity agreement which all participants are required to read and sign before participating in a JPC Tour.  This agreement will affect your legal rights should you be involved in an accident.  Managing risk is JPC Tours number one priority. Our guides manage significant hazards inherent to side country pursuits (e.g., avalanche, inclement weather, tee-accidents, rock fall, and high winds) but they cannot eliminate them. Please clearly understand that skiing in bounds and out of bounds is an inherently hazardous sport and both actions are only undertaken with the full knowledge and consent from the participant that these are inherently dangerous activities. You are choosing to engage in an activity in which skiers have been injured and worse. While these accidents are indeed infrequent, they may occur at any time and be out of our control. We ask that participants acknowledge that risk and make their own choices about whether to engage in this activity. We ask that each participant is physically and mentally fit, is properly attired and equipped, and continues to assess him/her-self throughout the tour to ensure as safe a time as possible. We ask that participants honestly and accurately describe themselves, in terms of fitness, health and skills, and their equipment to their guides, and that they adhere to the advice of their guide.
6. Due to the inherent risk involved in alpine pursuits, and in the interest of your safety, JPC Tours strongly recommends all participants to bring insurance that provides full medical and emergency evacuation coverage. JPC Tours will NOT provide insurance for participants on any JPC tour. If a participant does not have proper insurance documentation, he/she will be liable for her own medical and emergency evacuation expenses and will receive no refund, date change, or any kind of compensation from JPC Tours. Please take this seriously and lean on the side of caution.
7. JPC Tours acts only as an agent for the other companies providing or offering accommodation, lift tickets and other services and as such has no control over any services or products provided by these supplying companies. All bookings made are subject to the booking terms and conditions under which these services are provided. JPC Tours and its suppliers reserve the right, without liability or right of compensation, to prohibit or restrict any activity, or cancel or alter any service or itinerary component, without notice. JPC Tours will not be held responsible for the inability of the suppliers to comply with any special request relating to age, medical conditions, physical ability or disability, dietary requirements, allergic conditions, smoking or non-smoking accommodation.   JPC Tours does not own or control the hoteliers, ski resorts or the various suppliers, and JPC Tours does not actually provide those services itself. JPC Tours will take all possible care to ensure that its suppliers have a reputation for maintaining a high standard. However, JPC Tours is unable to accept responsibility in any way for day-to-day problems with the services provided or for any loss, damage, delay, inconvenience or injury to persons or property, or any other loss howsoever arising. In particular JPC Tours is unable to accept responsibility for any aspect of your holiday arrangements affected by matters over which JPC Tours has no control including, without limitation, war or threat of war, riots and civil strife, terrorist activity, natural or nuclear disaster, weather conditions, fire, flood, drought, industrial disputes or governmental or official action or reasonable apprehension of the foregoing, cancellation, curtailment, or rescheduling of flights, or any failure on your part to obtain the correct visas and valid passport for travel. 
8. While JPC Tours will use its best endeavors to operate all tours as advertised, reasonable changes in the itinerary may be made without notice where deemed necessary or advisable by JPC Tours.
9. JPC Tours does not accept responsibility for disruption, inconvenience, cancellation or alteration directly or indirectly caused by or aggravated by the failure of any computer data processing equipment or media microchip integrated circuit or similar equipment, software or processing, storage or retrieval system.
10. It is a condition of the acceptance of your deposit in respect of this tour that all monies paid to JPC Tours, whether by way of deposit or otherwise in respect of the tour, may be disbursed by JPC Tours as and when it sees fit or in respect of the services to be provided or fees payable under the tour program and the payment of a deposit for the tour shall be deemed to be a direction by you to JPC Tours to disburse such monies as foresaid. All monies received by JPC Tours are deposited in its name with its bankers, until appropriate disbursement to the suppliers of services or their agents.
11. The flight segment of the tour is to be arranged by the customer and JPC Tours cannot be held responsible for any consequences that may arise due to your air travel arrangements.
12. Receipt of a deposit will be taken as an understanding by JPC Tours that the participant has read and agrees to abide by these terms and conditions stated.
13. The booking conditions and the supply of services herein shall be governed by and interpreted according to the laws of New Zealand, and both the client and JPC Tours irrevocably submits themselves to the jurisdiction of New Zealand courts in respect of any proceedings arising out of or relating to these booking conditions or services provided hereunder.

YOUR HOLIDAY PRICE

Passport and visa fees, insurance, excess baggage charges, extra meals, laundry, drinks, souvenirs, items of a personal nature including medication, departure taxes, and tipping are not included in the price of your holiday. Entrance fees to venues detailed in the itinerary will generally be included, unless specified otherwise in the itinerary.
  

PASSPORTS & VISAS

A valid passport is required for travel and some countries require that it be valid for at least 6 months after the date of departure from those countries. Japan works on a 90 holiday visa for most countries however some countries are excluded from this and require further documentation before travel into Japan is permitted.
 
The above information should be taken as a general guideline and JPC Tours will endeavor to resolve any issues that may arise in a prompt and professional manner.