Terms & Conditions

Thank you for choosing Amnet New York (“Amnet” or “Company”) for your travel needs.  In order to make your trip as enjoyable and smooth as possible, you agree to the following terms and conditions (the “Agreement”). For private and group tours, the person making the reservation is doing so on behalf of the entire party or group, and that person must have the authority to accept these terms and conditions on behalf of the entire party or group, and is responsible for ensuring that each member of the party or group is kept fully informed of all the details of the booking.  Please read this carefully and indicate your agreement by signing below prior to booking.  

1. Booking. 

Amnet does not accept bookings of private or group tours less than 7 business days in advance of a departure date, but we reserve our right to complete bookings within the 7 business days subject to your request.  Private and group tours will require an upfront deposit or full payment at the time of booking, depending on the tour.  Upon booking a tour, we will send you a confirmation invoice with the balance due.  The amount and payment schedule may vary, so please check the specific terms of the tour. If only a deposit is required at the time of booking, the deposit amount is usually 10% of the total tour price at the time of booking, plus any associated service fees, and the payment balance will typically be due a certain number of days before tour departure date. The deposit will be applied towards the cost of your tour package.  You must ensure that your name, and the name of any person(s) for whom you are making the booking, matches exactly the name as it appears on your (or their) passport.

2. Payment Method. 

Payment may be made by most major credit cards, bank transfers, cashier’s, certified, or bank checks (but in the event of payment by check, only if the check is remitted at least one month before departure date), or cash (at branch locations only).  If we cannot accept payment by your credit card, no service is guaranteed by Amnet.  

3. Pricing. 

All prices shown on our website (or estimate) are based on current prices.  We reserve the right to alter the prices on the website (or estimate) without prior notice in the event of currency fluctuation, government taxes, or any cost increases outside of our control.  Pricing is subject to change until you make a booking and we send you a confirmation invoice.  

Pricing for private tours are generally priced based on the number of participants and the specific customization requests.  The terms specific to the particular tour may outline the pricing structure, including any additional costs for specific activities, accommodations, or transportation upgrades, and any charges that may apply.  

It is your responsibility to review the pricing details to understand the total cost of the private or group tour.  If you wish to change your booking in any way following receipt of the confirmation invoice, Amnet may in its sole discretion agree to such change, subject to your payment of a service fee of $50 and our right to make any further changes as necessitated by your request.

4. Tour Itinerary and Inclusions.  

(a) Private Tours. 

Private tours offer a higher level of customization and privacy compared to other tours.  You may customize the itinerary to your preference, including through consulting one of our tour consultants or travel agents in order to tailor the tour to your specific interests and requirements.  

(b) Group Tours. 

Group tours are not customizable, and Amnet will select the attractions and accommodations for the tour.  

(c) Itinerary. 

For both private and group tours, we will provide an itinerary outlining the activities, attractions, and accommodations included in the tour package. You agree to check the itinerary thoroughly to ensure that it is correct as to dates, times, fares, and price.  Tour package terms will indicate what is included in the tour price, such as accommodations, transportation (private transportation for private tours), meals, entrance fees, guided services (exclusive guides for private tours), and interpreter services. 

(d) Exclusions. 

Services not included in the tour price consist of items including but not limited to international airfare, expenses due to delay or changes of schedule, overbooking of accommodations, visas and vaccinations, laundry, telephone, meals not included in the itinerary, mini bar, alcoholic beverages and soft drinks, and other items of a personal nature not outlined in the tour itinerary.  For some accommodations, a city tax may be collected (e.g., approximately Yen 200-500 per person or night based on the nightly room rate), or a hot spring tax may apply at some ryokans (e.g., approximately Yen 300-500 per person per night).  

(e) Changes to Itinerary. 

The itinerary will be subject to change due to various factors like weather, local conditions, or other unforeseen circumstances, and Amnet reserves the right to substitute accommodations, and alter the itinerary, withdraw any tour component, or make any desirable alteration for the convenience of the operation of tours.  In the event of any changes to the itinerary due to these reasons, any resulting additional expense will be your responsibility, and any resulting savings will be refunded to you.  

5. Cancellation Policy.  

(a) Cancellation by You. 

You may cancel your booking in writing at any time by e-mail or registered mail.  If you cancel the reservation or fail to pay the price in accordance with the applicable payment terms, we reserve the right to charge a cancellation fee.  The cancellation fees in general are as set forth below, but the fees may change depending on the terms of the particular tour:

Cancellation fee for private tours:

Service fees are non-refundable.

• Canceling 60 to 31 business days before departure date: 25% of tour price 

• Canceling 30 to 22 business days before departure date: 50% of tour price

• Canceling 21 to 15 business days before departure date: 75% of tour price

• Canceling 14 to 8 business days before departure date: 90% of tour price   

• Canceling 7 business days before departure date: 100% of tour price

Cancellation fee for group tours:

Service fees are non-refundable.

• Canceling 90 to 61 business days before departure date: 25% of tour price 

• Canceling 60 to 31 business days before departure date: 50% of tour price

• Canceling 30 to 22 business days before departure date: 75% of tour price

• Canceling 21 business days before departure date: 100% of tour price   

If the cutoff date falls on a weekend or a legal holiday, the cutoff date will be rolled over to the immediately preceding business day. Cancellation will not be complete until Amnet sends written confirmation of the cancellation to you.  At the time of the written confirmation, Amnet will detail and process any refunds accordingly.  

(b) Exceptions. 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, there may be exceptions to the above cancellation policy, which we will notify you separately.  Certain customized tours may provide that all or certain portions of the tour is non-refundable.  Reserved seats on trains are also often non-refundable and non-changeable.   

(c) Cancellation by Amnet. 

Amnet reserves the right to cancel the tour prior to departure for any reason, including due to the inability to reach the minimum number of participants required for a tour to operate.  In that event, Amnet, in its sole discretion, may reschedule or cancel the tour, and offer you an alternative tour package, or issue a full refund of the sums received by you (including any service fees paid by you), which constitute your sole and exclusive remedy.

6. Travel Documentation.

You agree to review your itinerary and other travel documents for accuracy.  It is important to ensure you have the necessary travel documents and, where applicable, all inoculations have been carried out and health certificates are available well in advance of the tour departure date.  All participant must be in possession of a valid passport required for travel.  All passports may need to be valid for at least 6 months past the return date of your trip.  For non-US passport holders, please consult with local embassy or consulate for any visa requirements.  It is the responsibility of the participant to obtain proper visas in a timely manner before the tour departure date.  You accept full responsibility for obtaining all necessary documents, visas, and permits before the departure date, and that you are solely responsible for any adverse consequence resulting from any missing documentation.  No refund for unused services or reimbursement of any additional expenditure will be made if a participant is denied entry to a country for any reason.  

7. Travel Insurance. 

Travel insurance is not included in the prices of any services sold through Amnet.  For your protection, we strongly recommend that you purchase insurance providing coverage for occurrences such as trip cancellation, medical emergency, medical repatriation, lost baggage, or travel accidents. The specific tour package may provide further guidance on the type and coverage level of insurance recommended for the tour.  Please note that most policies have a specific clause stating they do not cover epidemics and pandemics, especially when travel warnings are in place. No representation or description of the insurance made by our staff constitutes a binding assurance or promise about the insurance. You agree to hold us harmless for your election not to purchase travel insurance or for any denial of claim by travel insurer as it relates to COVID-19 or any other claim under the policy.

8. Health and Fitness Requirements. 

Some tours may have specific health or physical fitness requirements due to the nature of the activities involved, such as ingress and egress from buses and vessels, walking long distances, or sightseeing, and may preclude participation by persons with certain medical conditions. It is your responsibility to review such requirements to ensure that you can meet them and participate comfortably in the tour.  You must disclose at the time of booking, or at such later time as you become aware of such condition, any existing physical or mental health condition which may create a health hazard for yourself or others during the tour or for which you may require medical attention or special accommodation during the tour, and notify what assistance we can reasonably provide. We may not be able to accommodate you for your special needs.  Please consult a physician regarding medical conditions and ability to travel long distances.  We reserve the right to decline the participation of any person we consider unsuitable to travel due to health or fitness requirements, and to remove you from the tour at your expense if the condition could create a hazard or otherwise impair the enjoyment of other participants.     

9. Participant Conduct. 

By booking a tour with us, you accept responsibility for the proper conduct of yourself and your party/group during the tour.  You agree to respect the authority and follow the directions of the tour guide, any safety regulations, and the laws of the countries in your itinerary during the tour. We may exclude you from participating in all or any part of the tour without a refund if, in our sole discretion, your behavior renders it unfit for the tour or unfit for continuation once the tour has begun. Unfitness may include, without limitation, any behavior that, regardless of its cause, is inappropriate or offensive or interferes with the delivery of tour services or may constitute a hazard. Should you decide for any reason not to participate in certain parts of the tour or use certain goods included in the tour, no refunds will be made for those unused parts of the tour or goods. 

10. Indemnity. 

You agree to indemnify and hold us harmless from and against any costs, damages, losses or liabilities arising out of: (a) the actions or omissions of any minor traveling with you; (b) your inability to complete the tour as a result of your behavior during the tour, in particular, but not limited to, an airline considering you unfit to travel, or diversion of your flight as a result of your behavior; (c) if you are signing on behalf of yourself and other members of your party, such member(s)’ claim(s) that you were not authorized to agree to this Agreement on their behalf.

11. Responsibility. 

Amnet, as tour operator, is an independent company that arranges travel services through contracts with air carriers, accommodations, and other third party suppliers, none of whom is an agent, employee, servant, or joint venturer of Amnet.  All travel arrangements made by Amnet are made on your behalf upon the express condition that Amnet assumes no responsibility to you or any child accompanying you in the absence of its negligence, and will not issue a refund or otherwise be held liable for the acts or omissions on the part of any third party suppliers, insurer, or other party not under Amnet’s control, including for any personal injury, death, damage, losses or expenses, or inconvenience due to delay or changes of schedule, loss of baggage, overbooking of accommodations, changes in itinerary, or other default of any other parties.  Similarly, Amnet disclaims any responsibility for, and will not issue a refund for your own acts or omissions, including for missed connections, entry denial by immigration, or visa refusals.      

12. Hazards. 

Amnet has no special knowledge of foreign entry requirements, unsafe conditions, health hazards, weather hazards, or other dangers during travel or at destinations. Amnet is not responsible for, and no refund will be made for any losses, damages, costs, or expenses due to weather, natural disasters, acts of God, strike, unsafe conditions, terrorism, acts of government’s civil disturbances, war, quarantine, custom regulations, health hazards including pandemics, endemics, and epidemics, illness, criminal activity, or for any other cause beyond its control.  For information concerning such conditions, please go to the State Department travel website at travel.state.gov, click on “International Travel” then fill in the name of the destination country in the “Learn about your destination” box. For medical and health information, please go to the Centers for Disease Control website at cdc.gov/travel, then find the “Destinations” box and scroll to the name of the destination country.  It is your personal decision to travel, and you are doing so with full knowledge of current travel recommendations and travel restrictions with regards to the risks of COVID-19.  

13. Data Privacy. 

It is our policy to respect the privacy of our customers.  We will not disclose the details and information provided by you to any third party unless such disclosure is necessary for your participation in the tour; we are specifically required to do so by law; in response to a valid, legal request by a law enforcement or governmental authority; or as may otherwise be authorized from time to time by you.  By agreeing to this Agreement, you acknowledge and consent that Amnet may store and process your personal information (such as name, address, e-mail address, telephone number, credit card number, and the details of the tour that you took). You acknowledge and consent that we may send your name and address details to merchant services for the purpose of security and authorization during a credit or debit card transaction.  With these exceptions, Amnet has a responsibility to keep your personal information secure and confidential and, unless notified otherwise by you, will only use it for internal purposes and to send you information about the products and services provided by Amnet.  For further information on Amnet’s Privacy Policy, please go here https://travelwithamnet.com/privacy-policy/, under “Privacy Policy.”

14. You/Your. 

You/your means the person making the booking and all members of their party or group excluding children under 18.  Where there is more than one person, each person is fully responsible for the obligations in this Agreement. 

15. Governing Law. 

This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to its conflict of law principles.

16. Dispute Resolution Mechanism. 

You agree that the courts in New York County, State of New York will be the exclusive jurisdiction for all claims brought by you or us, and you hereby submit to personal jurisdiction of those courts. 

17. Miscellaneous. 

If any term or provision of this Agreement conflicts with the terms and conditions of a particular tour, the terms of the particular tour will control.  If any term or provision of this Agreement is declared null and void, unenforceable, or illegal by a court or other tribunal having jurisdiction, the validity of the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement will not be affected thereby and such illegal or invalid term or provision will be deemed not to be part of this Agreement.  This Agreement represents the entire agreement between the parties with respect to its subject matter, and it supersedes any prior representation, agreement, or understanding with respect to its subject matter. This Agreement may be amended only by written agreement signed by all parties.  Each individual signing this Agreement on behalf of a party warrants that he/she has the right, power, legal capacity, and authority to enter into and perform each of the obligations specified under this Agreement.