Tour Agreement

NB: If your application to attend the Japan Moxa Study Tour is successful, you will be asked to agree to the following Terms & Conditions, which form the Tour Agreement:

Payment Policy:

• Payment must be received in full by 1 November 2024 to earn the Early Bird discount price.
• The payment plan must be completed by 1 April 2025.
• If a booking is made less than 60 days from the Tour commencement date, full payment is required to secure the booking.
• If payment of the balance is not received by the final due date, we reserve the right to cancel the reservation, retain the deposit, as well as any payments made to date at our discretion.

Cancellation Policy:

• All cancellations must be given in writing.
• In the event of cancellation by you, regardless of the circumstances, the following refund policy shall apply:
• A. The Deposit of $AUD500 is non-refundable, regardless of circumstances including emergencies that may arise (unless your place can be filled, if the cancellation is made prior to 60 days before the Tour’s commencement date)
• B. If the cancellation is made prior to 60 days before the Tour’s commencement date, all other payments made to date will be refunded to you in a timely manner.
• C. If the cancellation occurs 60 days or less before the Tour’s commencement date, no refund will be provided for any payments made (unless your place can be filled – in which case a full refund may be considered at our discretion, excluding the non-refundable deposit).
• We do not offer credit or refunds if you arrive late or leave the Tour early, including due to unforeseen issues such as family-related illness, COVID diagnosis, flight delays, or visa complications, and do not offer credit or refunds if you choose not to participate in any of the organised activities, unless previously agreed upon.
• We reserve the right to change the Tour’s schedule due to unforeseen issues, such as third-party delays, teacher unavailabilities, weather issues, etc. In such cases, we will ensure that an acceptable alternative schedule is put in place, and that all the standards are maintained.
• We reserve the right to change or amend this Cancellation Policy at any time. The most current policy shall always be applicable.

Travel Insurance:

• You must obtain full travel insurance covering all medical expenses, Tour activities, and a trip cancellation policy in the unlikely event that the Tour is cancelled or in case of a personal emergency that prevents attendance.
• You must provide us with a copy of your full insurance details by 1 April 2025 – in case of an emergency that needs to be actioned by us during the Tour.

Visa & Passport Requirements:

• To enter Japan, your passport needs to be valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry, and you must carry proof of onward passage (either a return ticket or an onward ticket).
• Currently there is no Visa required to travel to Japan. However, it is expected that this may be changing in the near future, in which case we will inform you of any requirements that we hear about..
• Please check the requirements closer to the date. We will not be held responsible for any mishaps due to you not confirming your Passport or Visa status prior to travelling.
• It can be beneficial to complete an electronic customs declaration prior to travel. More details will be provided closer to the date of travel to help you with this.

Liability:

• Catherine Kato and her associates shall not be liable for any unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond our normal control, which the consequences of could not have been avoided even when exercising all due care. Such circumstances or events include but are not limited to, pandemic outbreak, war or threat of war, riot, civil unrest, industrial disputes or strikes, accidents or failure to perform by third parties, including suppliers and subcontractors, unavoidable technical problems with the accommodation, transport or closure or congestion of airports, terrorist activity, natural disasters, industrial disasters, fire, theft, flooding, earthquakes, and adverse weather conditions. In the event of any of the above, refunds and compensation payments cannot be made (your travel insurance should be able to cover you for such unlikely occurrences).
• Catherine Kato and her associates accept no liability for loss, damage, injury or illnesses that may be received during your stay or travelling to and from their Tours. All participants participate in the Tour itself, including all classes and activities during it, at their own risk and must make their own judgments when participating in all parts. This includes but is not limited to weather, noise, construction, special ceremonies, and other general activities.
• While all care is taken, Catherine Kato and her associates cannot accept any responsibility for the loss or damage of personal possessions or valuables of participants in the Tour.

Use of Written and Photographic Material

• You agree that you may be photographed and/or filmed during your stay and/or activities in connection with the Tour, and also agree that we may use such recordings for promotion and/or advertising purposes without any prior consent. We will use our best efforts to respect your privacy to ensure you are not exposed personally in vulnerable situations.
• You also agree that any written material provided to us in the form of feedback forms or emails may be used for marketing purposes.