GUIDED ADVENTURES (TRIP) policy

(THE COMPLETE, NO-NONSENSE SECTION ABOUT REFUNDS)

THE OFFICIAL REFUND POLICY: Cancellation and refund requests must be submitted to PacSet promptly and directly via email at info@pacsettours.com or info@pacsettravel.com. Refund requests submitted via any other method WILL NOT BE HONORED. 

IF YOU CALL US, TEXT US, CALL EVAN’S PERSONAL CELL, REACH OUT OVER FACEBOOK MESSENGER, OR SOMETHING ELSE = NO REFUND. Seriously. If you email us, even if we don’t respond before the deadline for the refund request, it will still count. Email only. Email, email, email.

The following charges will apply based on when PacSet Tours Inc. receives the cancellation with respect to the date of departure (all fees are per person):
120+ Days before trip: full refund
120-91 Days before trip: minus $300 from amount paid
90-61 Days/ 90 Days until deadline: minus $500 from amount paid
60 Days and Less / or after the signup deadline, whichever comes first: No refunds – no exceptions.

Again: REFUNDS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AFTER THE DEADLINE - NO MATTER WHAT. Family emergency, another pandemic, whatever: you cannot get a refund. This is why you are now required to get travel insurance.

WHY ARE REFUNDS NOT AVAILABLE AFTER THE DEADLINE? There’s A PANDEMIC/I FELL ILL/THERE’S A CRISIS/ETC…

Before COVID, we believed in being nice and forgiving in situations when something terrible happens. However, as numerous lawyers were all too happy to remind us, forgiveness only works if someone does the same for you.

During COVID, no person/bank/insurance company/government backed up small travel businesses. We lost everything. We can’t gamble with doing that again.

THIS (along with Japanese law) IS WHY TRAVEL INSURANCE IS REQUIRED. It’s literally the “oh no, [insert tragedy] happened!” option. Get it, keep it, use it. Plus it helps take care of you if you get sick overseas, which is a nice bonus.

Refunds are subject to a handling fee of $20 or 3.5% of total (whichever is greater).

All deposits are non-refundable after one year, regardless of deadline.

Effective 2/14/2014: If payment was made by credit/debit card within the last 120 days of the refund request, the refund will be returned the same way. Otherwise, all refunds will be issued by check unless you are not a resident of the US. Travel insurance is also available to protect against sudden or necessary cancellations.

Effective 5/23/2021: All deposits henceforth are non-refundable after one year.

DEPOSIT TRANSFERS
Should an offer be made by PacSet Tours Inc. to transfer your deposit/funds to another trip, this offer is only valid for 30 days. If there is no response after 30 days, the offer will be canceled. If a deposit is transferred, it is still subject to the same rules and restrictions that the original deposit was subject to. For example, if you transfer to a trip one year after your original dates of travel, you are still not eligible for a refund if you cancel six months before that trip, because your deposit still applies to the trip it was originally intended for.

TRIP TRANSFERS
Should an offer be made by PacSet Tours Inc. to transfer your funds to another trip due to an unforeseen delay or circumstance beyond the control of PacSet (e.g. force majeure, acts of god, earthquakes, natural disasters, flight and rail delays, etc. - including the COVID-19 Outbreak), those transfers are governed by the following rules:

1. Transfers are only possible IF PACSET OFFERS YOU ONE; they are not automatic.

2. Transfer offers are only valid for 30 days. If there is no response after 30 days, the offer will be canceled.

3. Offers of refunds or credits are limited to the customer they are offered to and are not available to anyone else unless expressly offered by a designated representative of PacSet Tours Inc.

4. A trip transfer is a one time offer. Once you pick a new trip, further changes are not allowed unless a trip transfer is offered to you again.

5. All refund policies that governed your original trip remain in effect unless a designated representative of PacSet Tours Inc. offers you a refund or credit outside the normal refund period. If such an offer is made, it too is only valid for 30 days. If there is no response after 30 days, the offer will be canceled.

DEPOSIT AND TRIP TRANSFERS ARE OFFERED EXCLUSIVELY ON A PERSON-BY-PERSON BASIS. If you are not offered the choice of a transfer by a designated representative of PacSet Tours Inc., you are NOT entitled to one.

RESERVATIONS AND DEPOSITS:
A deposit of $300 per person – or the first month’s payment in a payment plan – is required in order to hold a reservation on the trip. Confirmation will be sent after the deposit has been received. Deposits and all payments may be made by check, debit/credit card (VISA, MasterCard, AmEx, and Discover), or bank transfer. This money will be held in a Trust Account as required by California Law. Agreement to the terms and conditions on this page is also required, and agreement is confirmed by checking the properly marked box upon sign up.

FINAL PAYMENT: Final payment must be paid in full BY THE DEADLINE, unless your payment plan states otherwise. The deadline is stated on each trip page, also known as the “Sign-Up Deadline”.

FINAL PAYMENT BY CHECK: Starting in 2024, Alumni of PacSet may elect to pay the balance of their bill by check, money order, or cashier’s check. For trips running in 2024, we offered a JAPAN FREE FREE program which let alumni take an extra $200 off their final bill. While that program has been canceled for all trips departing after 2024, if you are traveling in 2024, those check payments are subject to the following rules:

1. PacSet will inform you when it is okay to send a check.

2. Checks may only be submitted within one month of the deadline.

3. All checks will be cashed/deposited when the deadline for the trip passes.

4. Checks should be mailed to the PacSet Mailbox: 21143 Hawthorne Blvd. #280, Torrance, CA 90503, USA.

5. Bounced checks will result in a $40 handling fee. Should your check bounce and we are unable to reach you, you will be banned from all future PacSet trips.

6. All check payments are subject to the same rules as all other forms of payment.

7. If you have any extra charges after final payment (e.g. last minute addition of a hotel night, a special meal, event tickets, etc.), you may still pay those by credit card.

FULL PAYMENT: All payments must be made in full before trip departure. This includes the trip itself, along with any extra flights, options, or services arranged before the trip. We cannot accept anyone on the trip with an open balance.

PRICING: In accordance with USDOT regulations, all prices include all taxes and fees.

ROOM SHARING: All rooms on trips, unless otherwise specified, are double occupancy. If you are traveling alone, you will be given the option to pay extra for a single room supplement, or be matched with a roommate by PacSet staff via a roommate survey. If you do not specify which option you prefer, you will automatically be matched at random with another trip participant.

MEDICATIONS: If you use medications involving a syringe (epi-pen, insulin, etc.) or you use a CPAP machine, you may need to apply for an import certificate (“Yunyu Kakuninsho”) before entering Japan. Likewise, if you will be bringing any limited narcotics (morphine, codeine, oxycodone, pethidine, hydrocodone) into Japan, you will need to apply for permission. PacSet can supply you with all the forms you’ll need for these purposes; just ask.

Finally: import of any hard drugs, cannabis (marijuana), ephedrine, or pseudo-ephedrine (found in the old version of Sudafed and other over-the-counter sinus medicines) is prohibited in all cases. PacSet does NOT accept responsibility for care of your medicines and cannot be held liable if you are denied entry into Japan. If you are arrested or detained due to a violation of these laws, PacSet will NOT be responsible for your care, your travel home, and any expenses incurred - you are on your own.

IN CASE OF ARREST OR DETENTION IN JAPAN: Participants are responsible for their own conduct. By signing up for a PacSet trip, you acknowledge that you will obey all local laws and rules set forth by the Japanese government. Any violation of Japanese law intentional or unintentional (including, but not limited to: visa forgery, forgery of vaccine paperwork, importation of illegal substances, and so on) will result in prosecution by the Japanese authorities. In addition to this, you will not be entitled to any refund of any kind or any further assistance from PacSet. You also agree to pay a $10,000 fee to PacSet for breaking the terms of your travel agreement. If you refuse to pay, we will send your personal information to a collections agency and take legal action against you until we receive payment.

Travel Insurance: We recommend purchasing travel insurance. You may purchase them through Travel Guard or through a different site.

PAYMENT PLAN: If payments are more than 15 days late and you do not notify PacSet of the delay by phone or e-mail, an overdue payment fee of 10% the payment amount (amount of the single payment, not the whole trip) will be charged. Customers that opt for the payment plan and stop making payments WITHOUT notifying PacSet or formally requesting a refund for a trip that is confirmed will not receive a refund of their deposit, even if a deposit refund is available under the general PacSet refund terms.

VISAS: For guests coming from a country without a Visa Waiver Program (VWP), PacSet will assist with providing links to the necessary Visa applications for guests traveling with the trip. Visa applications are the responsibility of the participant. PLEASE NOTE: Participants with US, Canadian and Mexican passports do NOT need a visa to visit Japan.

BAGGAGE: Baggage shipping service is available on most trips. Please check trip page for availability and restrictions on checked-size bags. Each person is responsible for carrying and managing their own luggage, and for checking airline regulations. Please be aware that most Japanese trains and buses have VERY limited luggage space, and that most participants will want to send any large baggage to the airport ahead of time if the are staying for extra trip/trip extensions.

Effective in 2026: Due to an increase in injuries done to other guests and other people by guests with large bags and/or too much luggage, all guests with a suitcase above the 160cm size-length-width dimensions specified by PacSet, as well as anyone rolling two suitcases as once (rolling = on wheels, not on your back or elsewhere) will be asked to call a taxi at their own expense to get them and their things from Point A to Point B instead of traveling with the group through train stations. Exceptions will be made for physical disabilities and equipment such as oxygen tanks.

PARTICIPATION: For the benefit of everyone in your group, PacSet reserves the right to accept or reject any person as a tour participant, and to remove from the tour any participant whose conduct or health detracts from the enjoyment of the other participants. DISRUPTING THE TRIP AND/OR NEGATIVELY AFFECTING THE ENJOYMENT OF THE TRIP FOR OTHER GUESTS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. Guests that engage in such behavior WILL be removed from the trip and will NOT be entitled to a refund or compensation of any kind.

ELIGIBILITY: Trips require participants to be in good health. Step climbing and walking on cobblestone streets are common on most programs and wheelchair access can be tricky, so please notify PacSet if you have any health conditions that may impact your participation in the trip. Any disability or condition requiring special attention must be reported to PacSet at the time of booking; PacSet cannot guarantee that any accommodations will be made for any conditions that are not reported.

INSURANCE: Travelers are strongly urged to purchase insurance for protection against loss, cancellation, medical and other emergencies. Insurance applications will be provided for travelers. Trip participation is “AT RISK”, meaning that YOU are responsible for your own insurance. PacSet will NOT be held responsible for illness, injury, property damage, and/or death while participating in trip activities.

NOT INCLUDED: Most trips do not include fees for meals and personal expenses (shopping, miscellaneous purchases, etc.). See each trip page for details.

TCRC DISCLOSURES – California: This business is a participant in the Travel Consumer Restitution Corporation. You, the passenger, may request reimbursement from TCRC if you are owed a refund of more than $50 for transportation or travel services, which was not refunded in a timely manner by a seller of travel who was registered and participating in the TCRC at the time of sale. The maximum amount, which may be paid by the TCRC to any one passenger, is the total amount paid on behalf of the passenger to the seller of travel, not to exceed $15,000. A claim must be submitted to the TCRC within six months after the scheduled completion date of travel. A claim must include sufficient information and documentation to prove your claim and a $35 processing fee. You must agree to waive your right to other civil remedies against a registered participating seller of travel for matters arising out of a sale for which you file a claim with the TCRC, if you were located in California at the time of the sale. You may request a claim form by writing to: Travel Consumer Restitution Corporation P.O. Box 6001, Larkspur, CA 94977-6001 or by faxing a request to: (415) 927-7698. Out of State: This transaction is “not covered” by the California Travel Consumer Restitution Corporation.

ITINERARIES: Deviations to the planned itineraries shown in published sources may occur, even though every effort will be made to keep them as they are presented. In case it is necessary to substitute sightseeing, due to unforeseen circumstances, we will do all possible to provide excursions that are most similar to the original schedule, and there will be no refunds for such itinerary changes. In addition, we reserve the right to substitute hotels as necessary and any such change will not result in eligibility for refund.

TRIP CONTENT AND ADJUSTMENTS: All trips run by PacSet are designed with flexibility in mind. Free time is usually available, and shopping stops are planned in a way that allows for guests to separate from the group and explore on their own. Trip guests are welcome to deviate from the planned trip activities and go elsewhere. If a guest chooses to skip a day of the itinerary but wants help planning their alternative activity, they MUST contact PacSet in advance to arrange such activities. In these cases, the following rules apply:

1. All additional arrangements and information requests are subject to additional charges. Small requests (directions, maps) are complimentary within reason.

2. PacSet is entitled to reject any request which is unfeasible, unworkable due to time constraints, or could pose a threat to the structure of the main trip.

3. PacSet is not responsible – and CANNOT be held liable – for the quality and/or integrity of ANY non-trip activities.

4. Any personal trip additions or extensions that involve a change in flight times MUST be made to PacSet BEFORE the deadline for the trip — no exceptions.

5. In the case that a guest decides they cannot attend a trip due to PacSet’s inability to fulfill a special request or deviation from the scheduled trip, all standard refund policies remain in effect. All guests who leave a trip for these reasons are not entitled to any refunds, special treatment, or compensation. Furthermore, any discounts used (if any) in the purchase of said trip will be forfeited regardless of the date of cancellation.

6. In the case that anyone’s alternative activities or trip deviations affect the overall trip and/or the enjoyment of other trip guests, PacSet will put the needs of the scheduled trip first in every case. If, in the process of organizing their own alternative activity, any guest ends up affecting the enjoyment of the trip for other guests and/or attempts to keep the guide(s) from their duties (“hijacking”), PacSet reserves the right to discipline the offending guest(s), up to and including REMOVING THEM FROM THE TRIP. In this case, the removed participant is not entitled to a refund of any kind and forfeits the right to take legal action against PacSet or any of its partner companies or suppliers.

EMERGENCY SCHEDULE CHANGES: In the event of an unforeseen delay or circumstance beyond the control of PacSet (e.g. force majeure, acts of god, earthquakes, natural disasters, flight and rail delays, etc.), the trip schedule will be changed at the discretion of the guide and PacSet staff in cooperation with local authorities. In these events, we will attempt to re-schedule anything on the schedule that is affected; however, please be aware that in some cases, events on the trip (or in extreme cases, the entire trip) may be canceled. If this occurs, you are not entitled to any partial refund or credit. PacSet will always put the safety and security of the group FIRST. Any participant who seeks to endanger the trip, its participants, or staff to “make up” for missed trip content will be subject to discipline and potential removal from the trip.

RESOLUTIONS AND DISPUTES: In the event legal or equitable action is initiated concerning a PacSet Tours Inc. program, the exclusive venue of such action will be solely in the state, county and city of PacSet’s principal place of business.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND LIABILITY: PacSet Tours Inc. is the Trip Operator responsible for arranging and providing all the services and accommodations offered in connection with these trips. The Trip Operator acts on behalf of Independent travel suppliers associated with the trip, such as airlines, hotels, and bus companies. Accordingly, participant(s) agree to seek remedies directly with the suppliers and not to hold the Trip Operator liable for any loss, injury, delay, or expense which results directly or indirectly from any action or omission, whether negligent or otherwise, of any entity providing goods and services for the trip. Participants also agree not to hold the Trip Operator liable for circumstances beyond its control (e.g. force majeure, acts of god, earthquakes, natural disasters, pandemics, flight and rail delays, etc.). Participant(s) acknowledge that neither the Trip Operator, nor its agents have made any representations or promises with respect to the trips described herein, except as expressly set forth in the Trip Operator’s brochure, unless such agreement is in writing and signed by an officer of the Trip Operator. At any time, the Trip Operator may decline, for any reason, any person as a Trip Participant on a trip (or option) where upon the Trip Operator’s only obligation shall be to refund to that person the portion of payment allocatable to the unused services.

CST#2107554-40

MERCHMART POLICIES AND RULES

The following refund policy ONLY applies to physical products purchased from Kippu's Merchmart via Shopify. IT DOES NOT APPLY TO ANY TRIP, TRAVEL PRODUCT, OR SERVICE OFFERED AT PACSETTRAVEL.COM.

For Kippu's Merchmart, we have a 30-day return policy, which means you have 30 days after receiving your item to request a return. We want you to be happy with what you get from us, so if you aren't, please reach out! =^-^=
To be eligible for a return, your item must be in the same condition that you received it, unworn or unused, with tags, and in its original packaging. You’ll also need the receipt or proof of purchase. 

To start a return, you can contact us at info@pacsettravel.com. If your return is accepted, we’ll send you a return shipping label, as well as instructions on how and where to send your package. Items sent back to us without first requesting a return will not be accepted. You can always contact us for any return question at info@pacsettravel.com.

Damages and issues 
Please inspect your order upon reception and contact us immediately if the item is defective, damaged or if you receive the wrong item, so that we can evaluate the issue and make it right.

Exceptions / non-returnable items 
Unfortunately, we cannot accept returns on sale items, one-time/"limited stock" items, or gift cards.

Exchanges 
Contact info@pacsettravel.com if you want to make an exchange. Exchanges are arranged on a case-by-case basis.

Refunds 
We will notify you once we’ve received and inspected your return, and let you know if the refund was approved or not. If approved, you’ll be automatically refunded on your original payment method. Please remember it can take some time for your bank or credit card company to process and post the refund too.