Terms of Use

These terms apply when you book an experience with KENSTOURS LLC (“Ken’s Tours Kyoto”, “we”, “us”). By booking you accept them.

We are not a registered travel agency. We arrange and run our own experiences; we do not sell transport, accommodation or third-party tour packages.

A booking is confirmed only when we send you a written confirmation. Until then, a date is not held for you.

Some experiences — the temple and residence venues, and any booking above the listed group size — are arranged by enquiry. For these we quote you first, and the booking is confirmed once you accept the quote.

Prices are shown in Japanese yen and include consumption tax. A price is a flat rate for the group up to the number of guests stated; beyond that, the additional charge per guest is shown on the experience page.

Unless stated, prices do not include transport to the meeting point, entrance fees, personal expenses, or gratuities. Gratuities are never expected.

Payment is taken through our booking platform at the time of confirmation, unless we agree otherwise in writing. We do not handle or store your card details.

Tell us as early as you can and we will do what we can. A change of date depends on the venue and on the availability of the geiko, maiko or chef, and may not be possible.

If your group gets smaller, the price does not go down. On a flat-rate experience the price is for the group, not per head; on a per-person experience the places you booked are already held for you. In both cases the venue, the performers and the ingredients are committed before the day.

If your group gets larger, the additional charge per guest applies, up to the maximum for that venue.

Our costs are committed well before the day. Okiya hold the geiko and maiko, venues are reserved, and ingredients are bought. The schedule below reflects when those become non-refundable to us.

The same schedule applies to every experience and to every way of booking with us directly.

Time is measured back from the start time of your experience, in Japan Standard Time. Not arriving, without telling us, is charged at 100%.

Deposits held by a venue or performer

A few of our experiences use venues, or line-ups of performers, that have to be committed earlier and cannot be released. Where that applies we tell you the amount and the date before you confirm, and from that date the deposit is charged in addition to the schedule above.

This affects the temple and residence venues, and any booking arranged by enquiry. It never applies without us having told you first.

If we cannot run an experience — a performer falls ill, a venue becomes unavailable, or a safety issue arises — we will offer you an alternative date or a full refund. The choice is yours.

We are not able to cover your other costs, such as flights or hotels, so we recommend travel insurance.

Most of our experiences take place indoors and run in any weather.

Walking segments and the Fushimi Inari hike go ahead in light rain; we will tell you what to bring.

Whether conditions are safe is our decision, and we make it ourselves rather than by reference to any official warning. A warning may be in force and we still run; there may be no warning and we still cancel. If we cancel for weather, you receive a full refund, or an alternative date if you prefer.

We may shorten or reroute a walk on the day if conditions make it unsafe. This is not treated as a cancellation.

Please arrive at the meeting point at the stated time. We wait 15 minutes. If you have not arrived and we have not heard from you, the booking is treated as a no-show and charged in full.

If you are running late, message us. The first part of the schedule is an introduction and a briefing, so a short delay is absorbed there.

Where a group is already under way, we do not hold it back for one party. Your guide will tell you where to meet us along the route, and you join from there. On a walking tour this may mean missing one or two stops; you still reach the venue on time and see the whole performance.

Tell us in advance about allergies, dietary needs and mobility needs so we can arrange for them. We cannot always accommodate a request made on the day.

Geiko and maiko are professionals at work, and the venues are places where people live and work. Your guide will explain what is welcome and what is not.

• Follow your guide’s instructions on photography. Photography is welcome during the time set aside for it
• Do not touch a geiko or maiko, their kimono, or their hair ornaments
• Do not publish a photograph commercially without our written permission
• Do not follow or photograph geiko or maiko on the street outside the experience

We may end an experience without refund if a guest behaves in a way that is unsafe, or disrespectful to the performers, staff or other guests. This includes intoxication.

We sometimes photograph or film an experience for our own use. If you would rather not appear, tell your guide on the day and we will respect that.

Photographs you take are yours for personal use. Commercial use requires our written permission and, where a geiko or maiko appears, theirs as well.

Children are welcome. A guest under 18 must be accompanied by an adult, who is responsible for them throughout. Some venues have limits — tell us the ages when you enquire.

We take care in arranging every experience and we are responsible for our own negligence. We are not responsible for loss caused by something outside our control, or by a guest not following instructions.

Where we are liable for financial loss, our liability is limited to the amount you paid for the experience.

That limit does not apply to death or personal injury, and it does not apply where we have acted intentionally or with gross negligence. Nothing here limits liability that cannot be limited by law.

These terms are governed by the law of Japan. Any dispute will be heard by the Kyoto District Court as the court of first instance.

The terms that apply to your booking are those published when you booked. If we change them, we will update the date at the top of this page.