Terms

These terms cover the use of this website and the travel-planning services Clever Magnolia provides from Nagoya. Reading the site commits you to nothing. A journey becomes a contract only when we confirm a booking in writing and your deposit has arrived.

After a first conversation we send a written proposal with a suggested route, the ryokan we recommend, and a price per person. Proposals are free and valid for fourteen days. Ryokan rooms are not held while you consider a proposal unless we say so; popular autumn dates can disappear within a week, and we will tell you when that is likely.

A booking is confirmed when you accept the proposal and pay a deposit of twenty percent of the trip price. The balance is due thirty days before departure, or at the time of booking if you book later than that. Prices are in Japanese yen and include the services listed in the proposal. Overseas bank charges are borne by the traveller.

If you cancel more than thirty days before departure, the deposit is refunded less any non-refundable ryokan charge, which we state in the proposal. Between thirty and eight days before departure the cancellation charge is thirty percent of the trip price; between seven and two days it is fifty percent; from the day before departure it is one hundred percent. These tiers follow the standard conditions published by the Japan Association of Travel Agents.

Onsen towns close baths for maintenance, typhoons stop trains, and a ryokan occasionally overbooks. When something we planned becomes impossible we will offer an equivalent alternative at no extra cost, or a refund for the part that cannot be delivered. We are not responsible for costs that arise from events outside our control, such as flight cancellations before you reach Japan.

The proposal lists exactly what is included: accommodation with the stated meals, transport tickets, guides and any entry fees. Unless it says otherwise, international flights, travel insurance, personal expenses and meals not listed are not included.

Our journeys are designed to be gentle, but ryokan often have steps, futon bedding and shared baths. Tell us about anything that affects how you travel so that we can choose well. We ask every traveller to hold travel insurance that covers medical care in Japan and trip cancellation. If you do not arrange it yourself, we can introduce a domestic provider.

Each ryokan has its own rules on bathing hours, meal times, tattoos and footwear. We explain them in the pre-departure pack. A guest who is refused service by a ryokan for breaking its rules is not entitled to a refund for that night.

The photographs and articles here are our own work or used with permission. You are welcome to share links; please ask before reproducing any of it.

Clever Magnolia acts as the arranging agent between you and the ryokan, operators and guides who deliver each part of the journey. Our liability for any loss is limited to the amount you paid us for the affected part of the trip, except where Japanese law does not allow such a limit.

These terms are governed by the law of Japan. Any dispute that cannot be settled by talking to us will be brought before the Nagoya District Court as the court of first instance.

Clever Magnolia, 3-55-2 Higashiokoshicho, Nakagawa Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 454-0935. Telephone +81 52-384-5160. Email hello@clevermagnolia.com.