1. Introduction
1.1 These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) govern the use of the website operated at https://pubcrawlkyoto.com (the “Website”) and participation in pub crawl experiences and related nightlife activities (the “Services”) organized by Photo Taiken Japan under the brand Pub Crawl Kyoto (“we”, “us”, “our”).
1.2 By accessing the Website and/or by booking or attending any of our Services (including bookings made via third‑party platforms such as Viator and GetYourGuide), you (“you”, “your”, the “Participant”) acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to be bound by these Terms.
1.3 If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not use the Website or participate in the Services.
2. Nature of the Services
2.1 Our Services consist of guided nightlife experiences in Kyoto (including pub crawls, bar hopping, and club visits), during which Participants visit one or more licensed venues serving alcoholic beverages.
2.2 Some Services may include “all‑you‑can‑drink” / nomihodai offerings at certain venues, subject to time limits, drink menus, and rules set by each venue. The specifics of inclusions, exclusions, and duration are described in the booking information for each experience and may vary between events.
2.3 The venues visited (bars, pubs, clubs, restaurants) are independently owned and operated and are not under our control. Each venue’s own house rules and policies apply in addition to these Terms.
3. Eligibility and Legal Drinking Age
3.1 The Services are strictly limited to persons who are 20 years of age or older, which is the legal age for purchasing and consuming alcoholic beverages in Japan.
3.2 We, our staff, freelance hosts, and venues reserve the right to request valid government‑issued photo identification (e.g., passport, residence card, Japanese driver’s licence) at any time. If you cannot provide proof that you are at least 20 years old, you may be refused participation without any refund.
3.3 By booking and participating in the Services, you represent and warrant that you are at least 20 years old and legally allowed to consume alcohol in Japan.
3.4 Laws regarding drink‑driving in Japan are strict and impose severe penalties for drivers and sometimes passengers; you must not drive or operate any vehicle (including bicycles) after consuming alcohol during the Services.
4. Bookings and Payments
4.1 You can book our Services directly on this Website through our checkout (TicketingHub). You can also book through third party platforms such as Viator and GetYourGuide or other booking partners (collectively, the “Booking Platforms”).
4.2 Direct bookings are completed on this Website through TicketingHub. When you book on GetYourGuide, Viator, or another Booking Platform, you leave this Website for that platform. For a Booking Platform, payment, refunds, cancellations, and changes follow that platform’s terms. For a direct booking, section 8 applies.
4.3 If you book on a Booking Platform, your contract for the purchase of the Service is formed according to that platform’s terms. If you book directly on this Website, your contract is formed when you complete checkout here. We are responsible for delivering the Service as described in the confirmed booking, but we are not responsible for the operation of a Booking Platform, its payment systems, or its customer support.
4.4 For a direct booking on this Website, contact us about charges, refunds, or payment card issues. For a Booking Platform reservation, those questions must be handled with that platform in accordance with its policies, except where we are explicitly instructed otherwise by the Booking Platform.
4.5 We may receive limited booking information (e.g., names, contact details, booking dates) from the Booking Platforms solely for the purpose of delivering the Service; how these platforms handle your data is governed by their own privacy policies.
4.6 If you book directly on this Website, TicketingHub processes the checkout and sends us the booking details we need to deliver the Service. Card payments are handled by TicketingHub, not typed into a form we built.
5. Freelance Hosts and Third‑Party Providers
5.1 In addition to crawls led directly by us, some Services may be delivered by independent freelance hosts or guides engaged on a contractual basis (“Freelance Hosts”).
5.2 Freelance Hosts are briefed and trained to follow our brand standards and safety guidelines, but they operate as independent contractors and not as employees. We remain the organizer of the Service and manage overall route planning, booking coordination, and quality control.
5.3 Venues visited, transportation providers, and other third‑party suppliers (if any) are solely responsible for their own services, policies, and safety measures. We are not responsible for acts or omissions of such third parties, except to the extent required by applicable law.
6. Participant Behaviour and Responsibilities
6.1 Participants must behave responsibly and respectfully toward other Participants, hosts, venue staff, and members of the public. Aggressive, abusive, discriminatory, harassing, or otherwise inappropriate behaviour will not be tolerated.
6.2 You must comply with all instructions given by our staff and Freelance Hosts, as well as all house rules and policies of the venues visited (including dress codes, smoking rules, noise restrictions, and entry conditions).
6.3 You are solely responsible for monitoring and managing your own alcohol consumption. We strongly discourage excessive drinking and any behaviour that may endanger yourself or others.
6.4 You are responsible for ensuring that you are medically fit to participate in the crawl and to consume alcohol. If you have any medical conditions, allergies, or other factors that may be affected by alcohol or crowded nightlife environments, you must consult a medical professional before participating and inform us of any relevant limitations.
6.5 You are responsible for your own belongings at all times. We are not liable for loss, theft, or damage to personal property, whether in transit or at venues.
6.6 You must comply with all applicable laws and local regulations when drinking in public spaces and using tobacco or other substances during the Services.
7. Right to Refuse Service, Removal from the Crawl
7.1 We, our staff, Freelance Hosts, and venue staff have the right, at our sole discretion, to refuse entry or continued participation to any Participant whose behaviour or condition we consider unsafe, disruptive, or in breach of these Terms, including but not limited to:
- Excessive intoxication or visible impairment.
- Possession of illegal substances or weapons.
- Harassment, violence, or threats.
- Refusal to comply with reasonable instructions.
7.2 If you are refused participation or removed from the crawl for any of the reasons above, you are not entitled to any refund or compensation.
7.3 Venues may impose additional conduct rules and may deny service or entry independently of our decisions. We have no obligation to secure replacement venues or refunds if a venue legitimately refuses entry due to your behaviour or non‑compliance with its rules.
8. Changes, Cancellations, and Late Arrival
8.1 If you booked on GetYourGuide, Viator, or another booking platform, that platform’s cancellation, change, and refund rules apply, including any deadlines and fees.
8.2 If you booked directly on this Website, you can cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before the start time and we will give you a full refund. If you cancel within 24 hours of the start, or you do not show up, we do not refund. To cancel, WhatsApp us.
8.3 We may change the route, the start time, the venues, and what is included (for example drink menus or club entry) when we need to, because a venue is unavailable, because of an event, weather, safety, or another operational reason. Where we can, we will offer a comparable night.
8.4 If we cancel a booking you made on a booking platform, a refund or a new date follows that platform’s rules. Anything extra we offer is up to us. If we cancel a direct booking, we refund what you paid.
8.5 We leave with the group on time. If you miss us, the first bar may charge its own entrance fee. Running late? WhatsApp us and we'll tell you where we are.
9. Health, Safety, and Insurance
9.1 We take reasonable steps to plan routes and venues with safety in mind, but nightlife inherently involves risks, including crowded environments, uneven surfaces, stairs, loud music, flashing lights, and the effects of alcohol consumption.
9.2 You acknowledge that participation involves these risks and voluntarily assume all risks associated with attending the crawl, including risks of minor or serious injury, illness, or property damage.
9.3 We strongly recommend that Participants obtain their own travel and medical insurance covering alcohol‑related incidents, nightlife activities, and personal belongings for the duration of their stay in Japan.
9.4 If you feel unwell or unsafe at any point, you must inform the host immediately, and we will assist you in obtaining help or safely exiting the event where reasonably possible.
10. Limitation of Liability
10.1 To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, we are not liable for any indirect, consequential, special, or punitive damages, including loss of enjoyment, loss of income, or reputational damage, arising out of or in connection with your use of the Website or participation in the Services.
10.2 Our total liability for direct damages arising out of or in connection with a single booking shall be limited to the amount actually paid for that booking, whether you booked directly on this Website or through a Booking Platform, except where mandatory law requires a higher limit or prohibits such limitation.
10.3 Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability for death or personal injury caused by our gross negligence or wilful misconduct, or any other liability that cannot be excluded or limited under applicable law.
10.4 We are not liable for actions or omissions of venues, Booking Platforms, transportation providers, or other third parties, except to the extent that applicable law holds us directly responsible for such actions.
11. Intellectual Property
11.1 All content on the Website, including text, images, logos, graphics, videos, and design elements, is owned by or licensed to Pub Crawl Kyoto and is protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws. Japanese tourism sites and government portals similarly restrict reproduction and reuse of their materials.
11.2 You may view, print, or temporarily store Website content for your personal, non‑commercial use only. Any other reproduction, distribution, modification, or public display of the content, in whole or in part, is prohibited without our prior written consent, except where permitted by mandatory law.
11.3 You may create standard hyperlinks to the Website, provided that such links do not portray us or our Services in a false, misleading, derogatory, or otherwise offensive manner.
12. Use of the Website
12.1 You agree not to use the Website for any unlawful purpose or in any way that could harm, disable, overburden, or impair the Website or interfere with any other party’s use of it.
12.2 You must not attempt to gain unauthorized access to the Website, its servers, or related systems, or use automated tools (including scraping, bots, or similar techniques) to extract large amounts of data without our written consent.
12.3 We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your access to the Website at any time if we reasonably believe that you have violated these Terms or are otherwise misusing the Website.
13. Privacy and Data Protection
13.1 Our handling of personal data is described in our Privacy Policy, which is accessible via the Website footer. The Privacy Policy is part of these Terms and explains how we process data collected directly through the Website and data received from Booking Platforms, in accordance with Japanese APPI and EU GDPR requirements.
13.2 By using the Website and participating in the Services, you acknowledge that you have read the Privacy Policy and agree to our processing of your personal data as described therein.
14. Governing Law and Jurisdiction
14.1 These Terms, and any disputes or claims arising out of or in connection with them or with the Website and the Services, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Japan.
14.2 The parties agree that the courts of Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, Japan shall have exclusive jurisdiction as the court of first instance over any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms, subject to any mandatory consumer protection rules that provide you with additional rights in your country of residence.
14.3 If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.
15. Changes to These Terms
15.1 We may revise these Terms from time to time to reflect changes in our operations, Booking Platform policies, applicable laws, or other reasons.
15.2 The updated Terms will be posted on the Website with an updated “Last updated” date. Continued use of the Website or participation in the Services after such updates constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms.