Terms

Version: 21 September 2026

These General Terms and Conditions ("Terms and Conditions"), together with our Privacy Policy, govern your use of the services of jpnthings. These services are accessed through our online platform jpnthings.com, including its localized language versions and its brand areas jpnthings, jpnthings Experiences, jpnthings Boosted and jpnthings Stays (collectively, the "jpnthings Platform"). By accessing or using the jpnthings Platform, you agree to be bound by and to comply with these Terms and Conditions.

These Terms and Conditions have been drafted, and shall be construed, in English. Any translation of these Terms and Conditions (including the German and Japanese versions provided on the jpnthings Platform) is for reference only. In the event of any inconsistency between the English version and a translated version, the English version shall prevail, unless mandatory law of your country of habitual residence requires otherwise.

1. About Us

1.1 Operator of the jpnthings Platform and your contracting party for Activities booked via the jpnthings Platform is:

Ilias Ammour, Altes Gericht 22, 35398 Giessen, Germany Email: info@jpnthings.com (hereinafter "jpnthings", "we", "us" or "our").

1.2 Via the jpnthings Platform we offer activities in Japan, in particular tours and cultural experiences, driving experiences and automotive events, and transfers (collectively, "Activities"). Under jpnthings Stays we also present accommodations in Japan; accommodations are not booked or paid for via the jpnthings Platform (Section 3.2).

1.3 Our Local Partners. We carry out the Activities with independent partners in Japan, for example guides and drivers (collectively, "Local Partners"). Local Partners perform the Activity on our behalf. Your contracting party for the booked Activity is us.

1.4 We compile the information on Activities shown on the jpnthings Platform, including descriptions, photographs, availability and participation requirements, with care. The details shown in the booking summary are decisive for your booking.

2. Scope

2.1 These Terms and Conditions apply to all visitors and users of the jpnthings Platform (collectively, "Users" or "you") and govern your use of the jpnthings Platform and all bookings made through it, whether with a registered account or as a guest. As soon as you use any portion of the jpnthings Platform, you are obliged to comply with these Terms and Conditions. If you do not wish to be bound by these Terms and Conditions, do not use the jpnthings Platform.

2.2 These Terms and Conditions apply to all of our services, unless more specific terms apply to a service. In such cases, we will clearly inform you of the applicable terms. Any other terms that conflict with or differ from these Terms and Conditions will not apply unless we have expressly agreed to them in writing.

2.3 Consumers within the meaning of § 13 of the German Civil Code (BGB) are natural persons entering into the transaction for purposes that are predominantly outside their trade, business or profession.

3. What We Do

3.1 Activities: When you book an Activity, the contract for that Activity (the "Service Agreement") is concluded between you and us. We have the Activity carried out by our Local Partners (Section 1.3). We are your point of contact for the booking, changes, cancellations and payments.

3.2 Accommodations (jpnthings Stays): Under jpnthings Stays we show accommodations with descriptions and an availability calendar. No accommodation is booked or paid for via the jpnthings Platform. If you enquire about an accommodation, we will get back to you personally. Any booking, its terms and the payment are then agreed separately and outside the jpnthings Platform; these Terms and Conditions do not apply to that agreement.

3.3 Where the jpnthings Platform displays lists or search results of Activities, the default ordering is determined by factors intended to help you find suitable offers, in particular: relevance to the selected brand area and category, availability for the selected date, customer ratings and review count, recency and completeness of the listing, and popularity. A better ranking position cannot be bought. Details are provided in our Digital Services Act notice on the jpnthings Platform.

3.4 We reserve the right to impose conditions on the use of the jpnthings Platform, including access to certain features, based on factors such as payment history or the provision of documentation (e.g. identity verification for self-drive Activities). If we suspect fraud, misuse, or a violation of these Terms and Conditions or of a Service Agreement, we may restrict, suspend or cancel your bookings and/or your account.

3.5 We are not obligated to improve, update, upgrade or continue to make available the content, functions or services provided via the jpnthings Platform. We may discontinue our services at any time; there is no guarantee of continued availability. Service Agreements already concluded remain unaffected.

4. Use of the jpnthings Platform

4.1 The jpnthings Platform is provided for your personal, non-commercial use only. Any use of the jpnthings Platform for business, commercial or professional purposes is prohibited unless expressly agreed with us. In particular, the commercial resale of bookings, or any other activity intended to generate profit from bookings — whether for yourself or for third parties — is not permitted. The use of automated systems or software such as bots, scrapers, spiders or crawlers to access, extract, copy or index content or data from the jpnthings Platform without our prior written consent is strictly prohibited.

4.2 Registration is not required to browse the jpnthings Platform or to make a booking; you may also book as a guest. To access all features (e.g. a booking overview, saved checkout details), you can create a customer account ("jpnthings Account") by providing your name and email address and setting a password. We do not offer third-party social logins; authentication is handled directly by us.

4.3 You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your jpnthings Account credentials and may not disclose them to any third party. You are responsible and liable for all activities conducted through your jpnthings Account. You must notify us immediately at info@jpnthings.com if you suspect that your credentials have been lost or stolen or that your jpnthings Account has otherwise been compromised.

4.4 You may create only one jpnthings Account for yourself and may not transfer your jpnthings Account to anyone else. All information you provide when booking or registering must be truthful, complete and current, and must be kept up to date.

4.5 Guest bookings can be viewed and managed via a secure booking link/session. Guest bookings can subsequently be linked to a jpnthings Account using the email address used for the booking.

4.6 You must ensure that the email address you provide is reachable and that you check booking-related messages (including your spam folder). Notices sent to the email address you provided are deemed to have been received in the normal course of events.

5. Customer Service

If you have a question, complaint, or need assistance with your booking, you can contact us at any time at info@jpnthings.com or via the contact options on the jpnthings Platform. We endeavour to respond within 24 hours and at the latest within 48 hours. For emergencies on the day of the Activity, the contact details communicated in your booking confirmation apply.

6. Conclusion of the Service Agreement

6.1 When you select and book an Activity on the jpnthings Platform, you conclude the Service Agreement with us.

6.2 Instant booking: To book an Activity, you select the Activity, date and, where applicable, time slot, number of participants and add-ons, provide the required personal details, and choose a payment method. By completing the booking process (final booking button with cost obligation), you submit a binding offer to conclude a Service Agreement with us. Your offer remains binding for two (2) working days. We accept the offer by sending you a booking confirmation; where a payment is processed at checkout, the booking is confirmed at the latest upon successful completion of the payment. You must check the booking confirmation immediately to ensure that all data has been entered correctly. We reserve the right to accept or reject offers at our reasonable discretion.

6.3 Request to book: For Activities marked accordingly, you first submit a booking request. A Service Agreement is only concluded upon our express confirmation (booking approval). Only then does the agreed payment step take place.

6.4 For some Activities, additional conditions apply that are displayed to you during the booking process (e.g. safety instructions or on-site participation conditions, "Additional Conditions"). By booking, you agree to these Additional Conditions. In the event of a conflict between the Additional Conditions and these Terms and Conditions, the provision that is more beneficial to you prevails; your statutory rights remain unaffected.

6.5 The Service Agreement is not documented in a separate contract. The content of the Service Agreement consists of the booked Activity (i.e. the description of the Activity you selected, including the displayed payment and cancellation conditions), the applicable provisions of these Terms and Conditions, and, if applicable, the Additional Conditions.

6.6 The binding total price is calculated server-side and displayed in the booking summary before completion of the booking. Obvious errors (e.g. display or transmission errors of prices) may be corrected; in such a case you are entitled to withdraw from the affected booking free of charge.

6.7 The contract languages are English, German and Japanese. The text of the contract (booking data) is stored by us; you receive the essential contract data with the booking confirmation.

7. Prices

7.1 All prices shown on the jpnthings Platform ("Posted Prices") and the total price shown in the booking summary ("Booking Price") are stated in Japanese Yen (JPY) unless expressly indicated otherwise. Posted Prices are in most cases inclusive of all taxes and fees. However, additional local taxes, fees or costs may be levied locally in Japan (e.g. accommodation taxes, tolls, fuel, parking); if additional amounts will be levied locally, this will be disclosed in the Activity description.

7.2 The Posted Prices may be subject to special conditions, such as specific cancellation policies. Before booking, please check the Activity description for any conditions specific to that Activity.

7.3 As a small business owner within the meaning of § 19 para. 1 UStG, we do not charge German VAT on our services. Upon request, you receive an invoice for the amounts paid to us online.

8. Payment

8.1 The following payment terms apply to Activities; the amounts are displayed in the booking summary before completion of the booking:

a) Deposit online: a deposit is due upon booking. It is paid online via Stripe. b) Balance on site: the remaining balance is due on the day of the Activity and is paid on site in cash in Japanese Yen (JPY) to our Local Partner. Payment to our Local Partner discharges your payment obligation to that extent. c) Balance online in exceptional cases: if payment on site is not possible, we may send you a payment link; the remaining balance is then paid online via Stripe.

If the booking summary shows different payment terms in an individual case (e.g. full payment upon booking), the payment terms shown there apply.

8.2 Online payments are processed via our payment service provider Stripe on secure, hosted payment pages. The available payment methods are displayed during checkout. The terms and conditions of your payment service provider apply in addition; your payment service provider may charge additional fees. You confirm that you are authorized to use the payment method you select. We reserve the right to make the use of individual payment methods dependent on a fraud or creditworthiness check.

8.3 If amounts are payable in a currency other than your local currency, your payment service provider may convert the amount at its applicable exchange rate and may charge conversion fees; these are not collected by us.

8.4 If the balance is not paid, you remain obliged to pay. We may make performance of the Activity dependent on prior settlement of outstanding amounts. On-site payment amounts must be paid in the stated currency (JPY).

8.5 We are your point of contact for your booking and all related payments. If you wish to request a refund outside the applicable cancellation policy, you may contact us at info@jpnthings.com.

9. Changes, Cancellations and Refunds

9.1 Statutory withdrawal rights of consumers — and their statutory exclusions for leisure services, accommodation and vehicle rental with fixed dates — are governed by our Cancellation Policy & Right of Withdrawal, which is provided separately on the jpnthings Platform. The contractual cancellation conditions below apply independently of and in addition to the statutory framework and never restrict mandatory statutory rights.

9.2 You may cancel or change a Service Agreement only in accordance with the cancellation conditions displayed in the Activity description and booking summary, any applicable Additional Conditions, and this Section 9.

9.3 Each Activity is assigned one of the following cancellation policies, which is displayed before completion of the booking and becomes part of the Service Agreement:

Policy	Free cancellation until	After the free window
Flexible	24 hours before the start	no refund
Moderate	48 hours before the start	50% refund of the amount paid
Strict	7 days (168 hours) before the start	no refund
Non-refundable	–	no refund
48-hour reflection period	within 48 hours of booking, but no later than 24 hours before the start (booked less than 24 hours ahead: no free cancellation)	the deposit paid at booking is not refunded; any further payments are refunded

An Activity description may provide for deviating (including more generous) time limits; in that case, the information in the booking summary prevails.

9.4 Within the free cancellation window, you receive a full refund of the amounts paid online. Refunds are made to the payment method originally used, usually within 5–10 business days of processing.

9.5 To avoid misunderstandings, all changes (e.g. rescheduling or changes to participants) and cancellations must be made via the jpnthings Platform (jpnthings Account or guest booking link) or by email to info@jpnthings.com. Changes and cancellations must be made in good time; the decisive factor for a timely cancellation is when we receive your notification. Time and deadline calculations are based on the local time at the place of performance of the Activity (Japan Standard Time, JST). If the conditions are met, we will issue a cancellation or change confirmation; please keep it as proof.

9.6 We may notify you of changes or cancellations, especially at short notice, using the telephone number and email address you provided.

9.7 No-show and late arrival: If you do not appear at the agreed meeting point, or arrive more than 15 minutes late without prior notice, the Activity may be treated as a no-show; the cancellation policy applicable after expiry of the free window applies (generally no refund). Where the operational schedule allows, we will endeavour to still perform the Activity in whole or in part; there is no entitlement to this.

9.8 Rebooking: Date changes are possible subject to availability. A rebooking requested within the free cancellation window is free of charge; outside the free window, a rebooking is at our reasonable discretion and may be treated as a cancellation with a new booking.

9.9 You remain free to prove that no damage or a significantly lower damage was incurred by us; in that case, only the lower amount is owed.

10. Changes and Cancellations by Us; Force Majeure

10.1 We reserve the right to cancel the Activity on the agreed date without adhering to the standard cancellation deadlines if external circumstances beyond our control make the performance of the Activity impossible, significantly impede it, or endanger participants. Such circumstances include, but are not limited to: extreme weather or road conditions, natural disasters, official orders or road closures, strikes, safety-relevant vehicle defects, or other unforeseeable events that could only be averted by disproportionate efforts (in particular force majeure). In this case, the amounts paid for the cancelled Activity will be refunded in full; where possible, we will first offer you a reasonable alternative date or an equivalent alternative Activity. Your rights under Section 15 remain unaffected.

10.2 We or our Local Partners may exclude you from an Activity without refund if (i) you do not meet the participation requirements specified on the jpnthings Platform (including required documents under Section 11), (ii) your participation would endanger yourself or others (including any sign of alcohol or drug consumption in connection with driving), or (iii) you disrupt the performance of the Activity in any manner.

10.3 We may make immaterial changes to the itinerary of the Activity at any time if such changes are necessary due to unforeseen circumstances. Such changes may include a change of the starting or meeting point, provided the new meeting point is accessible from the originally agreed meeting point within 15 minutes on foot or by public transport. Changes to the start or meeting point may be made up to 24 hours before the start of the booked Activity and will be communicated to you by email or displayed on the jpnthings Platform. You are responsible for regularly checking your email and communications to stay informed about updates. In case of conflicting information, the details most recently communicated for the booking prevail.

11. Participation Requirements, Documents and Code of Conduct

11.1 You are responsible for meeting the participation requirements stated in the Activity description (e.g. minimum age, physical fitness, required equipment, required documents). We are not liable for an exclusion or cancellation resulting from your failure to meet these requirements; in this case there is no entitlement to a refund (Section 10.2).

11.2 You must arrive on time at the meeting point stated in the Activity description or communicated for the booking. If you are travelling from abroad, you are responsible for obtaining the necessary travel documents (such as passport and visa) and for complying with all applicable health and entry requirements of Japan.

11.3 Activities in which you drive yourself:

• Customers who drive themselves must carry: a valid passport, their valid national driver's license, and an original International Driving Permit (IDP) under the 1949 Geneva Convention. Exception: nationals of countries with bilateral agreements with Japan (e.g. Germany, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Taiwan, Monaco, Estonia, Slovenia) instead require an official Japanese translation of their national license (e.g. by JAF). Driving without valid documents is strictly prohibited and results in exclusion from driving without refund.
• Note: Under Japanese law, an IDP or license translation is generally only valid for driving in Japan for a limited period from entry; you are responsible for the validity of your documents on the day of the Activity.
• Zero tolerance: Japan applies a strict zero-tolerance policy for alcohol and drugs when driving (0.0‰). At any sign of alcohol or drug consumption, participation will be terminated immediately without refund. Criminal liability under Japanese law (which may also extend to accompanying persons and providers of vehicles) remains unaffected.
• Code of conduct: dangerous driving, illegal street racing, drifting on public roads, exceeding speed limits, ignoring instructions of guides or staff, or disrespectful behaviour towards staff, participants or third parties may result in immediate termination of the Activity without refund.
• You are liable under the applicable statutory provisions and the applicable Additional Conditions for damage to vehicles caused by you, unless covered by existing insurance. Applicable deductibles/excess amounts, insurance coverage and security deposits are stated in the respective Activity description or the documents handed over on site.

11.4 Insurance: The Booking Price does not include any insurance for you. You are responsible for obtaining sufficient insurance coverage. We strongly recommend travel insurance, in particular for Activities with driving, outdoor or other high-risk elements.

11.5 Instructions of guides, drivers and other Local Partners serve safety and must be followed at all times. The Activities take place in Japan and are subject to Japanese law and local safety standards.

12. Vehicle and Resource Categories (Pool Bookings)

12.1 Unless a specific vehicle or another specific resource is expressly guaranteed in the Activity description or via a paid guarantee option, you book an Activity of a described category (e.g. "JDM sports car of the described class"). The specific unit is assigned from the available pool.

12.2 We may substitute the assigned unit with an equivalent or higher-value unit of the same category at any time, in particular for operational, maintenance or safety reasons. A substitution within the category does not constitute a defect of the Activity and does not entitle you to cancellation or price reduction.

12.3 If a paid guarantee option for a specific unit was booked and that unit is not available, you receive — at your choice — a refund of the guarantee surcharge with performance by an equivalent unit, or the rights under Section 10.1 with regard to the entire Activity.

13. Reviews and Other User Content

13.1 We offer you the opportunity to view reviews and other content posted by other Users on the jpnthings Platform. Reviews reflect the personal opinion of the respective User at a specific point in time and are shaped by individual expectations. Please note that an Activity may have changed since a review was posted, and consider the number of reviews when forming your impression.

13.2 After a completed booking, you may submit a review of the booked Activity and, where offered, upload pictures (together, "User Content"). You are fully responsible for any User Content you post. It is prohibited to post User Content that: (i) is untrue or misleading; (ii) openly or covertly advertises third-party products, services or companies; (iii) is created in return for remuneration from a third party; (iv) is created by us, our Local Partners or at their direction; (v) violates the intellectual property, privacy or other rights of a third party; (vi) is unlawful, offensive, discriminatory, defamatory, pornographic or violent; or (vii) contains links or code likely to impair the functioning of third-party systems.

13.3 You must ensure that you hold the necessary rights to any images before uploading them as User Content. Images showing other identifiable people may only be uploaded with those persons' consent.

13.4 Reviews are linked to a completed booking (verification of authenticity) and are moderated before publication; there is no entitlement to publication. Details of our moderation practices are set out in our Digital Services Act notice.

13.5 You retain ownership of your User Content. However, you grant us a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free right, for the duration of the statutory protection, to use, reproduce, adapt, translate, summarise (including with automated tooling), publicly display and distribute the User Content (i) on the jpnthings Platform and (ii) in our own online and offline marketing materials, naming only the display name you provided. You may request deletion of your published User Content at any time at info@jpnthings.com.

13.6 We may remove User Content at our reasonable discretion, in particular if it violates this Section 13 or applicable law. We are not obligated to keep or provide copies of User Content.

14. Photo and Video Recordings During Activities

14.1 During Activities, photo and video material may be created by us or our Local Partners. Such material may be used anonymised (without naming you) for documentation and marketing purposes (website, social media), unless you object before or during the Activity or afterwards in text form (info@jpnthings.com). Individual portraits in which you are identifiable will only be used for advertising purposes with your separate consent.

14.2 You may take recordings for private purposes. Commercial use of recordings created during an Activity (including of vehicles, locations and other participants) requires our prior consent and, where applicable, the consent of the persons depicted.

15. Liability

15.1 Unlimited liability: We are liable without limitation for intent and gross negligence, for damage arising from injury to life, body or health, under the German Product Liability Act, in the case of fraudulently concealed defects, and within the scope of guarantees expressly assumed by us.

15.2 Simple negligence: In the case of simple negligence, we are only liable for the breach of essential contractual obligations (cardinal duties, i.e. obligations whose fulfilment makes the proper performance of these Terms and Conditions possible in the first place and on whose observance you may regularly rely), limited to the loss or damage that was typically foreseeable at the time these Terms and Conditions were accepted. We exclude our liability and the liability of our vicarious agents for damage caused by a negligent breach of non-essential contractual obligations.

15.3 Local Partners: In performing the Activities, our Local Partners are our vicarious agents. We are liable for their fault as for our own, in accordance with Sections 15.1 and 15.2.

15.4 Force majeure: We shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performance caused by events beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to: failure of electronic or mechanical equipment or communications, actions of third parties (including denial-of-service attacks and abusive use of the jpnthings Platform), connectivity problems, computer viruses, unauthorized access, theft, fire, severe weather, acts of governmental or supranational authorities, war, riots or labour disputes.

15.5 The above limitations also apply in favour of our legal representatives, employees and vicarious agents. Mandatory statutory rights that you have as a consumer remain unaffected.

16. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold us harmless from and against all losses, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses, including reasonable legal fees, arising out of or in connection with: (a) your intentional or negligent misrepresentation, act or omission in connection with your use of the jpnthings Platform; (b) your intentional or negligent non-compliance with these Terms and Conditions or applicable Additional Conditions; (c) your violation of applicable laws or regulations; or (d) claims asserted by third parties arising out of your use of the jpnthings Platform or your User Content in intentional or negligent violation of these Terms and Conditions. Your indemnification obligation applies only to the extent that the relevant loss was directly caused by your intentional or negligent act, omission or breach.

17. Term and Termination

17.1 You may request the blocking or deletion of your jpnthings Account at any time via your account settings or by email to info@jpnthings.com.

17.2 We may terminate these Terms and Conditions, your jpnthings Account or your access to the jpnthings Platform at any time with a notice period of one week. However, the termination will only become effective after any already concluded Service Agreements have been performed or cancelled. The right to termination and blocking for good cause (e.g. fraud, misuse, serious breach of these Terms and Conditions) remains unaffected.

18. Data Protection

We collect and process your personal data in accordance with the GDPR and other applicable laws. For detailed information, please refer to our Privacy Policy, available on the jpnthings Platform.

19. Assignment

You may not transfer or assign your rights and/or obligations under these Terms and Conditions or a Service Agreement to third parties, except for claims for damages and except as permitted by mandatory law.

20. Changes to these Terms and Conditions

20.1 We may amend these Terms and Conditions with effect for the future, for example to reflect changes in the law, jurisdiction, market conditions, payment or security infrastructure, or the range of services, or to address regulatory gaps, insofar as the amendment is reasonable for you. We will inform you of changes in a timely and appropriate manner. For bookings already made, the version applicable at the time of booking remains decisive.

20.2 If you object to an amendment, both you and we may terminate your jpnthings Account or your access to the jpnthings Platform with immediate effect; Section 17.2 sentence 2 applies accordingly.

21. Final Provisions

21.1 We may engage third parties as agents or service providers to perform obligations and exercise rights under these Terms and Conditions (e.g. payment processing).

21.2 All notices and other declarations under these Terms and Conditions must be made in text form (e.g. by email).

21.3 Governing law: To the extent permitted by mandatory (consumer) law of the country in which you habitually reside, these Terms and Conditions and all contracts between you and us, including Service Agreements, are governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany, excluding the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG).

21.4 Jurisdiction:

a) If your habitual residence is within the EEA, then, to the extent permitted by mandatory local (consumer) law, disputes shall be submitted to the competent courts in Giessen, Germany. Statutory places of jurisdiction for consumers remain unaffected. b) If your habitual residence is outside the EEA, any dispute arising from these Terms and Conditions shall exclusively be submitted to the competent courts in Giessen, Germany. c) If you are a merchant, a legal entity under public law or a special fund under public law, the exclusive place of jurisdiction is Giessen, Germany.

21.5 The contract between you and us is formed and entered into in Giessen, Germany.

21.6 Severability: Should individual provisions of these Terms and Conditions be or become void or ineffective in whole or in part, this shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions. Statutory law shall take the place of any provisions that are not included or are invalid. If such statutory law is not available in the respective case or would lead to an unacceptable result, the parties shall replace the invalid provision with a valid provision that comes as close as possible to its economic purpose.

21.7 In these Terms and Conditions, "including" means "including but not limited to", and words suggesting the singular include the plural and vice versa. Captions and section headings are for convenience only.