Otaru Adventure Operated by Hopi Hills K.K. ("we", "us", "our", "the Operators")

Last updated: 9th August 2026

 

1. Introduction

1.1 These Terms & Conditions ("Terms") govern all bookings, lessons, and guided activities provided by Hopi Hills K.K. trading as Otaru Adventure ("Otaru Adventure", "OA").

1.2 By booking a lesson, tour, or any other activity with us, you agree to be bound by these Terms, together with our Waiver of Liability, which every participant (or their parent/guardian, if a minor) must read, understand, and sign before taking part in any activity.

1.3 If any part of these Terms conflicts with the signed Waiver, the terms of the signed Waiver shall take precedence in relation to liability, risk, and release of claims.

 

2. Bookings & Payment

2.1 A booking is confirmed once full payment (or an agreed deposit) has been received and you have received a confirmation from us.

2.2 Prices are as displayed at the time of booking and are subject to change without notice for future, unconfirmed bookings.

2.3 It is your responsibility to check that all details on your booking (dates, activity type, participant names, ages) are correct.

2.4 Full payment is required prior to participation unless otherwise agreed with us in writing.

 

3. Lessons & Instruction

3.1 Lesson content, terrain, and format may be adjusted by your instructor or guide at any time based on weather, snow conditions, avalanche risk, participant ability, or safety considerations.

3.2 We reserve the right to refuse or discontinue a lesson, tour or activity if, in the reasonable judgement of our instructor or guide, a participant's ability, equipment, fitness, or conduct presents a safety risk to themselves or others, taking into consideration the interaction between the participant, other participants, the OA team member and the natural environment. Where the instructor or guide decides to discontinue an activity under the circumstances described in 3.2, the activity, lesson or tour will not be considered for a refund.

3.3 Participants must disclose any relevant medical conditions, injuries, or any conditions (including neurodivergence) that may affect how they participate, prior to the start of the activity.

3.4 Minimum ability levels or prerequisites apply to certain lessons or backcountry/wilderness programs. It is the participant's own responsibility to check their ability against Otaru Adventure's 'What level am I?' scale. This can be found here: https://www.otaruadventure.com/whatlevelami

 

4. Cancellation Policy & Terms

4.1 Cancellations made 30 days or more before your lesson date will receive a refund of 100% of the booking price.

4.2 Cancellations made 14 days or more (but less than 30 days) before your lesson date will receive a refund of 50% of the booking price.

4.3 Cancellations made less than 14 days before your lesson date are not eligible for a refund from us.

4.4 If you need to cancel at short notice due to health or travel problems, this should be claimed through your personal travel or medical insurance. We are not able to offer a refund in these circumstances outside of the terms above.

4.5 Where you need to make an insurance claim, we may be able to help by providing a written record of the circumstances (e.g. confirmation of your booking, cancellation date, and reason given) to support your claim. Please contact us and we will do what we can to assist.

4.6 Refunds, where applicable, will be issued to the original payment method, and through the original payment processing provider (usually Flywire, Square or Stripe). Whilst we do our best to make sure you get your refund as quickly as possible, please note that the timeframe in which you will receive your refund is dependent on the payment processing provider, once OA has requested the refund, and may take up to one month or longer.

4.7 We reserve the right to cancel or reschedule a lesson due to unsafe weather, snow, or avalanche conditions, instructor unavailability, or other circumstances beyond our reasonable control. In such cases, we will offer a full refund or the option to reschedule.

 

5. Wilderness, Backcountry & Off-Piste Activities

5.1 Backcountry, off-piste, and wilderness skiing/snowboarding activities carry significant additional risks beyond those found on marked, inbounds terrain, including but not limited to avalanches, variable and unpredictable snow and weather conditions, crevasses, tree wells, tree branches and trunks (both buried and exposed), falling snow and ice, and remoteness from rescue and medical services.

5.2 By participating in any wilderness or backcountry activity with us, you acknowledge and accept these additional risks as set out in full in the signed Waiver.

5.3 Appropriate safety equipment (e.g. avalanche transceiver, probe, shovel) may be required for certain activities and will be advised at the time of booking.

 

6. Equipment & Rental

6.1 Where safety or activity equipment is provided by us, it remains our property and must be returned in the condition it was provided, fair wear and tear excepted.

6.2 Guests are responsible for the care of rental equipment during their trip and will be charged for the replacement or repair of any lost, stolen, or damaged equipment.

6.3 Guests are responsible for inspecting any safety or activity equipment prior to its use, assessing its suitability for the intended use, and raising any concerns or suspicions with OA team members. Where the guest is not confident to make an inspection, they should ask an OA team member for help with the inspection, and the OA team member will provide advice and guidance on how the guest can make an assessment on the equipment's suitability.

 

7. Waiver of Liability, Assumption of Risk & Release of Claims

7.1 All participants (or a parent/guardian on behalf of a minor) are required to read, understand, and sign our full Waiver of Liability, Waiver of Claims, Assumption of Risks and Indemnity Agreement prior to participating in any activity.

7.2 The signed Waiver includes, among other things, an acknowledgement of the risks of skiing and wilderness skiing, a release of claims against the Operators, an indemnity in favour of the Operators, and an agreement that Hokkaido prefectural law governs the agreement and disputes.

7.3 A copy of the full Waiver will also be provided for signature prior to your activity.

 

8. Photo & Media Release

8.1 By participating in our activities, you agree that we may use photographs and video taken of you during your lesson or tour for publication on our website, social media channels, and print marketing, unless you notify us otherwise in writing prior to your activity.

 

9. Liability

9.1 To the fullest extent permitted under the laws of Hokkaido Prefecture and Japan, our liability to you is limited as set out in the signed Waiver.

9.2 Nothing in these Terms is intended to exclude or limit liability that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited under Japanese law.

 

10. Governing Law & Jurisdiction

10.1 These Terms, and any dispute arising from them, shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan.

10.2 Any litigation shall be brought solely within Hokkaido Prefecture and shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of its courts.

 

11. Contact Us

11.1 If you have any questions about these Terms, your booking, or a cancellation, please contact us at otaruadventure.snowsportschool@gmail.com, on WhatsApp on +81 8517 79 73, or using the chat function at https://www.otaruadventure.com/.

 

Hopi Hills K.K. trading as Otaru Adventure. Japan Corporate Number (法人番号) : 2430001073223

356-1 Aza Tokiwa, Akaigawa Mura, Yoichi Gun, Hokkaido, Japan