Terms of Use and Disclaimer

Effective date: October 25, 2026

By using Rural Japan Guides (https://ruraljapanguides.com) you agree to these terms. If you do not agree, please do not use the site.

1. What this site is

Rural Japan Guides publishes general travel information about Japan's central mountains and old roads such as the Nakasendo. It is operated by Rural Japan Guides, an independent website based in Japan.

My guides are researched and edited from official Japanese sources — transport operators, prefectures and municipalities — and each guide shows the date its key facts were last checked.

2. Travel information changes — always check the official source

• Timetables, fares, routes, opening seasons, trail conditions and road closures in rural Japan change often — at the annual spring timetable revision, with the seasons, and without notice due to weather, landslides or staff shortages.
• Prices I mention are for reference only and may not include tax, fees or exchange-rate changes.
• Before you travel, confirm details directly with the operator or official source I link to. Information on this site may be out of date even if it was correct on the "checked on" date.
• Mountain and trail travel carries real risks. Check weather, bear warnings, closures and your own fitness and equipment, and follow local guidance. You are responsible for your own safety and decisions.

3. Not professional advice

Nothing on this site is legal, tax, financial, insurance, immigration/visa or real-estate advice. Content about visas, residency, buying property, taxes or insurance is general background only. Rules change and depend on your circumstances. Consult a qualified professional — such as a lawyer, tax accountant, a licensed real-estate brokerage (takken-gyō), an immigration specialist, or the relevant government office — before making decisions. I do not refer you to lawyers or agents for a fee.

4. Akiya (empty houses): I do not broker sales

• Rural Japan Guides is not a real-estate agent or broker and does not hold a real-estate brokerage license in Japan.
• I do not buy, sell, lease, broker, negotiate or introduce properties, and I do not act for buyers or sellers.
• If I publish akiya pages, they will contain my own summaries of listings published by municipal akiya banks, with links to the original listing. The municipality's listing is the official source; my summary may be incomplete or out of date, and the property may already be sold or withdrawn.
• For any inquiry or transaction, contact the municipality or a licensed brokerage directly. Inspect any property, check its legal status, and take professional advice before committing.
• Images marked "Illustration — not the actual property" are illustrations and do not show the real building.

5. Bookings on other sites

Some guides contain affiliate links. A guide with these links says so in a line at the top, and each link is marked "(affiliate)". Reservations and purchases you make on other companies' sites are contracts between you and that company, under its own terms. I am not responsible for their services, prices, cancellations or refunds.

6. External links

I link to many sites I do not control, including transport operators and municipalities. I am not responsible for their content, accuracy, availability or privacy practices. A link is not an endorsement beyond what I say in the guide.

7. Photos and content

• Photos are from free-license sources such as Wikimedia Commons (public domain, CC0 or CC BY), Unsplash and Pexels, or used with permission, and are credited. Photos may show a similar place or season rather than the exact location described.
• Text, maps and original graphics on this site are © Rural Japan Guides unless otherwise noted. You may quote short excerpts with a link back to the page. Please do not republish whole articles without permission.
• If you believe content on this site infringes your rights, contact [email protected] and I will review it promptly.

8. Limitation of liability

The site is provided "as is." To the extent permitted by law, Rural Japan Guides is not liable for any loss or damage arising from use of, or reliance on, the information on this site or linked sites — including missed connections, changed fares, closures, or decisions about property or visas. Nothing in these terms limits any rights you have under consumer protection laws that cannot be excluded.

9. Corrections

If you find an error, please tell me at [email protected]. I correct confirmed errors and note significant corrections on the article.

10. Changes and governing law

I may update these terms; the effective date above will change. These terms are governed by the laws of Japan, without affecting mandatory consumer protections in your country of residence.

11. Contact

Rural Japan Guides — [email protected]