Gut Chef Japan User Policy

  1. Application Requirements

  • Children must be at least 10 years old and supervised at all times during private retreats.

  • Pets are not allowed.

  • Participants are responsible for their personal belongings. Gut Chef Japan is not responsible for loss, damage, or theft.

  • Only registered participants may attend. No free observations or attendance by non-registered persons.

2. Retreat Details

  • Language: All Half-Day Okinawa Wellness Retreats are conducted in English.

  • Menu & Ingredients: Ingredient substitutions or menu changes may occur without prior notice due to weather or supply availability.

  • Health & Safety: If you are diagnosed with an infectious disease (e.g., measles, chickenpox, or influenza), please notify us as soon as possible. We will offer you credit toward a future Half-Day Okinawa Wellness Retreat.

3. Cancellation & Rescheduling Policy

Why This Policy Matters to You and Us

Our certificate course hosts only one group per week.

To keep things simple—and to ensure our guests don’t feel they’ve lost money due to illness, extreme weather, or unexpected changes in plans—we no longer use complicated refund policies where the refund amount depends on how many days before the certificate course a cancellation is made.

Instead, all payments are converted into Future Credit.
Please read the full policy below for details.

Guest-Initiated Cancellations

Refunds: Refunds are not available for this course. However, if you notify us at least 2 weeks in advance, we will issue a future credit valid for 1 year.

  • Rescheduling: If you need to reschedule, please contact us at least 7 days in advance.

  • Flight or Transportation Issues: If your flight is cancelled or public transportation is stopped due to extreme weather, you will receive a future credit valid for 1 year. We will assess this 48 hours before the course, and in the case of flight cancellation, proof may be required.

  • Sickness: If you are unable to attend due to sickness, please notify us at least 48 hours in advance, and we will issue a future credit valid for 1 year.

Organizer-Initiated Cancellations

  • If we must cancel the retreat due to unforeseen circumstances (such as emergency, illness, or safety concerns), guests will receive a future credit valid for one year or may reschedule to another available date, subject to availability.

  • Please note that we are not responsible for travel, accommodation, or other related costs incurred if you choose to travel despite receiving a cancellation notice.

Lateness & No-Shows:

  • If you are more than 30 minutes late, your booking may be canceled.

  • Same-day cancellations, no-shows, or delays caused by personal reasons (e.g., missed buses, transportation issues, or scheduling errors) are not eligible for future credit or refunds.

  • If guests arrive without checking for a cancellation notice from us, we cannot provide future credits or cover transportation or accommodation costs.

4. Weather Cancellations

  • Your safety is our top priority. We will monitor the weather closely and make a final safety assessment 24–48 hours before each retreat.

    • Heavy Rain Advisory (no risk of landslides or flooding) — the retreat will continue as scheduled, no Future Credit.

    • Heavy Rain Warning (risk of landslides or river flooding) — the retreat may be canceled, and Future Credit may be issued.

    • Storm Warning / Strong Wind (wind speeds 15–25 m/s) — the retreat may be canceled, and Future Credit may be issued.

    • Special Warning (wind speeds over 25 m/s or large-scale damage expected) — the retreat will be canceled, and Future Credit must be issued.

    Future Credits are valid for 12 months, fully transferable, and cannot be exchanged for cash. Credits are issued only after the 24–48 hour safety assessment, not based on early forecasts, as conditions can change quickly.

    Please understand that we cannot cover accommodation, transportation, or other personal expenses if the retreat is canceled due to weather. Delays or cancellations caused by personal reasons (e.g., missed buses, car troubles, personal schedule changes) are not eligible for credits.

    In cases of genuine typhoon or severe weather, we may request proof of the disruption (e.g., official government warnings, airline notifications) to verify the situation and issue the credit accurately.

    Thank you for your understanding and flexibility!

6. Liability Clause

Our experiences may be canceled without notice due to force majeure or unforeseen emergencies beyond our control.

7. Food Safety, Health & Injury Disclaimer

  • Food Safety:
    Gut Chef Japan is not responsible for any leftover food participants choose to bring home. Please use a cooler to keep the food at a safe temperature and consume it within 24 hours to avoid spoilage.

  • Health & Safety:
    Every effort is made to maintain a clean facility and handle ingredients safely. All utensils and surfaces are sanitized before each session. While the risk is minimal, please note that foodborne illness can never be completely eliminated in any shared cooking environment.

  • Injury Disclaimer:
    Gut Chef Japan is not liable for any injuries that may occur during the Half-Day Okinawa Wellness Retreat, including cuts, burns, or accidents involving kitchen tools. Participants are expected to exercise caution and follow all safety instructions provided.

8. Food Allergies

  • A full ingredient list is provided for each retreat, and participants are required to review it carefully before the session. If you have any food allergies or sensitivities not listed, please participate at your own discretion.

  • While we do our best to maintain a clean cooking environment, the facility is not equipped for strict allergen separation or cross-contamination prevention (e.g., separate utensils or cookware). For safety reasons, we cannot accommodate participants with severe allergies to avoid any risk of allergic reactions.

9. Course Materials & Usage

  • All course materials provided as part of the certificate course—including but not limited to recipes, handouts, written materials, and digital content—are for personal use only.

  • Participants may not copy, reproduce, sell, share, distribute, publish, or use these materials as-is for commercial purposes or financial gain, whether online or offline. This includes using the materials to teach, host workshops, create products, or offer services for sale.

  • All course content remains the intellectual property of Gut Chef Japan.