Gut Chef Japan User Policy

  1. Application Requirements

  • Children must be at least 10 years old and supervised at all times during our experiences.

  • 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. Experience Details

  • Language: All of our experiences 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. If you notify us 7 days or more in advance, you will receive a 100% credit toward a future experience (valid for 18 months). Notifications made between 2–6 days in advance will receive a 50% credit. Same-day notifications are not eligible for future credit, as preparation will have already begun.

3. Cancellation & Rescheduling Policy

Why This Policy Matters to You and Us

Haruka hosts up to two private fermentation tour groups per week, or one certificate course group.

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 experience 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 our experiences. If you notify us 7 days or more in advance, you will receive a 100% credit toward a future experience (valid for 18 months). Notifications made between 2–6 days in advance will receive a 50% credit. Same-day notifications are not eligible for future credit, as preparation will have already begun.

  • 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 suspended due to extreme weather or other unforeseen circumstances, you will receive a future credit valid for 18 months. We will assess the situation 48 hours prior to the experience, and proof (such as a cancellation notice) may be required.

Organizer-Initiated Cancellations

  • If we must cancel the experience due to unforeseen circumstances (such as emergency, illness, or safety concerns), guests will receive a future credit valid for 18 months 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 experience.

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

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

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

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

    Future Credits are valid for 18 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 our experiences 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.

    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.

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

8. Food Allergies

  • Every effort is made to maintain a clean environment and handle ingredients safely. Our experiences are hosted in our home, and although we keep utensils for home and business use separate, we cannot guarantee the absence of cross-contamination.

  • Allergy information is provided for each experience, so please review it carefully before booking. We do not recommend joining our experiences if you have severe cat or dog allergies, as we have two cats and one dog in our home.

9. Materials & Usage

  • All materials provided as part of our experiences—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 content remains the intellectual property of Gut Chef Japan.