Terms of service
1. Who we are
This site is operated by onedrop (Tatsuya Murakami) ("we", "us"), 741-174 Kondo, Niseko-cho, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido 048-1542, Japan. Contact: hello@firstsnowniseko.com / +81 90-6231-3784.
2. What we provide
A private half-day photography experience on private land in the Niseko area, including transport by snowmobile within that land, winter outerwear and helmets, a professional photographer, a Chinese- and English-speaking coordinator, and a set of edited digital photographs delivered to a private online gallery.
We do not provide transport to or from our base, accommodation, flights, or travel insurance. You arrive at our base under your own arrangements. We are happy to share the names of local taxi companies, but we do not book or arrange transport on your behalf.
3. Booking and payment
- Submitting the form on this site is a request, not a confirmed booking.
- We reply within 24 hours with availability. A booking exists only once we have confirmed it in writing and received your deposit.
- A deposit of 50% secures the date. The balance is due 7 days before the tour.
- Payment is processed by Stripe. We do not store your card details.
- Prices are in Japanese yen and include consumption tax. Your bank may add foreign transaction fees, which we cannot control or refund.
4. Cancellation
Cancellations, date changes and weather cancellations are governed by our Cancellation & weather policy, which forms part of these terms.
5. Safety and your responsibilities
- Snowmobiles are operated by our professional drivers. Participants ride as passengers and do not drive.
- You must follow all safety instructions given by our crew.
- You must tell us in advance about pregnancy, back or neck conditions, recent surgery, heart conditions, or any condition affected by vibration or cold.
- Minimum age is 16. Participants under 20 require a parent or guardian's written consent.
- We may refuse or end participation, without refund, if a participant is under the influence of alcohol or drugs or refuses safety instructions.
- All participants sign a risk acknowledgement and liability waiver on the day.
6. Your photographs
- We deliver 30/60+ edited photographs to a private online gallery within 5 days, available for download for 90 days.
- You receive a personal, non-commercial licence to use, print and share your photographs freely.
- Copyright in the photographs remains with the photographer / with us.
- We will not use your photographs in our own marketing unless you separately opt in by signing a model release. Declining does not affect the service you receive.
- Raw or unedited files are not delivered.
7. Liability
We maintain public liability and participant accident insurance. Nothing in these terms limits our liability where the law does not allow it — in particular, our liability is not excluded or limited where loss is caused by our intent or gross negligence, and consumer protection law applies regardless of what is written here.
Subject to the above, we are not liable for indirect or consequential loss, including travel, accommodation or missed connections, or for loss of images caused by equipment failure beyond a refund of the amount you paid.
8. Weather and conditions
Snow, light and terrain vary daily. We will always do our best, but we cannot guarantee specific weather, specific snow conditions, or that any particular photograph can be taken.
9. Governing law
These terms are governed by the laws of Japan. The Japanese text prevails in the event of any inconsistency between translations. The Sapporo District Court shall have exclusive jurisdiction as the court of first instance, without prejudice to any right you have under consumer protection law to bring proceedings elsewhere.
10. Changes
We may update these terms. The version in force at the time of your booking applies to that booking.