NOREN · Legal
Host Terms of Service
Last revised: 2026-05-16
These Host Terms of Service (the "Terms") set out the rights and obligations between Miki Matsushima (the "Operator") and any host who offers experiences through the inbound experience-booking platform "NOREN" (the "Service") operated by the Operator (each a "Host").
By completing registration with the Service, a Host is deemed to have agreed to these Terms.
Article 1 (Scope of Application)
- These Terms apply to all aspects of the Service use between a Host and the Operator.
- Where a Host also uses the Service as a customer, the separate NOREN Terms of Service also apply.
- In addition to these Terms, any individual provisions, guidelines, or notices separately posted on the Service ("Individual Provisions") form part of these Terms. In the event of any conflict between these Terms and an Individual Provision, the Individual Provision shall prevail.
Article 2 (Definitions)
In these Terms, the following terms have the meanings set out below.
- "Service" means the experience-booking platform "NOREN" operated by the Operator.
- "Host" means any business or individual that provides an experience through the Service.
- "Organizer" means the party legally responsible for planning and conducting an experience. The Organizer may be the Host itself, or a third party with travel-business registration (a travel agent, regional tourism association, etc.).
- "Experience" means any cultural experience, tour, workshop, or other service provided through the Service by a Host or Organizer.
- "User" means any individual or legal entity who books or participates in an Experience through the Service.
- "Host Compensation" means the monetary consideration paid to a Host for the provision of an Experience.
Article 3 (Position of the Service)
- The Service is a booking platform connecting Hosts and Organizers with Users.
- The Operator is not a travel agent. The Operator has not registered as a travel-business operator under the Travel Agency Act and is not in a position to plan, solicit, or sell travel itineraries.
- The Operator is not the provider of Experiences. The planning and operation of each Experience is the responsibility of the Host or Organizer.
- The Operator provides the following functions through the Service:
- Display and announcement of Experience information
- Provision of a booking-intake system
- Payment processing
- Multilingual communication support
- First-line response to User inquiries
- Marketing and promotion
Article 4 (Host Registration Requirements)
- Any party seeking to use the Service as a Host shall agree to these Terms and apply for registration in the manner prescribed by the Operator.
- Applicants represent and warrant that:
- They hold all permits, licenses, notifications, and qualifications required to provide the Experience
- They are not an organized-crime element
- They have not previously been deregistered for violating these Terms
- Their registration information is true and accurate
- The Operator decides on registration after interviews, on-site verification, document review, and similar checks. The Operator reserves the right to refuse registration for reasonable cause.
Article 5 (Required Permits and Notifications)
Hosts and Organizers shall, at their own responsibility, obtain and comply with the following permits and notifications according to the nature of the Experience they provide.
| Experience Type | Main Required Permit / Notification |
|---|---|
| Hosting a planned tour (募集型企画旅行) | Travel-business registration under the Travel Agency Act (Type 1, 2, 3, or Regional Limited) |
| Experiences involving the provision of food and drink | Food service permit under the Food Sanitation Act, HACCP compliance, etc. |
| Provision of hot-spring facilities | Permit under the Hot Spring Act |
| Experiences involving lodging | Permit / notification under the Inns and Hotels Act, the Private Lodging Business Act, etc. |
| Marine activities | Compliance with the Ship Safety Act, small-vessel licenses, etc. |
| Interpretation / guiding | Registration under the Interpreter Guide Act (for paid interpretation guiding) |
| Handling of secondhand goods | Permit under the Secondhand Articles Dealer Act |
Important: Where an Experience qualifies as a planned tour (募集型企画旅行 or 受注型企画旅行) under the Travel Agency Act, either the Host or a separately designated Organizer must hold travel-business registration. The Operator does not permit Hosts without travel-business registration to plan or operate travel under the Travel Agency Act.
Hosts without Travel-Business Registration
A Host without travel-business registration may provide an Experience in either of the following forms:
- Provision of a single experience service — a standalone offering such as a massage, cultural experience, workshop, lecture, food service, etc.
- Participation as a component of a planned tour led by a travel-business Organizer — providing the Host's specialty as part of a planned tour run by a third party (regional tourism association, etc.) with travel-business registration
Article 6 (Relationship Between Host and Organizer)
- A Host may choose to provide Experiences either as the Organizer itself, or as a participant in an Experience for which a third party (travel-business operator, regional tourism association, etc.) acts as Organizer.
- When providing an Experience in which a third party is the Organizer, the Host shall enter into an appropriate contract with that Organizer, clearly setting out roles, responsibilities, and revenue allocation.
- The Operator is not a party to any contract between a Host and an Organizer and bears no responsibility for related disputes.
Article 7 (Posting Experience Information)
- Hosts shall post Experience information in the format and according to the guidelines prescribed by the Operator.
- Hosts are responsible for the accuracy, currency, and legality of the information they post.
- The Operator may, where necessary, request corrections or supplements to posted content. The Operator may also refuse or remove content that violates these Terms, Individual Provisions, or applicable law, or that the Operator determines does not fit the Service's brand and world.
- The Operator may use photographs, text, and other content provided by Hosts on a royalty-free, non-exclusive basis for the operation and promotion of the Service.
Article 8 (Provision of Experiences)
- Hosts shall provide Experiences to Users in accordance with the content stated on the Experience page within the Service.
- Hosts shall consider User safety and shall endeavor to maintain appropriate insurance (liability insurance, etc.).
- Hosts shall treat Users with respect for their culture, religion, and customs, and shall accommodate reasonable requests to the extent practicable.
- Where an Experience must be cancelled or modified due to unavoidable circumstances, the Host shall promptly notify the Operator and the User.
Article 9 (Setting the Cancellation Policy)
9-1. Policy Setting by the Host
- For each Experience they offer, Hosts must set a cancellation policy covering cancellation fees by timing, whether changes are accepted, and the force-majeure response policy.
- Hosts may adopt the standard template provided by the Operator (a three-stage structure based on "○ days before free / ○ days before 50% / day-of 100%"), or set a cancellation policy customized to the nature of the Experience.
- Even when a Host freely customizes the cancellation policy, the following must be satisfied:
- Wording must be clear and understandable to Users
- The policy must comply with applicable law (the Act on Specified Commercial Transactions, the Consumer Contract Act, etc.)
- The policy must not unfairly restrict User rights
- The policy must be clearly displayed on the Experience page before the User submits a Booking
9-2. Force-Majeure Policy
- The Host shall set, in advance, a response policy (full refund / reschedule / partial refund, etc.) for cases where the Experience cannot be conducted due to weather, natural disaster, significant transportation disruption, an outbreak of infectious disease, or other force majeure.
- The Host shall display this policy on the Experience page. Where no policy is displayed or the policy is unclear, the Operator may, at its discretion, take measures such as issuing a full refund to the User.
9-3. Compliance with the Cancellation Policy
- Hosts shall respond to cancellations in accordance with the cancellation policy they have set.
- The timing of a cancellation is determined as of the moment the User's cancellation request reaches the Operator or the Host.
- Where the Host cancels or modifies the Experience at its own discretion, the Host shall, as a general rule, refund the User in full or offer a reasonable alternative (reschedule, substitute plan, etc.).
9-4. Handling of User Cancellation Requests
- When a User submits a cancellation request, the Operator will promptly notify the Host and confirm the applicable cancellation fee and refund amount.
- Refunds are issued directly to the User through the payment service provider by the Operator.
- The treatment of any applied cancellation fee (its reflection in Host Compensation, the Operator's fee handling) is governed by the separately published "Host Compensation Guideline."
Article 10 (Host Compensation and Fees)
- The amount of Host Compensation, the Operator's fees, payment timing, and other details are determined by separate individual contract or agreement between the Host and the Operator.
- Standard fee rates are set out in a separate "Host Compensation Guideline."
- The Operator shall pay Host Compensation to the Host out of payments received from Users through the Service, after deducting the Operator's fees, payment service provider fees, foreign-exchange differences, etc.
- As a general rule, payment is made on the last day of the month following the month in which the Experience took place (unless otherwise specified in an individual contract).
- The handling of Host Compensation in the event of cancellation or refund is governed by the cancellation policy of the relevant Experience, Article 9 of these Terms, and the individual contract.
Article 11 (Prohibited Conduct for Hosts)
Hosts shall not engage in any of the following:
- Conduct that violates applicable law, these Terms, or Individual Provisions
- Providing Experiences without the required permits or notifications
- Inviting Users to transact directly outside the Service (except with the Operator's prior consent)
- False Experience information, exaggerated advertising, or expressions that mislead Users
- Using User personal information beyond the purposes of the Service
- Discrimination, harassment, or unfair treatment of Users
- Maintaining relationships with organized-crime elements
- Conduct that infringes the rights, honor, or credibility of other Hosts, Users, the Operator, or third parties
- Conduct that interferes with the operation of the Service
- Any other conduct that the Operator deems inappropriate
Article 12 (Trouble Resolution)
- If trouble arises with a User during or around an Experience, the Host shall promptly report it to the Operator.
- The Operator will cooperate by sharing information and coordinating communication to support the resolution of disputes between Hosts and Users. The Operator is not, however, a party to the dispute and does not bear final responsibility for its resolution.
- In the event of a serious incident or complaint, the Operator may request that the Host disclose information necessary to verify the facts.
Article 13 (Operator's Scope of Liability)
- The Operator strives to operate the Service stably as a platform but does not guarantee the completeness or continuity of the system.
- Except in cases of intentional misconduct or gross negligence by the Operator, the Operator's liability to a Host is limited to the total fees received from that Host by the Operator in the most recent one-month period during which the loss arose.
- The Operator is not liable for damages arising from failures or incidents at payment service providers, hosting providers, or other subcontractors (except where the Operator was grossly negligent in selecting that subcontractor).
Article 14 (Confidentiality)
- Hosts shall not use the Operator's trade secrets, User personal information, or other confidential information obtained through use of the Service for any purpose other than use of the Service.
- The obligations under this article survive termination of these Terms.
Article 15 (Handling of Personal Information)
- Hosts shall comply with applicable laws and implement appropriate safeguards in handling personal information obtained from Users.
- Where personal information is exchanged between the Operator and a Host, both parties shall cooperate on appropriate handling.
Article 16 (Deregistration and Termination)
- The Operator may, without prior notice, deregister a Host and terminate the contract under these Terms if the Host falls under any of the following:
- Violates any provision of these Terms
- Loses required permits or notifications
- Causes a serious incident or complaint
- Is found to have a relationship with organized-crime elements
- Suffers a material change in financial standing such as bankruptcy
- Fails to respond to communications from the Operator for a certain period
- The Operator otherwise determines that the Host is unsuitable for the Service
- A Host may, at any time, terminate the contract under these Terms by giving written notice to the Operator. The Host must, however, responsibly carry out any already-confirmed Bookings, or make alternative arrangements with the User's consent.
Article 17 (Amendment of these Terms)
- The Operator may amend these Terms when it deems necessary.
- Amended Terms take effect 30 days after the Operator notifies the Host of the changes.
- If the Host continues to use the Service after the notification, the Host is deemed to have agreed to the amended Terms.
Article 18 (Assignment of Rights and Obligations)
Hosts shall not, without the Operator's prior written consent, assign, lend, or pledge as security their status under these Terms or any rights or obligations under these Terms.
Article 19 (Governing Law and Jurisdiction)
- These Terms are governed by the laws of Japan.
- Any dispute between the Operator and a Host arising in connection with the Service shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Fukuoka District Court as the court of first instance.
Operator Information
- Operator: Miki Matsushima (sole proprietor; incorporation as RADEN Co., Ltd. planned for January 2027)
- Business Name: NOREN
- Address: 501 Burg Hakata Ekimae, 3-18-8 Hakataekimae, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka 812-0011, Japan
- Phone: +81-50-1793-3827 (Mon–Fri, 10:00–18:00 JST)
- Email: customer-support@noren-trip.com
Contact
For questions about these Terms, please write to customer-support@noren-trip.com.