Excursions

Last modified: 2024-08-12 Site rearranged to highlight announcements, including new virtual tours and updated Terms and Conditions.

Announcements

• Registration deadline for tours EXTENDED: August 2nd August 12th 17:00 (JST) CLOSED
• VIRTUAL TOURS STILL OPEN (See Japan Tourism Agency Excursions below)
• Tour date options:
  • September 1st (Sun) and 7th (Sat) for Japan Tourism Agency-sponsored free excursions
  • Virtual Tours NEW registration deadlines 14 August 17:00 JST or 16 August 17:00 JST, depending on tour
• You may now register for more than excursion. Register for one tour on Sunday, September 1st and another on Saturday, September 7th.
  • In addition to these tours you may also register for paid excursions to the Kerama Islands and/or Yanbaru as long as there are no scheduling conflicts. Seats are limited.
• If you are traveling with a partner, spouse or family member, you can register them for a tour at the same time, including Kerama and Yanbaru tours.
• NEW!! A short waiting list has been created for up to three people for those excursions that have sold-out. A Google Form is available on the registration site if you wish to put your name on a waitlist (not including Yanbaru tours). Just remember that no spots are guaranteed for people on the waitlist.

Excursions

Excursion costs

All excursions, excluding the day trip to the Kerama Islands and the Yanbaru nature tours, are funded by the generosity of the Japanese Government’s Japan Tourism Agency (a.k.a., Tourism Agency, MInistry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism). Thus, all excursions (excluding Kerama and Yanbaru), unless stated otherwise, are free of charge.

Thank you Japan Tourism Agency!

Participants will not be required to provide payment for these tours (excluding Kerama and Yanbaru) unless cancellation occurs fewer than eight (8) days before the day of the tour (see cancellation policy below).

Where to register

YANBARU NATURE TOURS

Yanbaru Nature Tours Booking New URL since 9 Aug

UPDATE: Registration for ALL trips is now closed.

We do not have any special instructions for registration with Yanbaru Nature Tours. The web site is clear and self-explanatory. These are very special, limited capacity tours led by local biodiversity experts (emphasis on birds and herps). If you have any questions about the tours, payments or schedules, please contact ACORN Okinawa directly. Neither SPNHC nor TDWG is responsible for the planning of these tours. There are no discounts or other benefits offered by SPNHC-TDWG for these tours.

JAPAN TOURISM AGENCY EXCURSIONS

Japan Tourism Agency Excursions Booking

Excursion descriptions (PDF) (JTA excursions) - Each bus tour can accommodate a limited number of participants, so we recommend booking as early as you can!

New Virtual Tours are being offered in mid-August. Priority registration is being offered for people registered as virtual participants of SPNHC-TDWG 2024 (not traveling to Okinawa) until Wednesday, August 7th. After August 7th, registration will open up to everyone, including in-person registrants, as long as tickets are still available.

If you choose to register for a JTA excursion, please be aware of the following:

• You will need to register on the booking site before you can see any of the excursion details. Click the green “NEW USER” button in the upper left.
• When you register you will be required to provide a Credit Card number. Although all excursions (not including Kerama) are free of charge, you will be billed a penalty if you do not show up for your booking. Please see the cancellation policy on the excursion registration site for more information.
• Also when registering, you will need to provide your Oxford Abstracts order number from your registration for the SPNHC-TDWG meeting. You should have received an email with Subject: “You’re registered for SPNHC-TDWG 2024!” in which there will be an order number (e.g., #0109) at the top of that email message (you can also find your number if you log in to Oxford Abstracts). When you register through the excursion site, you will be asked for a “registration order number” – please enter your Oxford Abstracts order number. You may contact us via okinawa2024@spnhc.org if you cannot find your number.

UPDATED: To ensure fair use amongst participants, each traveler is eligible to book a maximum of two (2) different excursions, one on Sunday, September 1st, and one on Saturday, September 7th. If we discover that three or more Excursion Bus Tours are booked under your name against the Terms and Conditions, or if there is a conflict in schedule, we will contact you directly to cancel the booked tour(s). (See Terms and Conditions.)

If you have any questions about JTA tours, payments or schedules, please contact the tour provider, Nippon Travel Agency Okinawa Co., LTD., directly using the contact provided in your confirmation email. To cancel please log in to the excursion registration site. Neither SPNHC nor TDWG is responsible for the planning of these tours. There are no discounts or other benefits offered by SPNHC-TDWG for these tours.

Cancellation policy

Cancellation fee schedule

All relevant dates hereinunder are indicated in reference to local time in Japan (JST). Cancellation of participation must be requested in writing and is effective from the date we receive and confirm the written notification. Cancellations may be made up to eight days prior to the excursion date at no charge; thereinafter, a cancellation fee will be incurred at a maximum of 10,000 JPY at the following rates:

• 8 or more days’ notice prior to excursion date: No charge;
• 7 to 2 days’ notice prior to excursion date: 30% charge;
• 1 day’s notice prior to excursion date: 50% charge; and
• Notice received on or past the day of excursion date (“no-show”): 100% charge.

Cancellation charges

In accordance with the cancellation fee schedule asindicated above, the organizer will issue a written notification to the traveler stating the amount to be charged with material expense details. Upon mutual confirmation, the organizer will charge the aforementioned amount to the credit card detail on file provided at the time of booking, and the traveler agrees to not make any improper chargebacks.

Disclaimer of responsibility

Please be aware that neither the JAPAN TOURISM AGENCY, NIPPON TRAVEL AGENCY OKINAWA CO., LTD., CERULEAN BLUE OKINAWA, nor ACORN OKINAWA is affiliated with SPNHC or TDWG. SPNHC and TDWG do not receive any financial or other benefit from SPNHC-TDWG 2024 registrants participating in any tour or excursion offered. If you register for any JTA excursions or Yanbaru Nature Tours, SPNHC and TDWG are in no way responsible for you, your property or the excursions, including fee payments, scheduling, facilities, transportation, and damage or harm of any kind. All responsibility lies with the Nippon Travel Agency Okinawa Co., Ltd., Cerulean Blue OKINAWA, ACORN Okinawa or the individual participant. Please see Item #7 Limitation of Liability in the Terms and Conditions document. Terms and Conditions updated on August 1, 2024 to v1.1

Still, we think you’re gonna have a great time.