Terms & Conditions

Last updated: April 2026

By accessing this website or subscribing to The Unbeaten Path newsletter, you agree to these terms. Please read them carefully.

1. The Service

The Unbeaten Path is a weekly email newsletter about off-the-beaten-path travel in Japan. The free tier is available to all subscribers. Premium subscriptions and planning calls are paid services described on this website.

2. Subscriptions and Payments

Free subscriptions can be cancelled at any time via the unsubscribe link in any email.

Premium subscriptions are billed monthly ($9/month) or annually ($79/year) via Stripe. You may cancel your Premium subscription at any time; cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period. We do not offer refunds for partial periods.

Planning call bookings ($100 per session) are paid at time of booking via Google Calendar. Cancellations made more than 24 hours before the scheduled call will receive a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours are non-refundable.

2a. Connections Membership — Specific Terms

Connections is a limited concierge membership tier, separate from the free newsletter and Premium subscription. The following terms apply specifically to Connections membership and supersede the general cancellation terms in section 2 where they conflict.

Minimum commitment. Connections membership requires a minimum term of six calendar months. The full six-month fee ($594) is due and payable in advance before membership begins. Membership does not commence until payment is received and confirmed.

No refunds on the upfront payment. The six-month upfront payment is non-refundable under any circumstances, including but not limited to: change of travel plans, failure to use the concierge service, dissatisfaction with individual booking outcomes, or early cancellation. By submitting an application and making payment, you acknowledge and accept this condition.

Continuation after the initial term. At the end of the six-month initial period, membership automatically continues on a month-to-month basis at $99 per calendar month, billed via the payment method on file. To cancel after the initial term, you must provide written notice of at least 30 calendar days before the next billing date. Cancellation requests received less than 30 days before a billing date will take effect at the following billing date. No refunds are issued for the month in which notice is given.

Non-transferable. Connections membership is personal and non-transferable. Access to the concierge service and Mark’s personal network is provided solely to the named member. Membership may not be shared, gifted, or transferred to any third party.

Nature of the service. Connections provides access to Mark Lazenby’s personal relationships and concierge expertise on a best-efforts basis. While every reasonable effort will be made to fulfil booking requests, we do not guarantee the availability of any specific restaurant, ryokan, hotel, or experience. Availability is ultimately determined by third parties outside our control. A failure to secure a specific booking does not constitute grounds for a refund or early termination of membership.

Termination by The Unbeaten Path. We reserve the right to terminate a Connections membership immediately and without refund if a member: (a) acts in bad faith toward the restaurants, hotels, or contacts within the network; (b) provides false information in their application; (c) misuses, abuses, or attempts to circumvent the concierge service; or (d) breaches any other provision of these terms. Termination under this clause does not entitle the member to any refund of fees paid, including the upfront six-month payment.

Membership limit. Connections membership is limited in number at our absolute discretion. Submitting an application does not guarantee a place. We reserve the right to decline any application without giving reasons.

3. Content and Intellectual Property

All editorial content published in The Unbeaten Path newsletter and on this website is the intellectual property of The Unbeaten Path. You may not reproduce, distribute, or republish it without written permission. Photography is sourced from Unsplash under their respective licences and credited accordingly.

4. Accuracy of Information

We take care to ensure the accuracy of travel recommendations, restaurant names, and venue details. However, details change. We recommend verifying bookings and opening hours directly with venues before travel. We accept no liability for inaccuracies or changes to third-party services.

5. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, The Unbeaten Path is not liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential loss arising from use of this website, the newsletter, or any travel decisions made based on its content.

6. Changes to These Terms

We may update these terms from time to time. Continued use of the newsletter or website after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.

7. Governing Law

These terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales.