Official Rules

Japan In Focus 2008 Sweepstakes, Presented in association with Japan National Tourism Organization

ELIGIBILITY

NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. This sweepstakes is open only to legal residents of the United States (excluding residents of Puerto Rico) who are at least 18 years old at the time of entry. Entries are limited to individuals only; commercial enterprises and business entities are not eligible. Employees or contract employees of sponsors, National Geographic Society and Japan National Tourism Organization (the "Sponsors"), their affiliates, subsidiaries, agents, and parents and their immediate families or persons living in the same household of such individuals, are ineligible. SWEEPSTAKES IS VOID IN PUERTO RICO AND WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

SCHEDULE

The sweepstakes begins at midnight Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on August 10, 2008, and ends at 11:59 p.m. EDT on October 31, 2008. All entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. EDT October 31, 2008.

HOW TO ENTER

There is a limit of one (1) entry per person.

To enter, go to www.japansweeps.com, enter all required fields, and click submit. You must complete all required data on the entry form in order for the sweepstakes entry to be valid.

All entries become the property of Sponsors. They will not be returned or acknowledged. Sponsors are not responsible for any computer-related, online, or technical malfunctions that may occur. Entries are void if they are in whole or in part incomplete, irregular, altered, counterfeit, produced in error, or obtained through fraud or theft. By entering you agree to be bound by these Official Rules. Entries will be declared made by the authorized account holder of the e-mail address submitted at the time of entry. “Authorized account holder” is defined as the natural person who is assigned to an e-mail address by an Internet access provider, online service provider, or other organization (e.g., business, educational institution, etc.) that is responsible for assigning e-mail addresses for the domain associated with the submitted e-mail address.

Any potential winner may be requested to provide Sponsors with proof that he or she is the authorized account holder of the e-mail address associated with the winning entry.

PRIZE

One (1) grand prize winner will be selected ("Winner"). The Grand Prize consists of a 6-day, 4-night trip to Japan for Winner and one guest. The Grand Prize includes the following: Two (2) coach class roundtrip air tickets on the carrier as identified by the Sponsor to and from Narita Airport, Tokyo, Japan, for the Winner and one guest to and from the major airport closest to the Winner's home. Transfers to and from the U.S. airport are not included. Winner and guest must travel together on the same itinerary. Tickets are non-refundable, non-reroutable and non-endorsable. Winner and guest will join a National Geographic photographer on a three-day photo tour of Kanazawa and Tokyo. The Grand Prize also includes transportation from Narita International Airport to Haneda Tokyo Domestic Airport, coach air transportation for two from Haneda to Komatsu Airport; ground transport from Komatsu Airport to hotel; 3-night double occupancy hotel accommodations for Winner and one guest at a hotel in Kanazawa (incidentals are not included); transportation during the photo tour. In addition, winner and guest will be transported from Kanazawa back to Tokyo, for an overnight stay. Airport transfers to and from hotel and to Narita International Airport for departure to U.S. is included. Some meals also included, but not all. Itinerary for photo tour to be arranged by Sponsors and will take place periodically over the duration of the stay. Winner and guest will be responsible for all expenses not specifically stated as part of the Grand Prize, including but not limited to, carrier surcharges, service charges, local transportation, overnight accommodation prior to or following the travel dates in order to accommodate flight connections, taxes, insurance, gratuities, some meals, beverages, incidentals and any items of a personal nature. Grand Prize subject to availability and black out dates may apply. Winner and guest are responsible for procuring appropriate documentation for travel to Japan from the U.S. Trip must be completed between March 5 and March 20, 2009. Reservations for flights and hotel stay will be made through Sponsors. Approximate Retail Value of the Grand Prize ("ARV") is $4,500 based on sample originating city and sample dates. Any difference between actual retail value and ARV will not be awarded. Prize cannot be exchanged for cash. No prize transfer, assignment or substitution by Winner is permitted. In the event offered prize is unavailable, Sponsors reserve the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value. Should the winner selected not be able to accept the prize, Sponsors reserve the right to award the prize to another winner using random selection from among the remaining eligible entries.

A detailed description of the trip is available at: www.japansweeps.com.

SELECTION OF THE WINNER

Random selection of Winner will occur on or about November 5, 2008 from among all eligible entries received. Drawing will be conducted at National Geographic, 1145 17th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036-4688. Winner will be notified by e-mail or U.S. mail on or about November 7, 2008. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received.

REDEMPTION AND VERIFICATION

To redeem prize, Winner must respond within ten (10) days of prize notification. Response may be by e-mail to Rossana Stella at rstella@ngs.org. Winner may not alter the duration or the dates of the trip, as determined by Sponsor. Winner and guest will be required to execute and return (1) an affidavit of eligibility and liability release; (2) a personal publicity release allowing use of his or her name, voice and likeness for promotional purposes, where legal; and (3) a license granting Sponsors and their affiliates and licensees a royalty-free perpetual, non-exclusive license to reproduce, in any and all media, any photographs taken by Winner during the Grand Prize trip for editorial, trade or promotional purposes. All forms must be signed and returned within the time frame set forth by Sponsors or the prize will be deemed forfeited and a substitute winner will be selected.

All prize claims are subject to verification and compliance with the official rules.

RIGHT TO CANCEL OR SUSPEND SWEEPSTAKES

If for any reason the sweepstakes is not capable of running as planned, due to infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes beyond the control of Sponsors that corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this sweepstakes, the Sponsors reserve the right, at their sole discretion, to disqualify any individual(s) who tamper with the entry process, and/or to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the sweepstakes.

LIMITATION ON LIABILITY

Sponsors assume no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, or delay in operation or transmission; communications line failure; unauthorized access to sweepstakes entries; or alteration of entries. Sponsors are not responsible for any problems with or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer online systems, servers or providers, computer equipment, software, or failure of any e-mail to be received on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any Web site, or any combination thereof, including any injury or damage to participants' or any other persons' computers related to or resulting from participation or downloading any materials in this sweepstakes.

CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY ANY PERSON TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEB SITE OR UNDERMINE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE SWEEPSTAKES IS A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS. SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH PERSON TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

The Grand Prize trip may not be combined with any other offer. Regulations and conditions may apply. Winner will be responsible for all necessary travel authorizations and for any travel insurance. By accepting the Grand Prize, Winner represents that he/she understands that travel, whether in developed or remote areas and whether by plane, automobile, boat, raft, or other conveyance, or by foot, on land or water, and in the air, contains some inherent element of risk of accident, illness, injury, loss or death, which may be caused by negligence, forces of nature, wild animals or other agencies, known or unknown. Winner and travel companion must represent that they recognize that such risks may be present at any time before, during and after the trip.

CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION

By participating, participants agree to release, discharge, and hold harmless Sponsors and their respective partners, affiliates, parents, subsidiaries, advertising agencies, agents and their employees, officers, directors, and representatives from any liability, claims, losses, and damages arising out of their participation in the sweepstakes or any sweepstakes-related activities and the acceptance, use, misuse, or possession of any prize received in this sweepstakes. Participants also agree (a) to be bound by these official rules; (b) that the decisions of Sponsors are final on all matters relating to the sweepstakes; and (c) if he/she wins, to the use of his/her name and or likeness for advertising and promotional purposes without compensation (except in Tennessee and where prohibited by law) and upon request, to provide consent to such use in writing.

All federal, state and local taxes, fees and surcharges on prize are the sole responsibility of the Winner.

WINNERS LIST

For the name of Winner after November 7, 2008, send a separate self-addressed, stamped envelope to National Geographic Society, Japan In Focus 2008 Sweepstakes Winners, Attention: Rossana Stella, 711 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10022 (Residents of Vermont need not include return postage).

NOTICE TO INDIVIDUALS: REMOVAL FROM MAILING LIST: Any individual (or other duly authorized person) may elect to exclude the name and address of that individual from all lists used by Sponsor to mail skill contests or sweepstakes. To elect to have an individual's name excluded from all such lists, submit a removal request in writing to: National Geographic Society, Japan In Focus 2008 Sweepstakes Winners, Attention: Rossana Stella, 711 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10022.This notification system may be used to prohibit mailing of all skill contests or sweepstakes by Sponsor to such individual.

SHORT FORM RULES

To obtain full Official Rules, go to www.japansweeps.com. PURCHASE IS NOT NECESSARY AND WON'T INCREASE CHANCES OF WINNING. Open to U.S. residents (excluding Puerto Rico) 18 years or older. Employees of Sponsors National Geographic Society, Inc., and Japan National Tourist Organization ("Sponsors") and related companies (and their families and households) are ineligible. Sweepstakes ends 11:59 p.m. EDT October 31, 2008. To enter, go to www.japansweeps.com, enter all required fields, and click submit. You must complete all required data on the entry form in order for the sweepstakes entry to be valid. One Grand Prize: 6-day/4-night trip for Winner and one guest to Japan between March 5 and March 20, 2009 (ARV: $4,500). Conditions and restrictions apply.