Privacy Policy

Last updated: April 2026

Hike in Japan (hikeinjapan.jp) provides detailed information about hiking trails, mountain routes, and nature walks across Japan. From the alpine ridges of the Japanese Alps to the pilgrimage paths of Kumano Kodo and the subtropical forests of Yakushima, our platform helps hikers plan safe and enjoyable treks. Because hiking often involves location-sensitive data, we take particular care with how we handle your information. This Privacy Policy explains our data practices in detail.

By using Hike in Japan, you accept the practices described in this policy. If you have concerns about any aspect of our data handling, please stop using the site and contact us.

1. Information We Collect

Our data collection is focused on helping you discover and prepare for hikes in Japan while keeping your personal information to a minimum:

1.1 Local Storage Data

Hike in Japanstores your trail preferences and activity in your browser's local storage. This data stays on your device and is not transmitted to our servers:

• Bookmarked Trails: When you save a hiking trail or mountain route, its identifier is stored locally so you can reference it during trip planning.
• Difficulty Preferences: Your preferred trail difficulty levels (beginner, intermediate, advanced, expert) are remembered to filter search results accordingly.
• Trail Search History: Recent searches by mountain name, region, elevation, distance, or season are cached locally for quick access.
• Completed Trail Markers: If you mark trails as completed, these markers are saved in local storage to help you track your hiking progress across Japan.
• Display Preferences: Settings such as metric vs. imperial units for elevation and distance are stored locally.

1.2 Usage Data

Standard technical data is collected automatically when you browse Hike in Japan:

• IP address and approximate geographic location
• Browser type, version, and language
• Device type (mobile devices are common among hikers) and operating system
• Trail pages and mountain route pages you viewed
• Time spent reading trail descriptions, elevation profiles, and safety information
• Referral source that brought you to Hike in Japan

1.3 Geolocation Data

Geolocation is particularly relevant for Hike in Japan because hikers may use our maps to locate trailheads, check nearby routes, or orient themselves in mountain areas. If you grant your browser permission to share location:

• Your approximate coordinates are sent to our mapping provider to display trails and trailheads near you
• We do not store your precise GPS coordinates on our servers
• Location data is used only for the map session in which it is provided
• You can revoke location permission at any time through your browser settings

Safety note: Hike in Japanis an informational resource and not a navigation tool. Always carry proper maps and equipment when hiking in Japan's mountains. Do not rely solely on browser-based location for trail navigation.

1.4 User-Provided Data

If you contact us to report trail condition changes, suggest a new route, correct trailhead directions, or flag a safety concern, we collect the information you voluntarily provide, including your email address and message content.

2. How We Use Your Information

Data collected through Hike in Japan supports the following hiking-specific purposes:

• Present trail listings with relevant difficulty, elevation, and distance data based on your preferences
• Show trailhead locations and mountain hut positions on interactive maps
• Preserve your bookmarked trails, difficulty preferences, and completed hike markers between sessions
• Analyze which trails, mountain ranges, and difficulty levels are most popular to guide content development
• Keep trail information current, including seasonal access restrictions, weather advisories, and trail closures
• Process user-submitted trail reports and safety updates
• Protect against automated scraping or unauthorized use of our trail database and GPS data
• Produce aggregate, non-identifying statistics about hiking tourism trends in Japan

3. Third-Party Services

The following third-party services support Hike in Japan's operations:

4. Cookies and Local Storage

Hike in Japan uses the following storage technologies:

• Analytics Cookies: Google Analytics cookies track visitor engagement with trail pages, difficulty filters, and region selections. Maximum lifespan is 2 years.
• Local Storage — Bookmarks: Saved trails and mountain routes are stored as local storage entries, identified by trail ID. Data persists until manually cleared.
• Local Storage — Hiking Preferences: Difficulty level, preferred elevation range, and distance filters are saved locally for consistent search results.
• Local Storage — Trail Progress: If you mark trails as completed, this progress tracking data is maintained in local storage.
• Local Storage — Unit Settings: Your choice of metric or imperial measurements is saved for elevation and distance displays.

You can clear all local storage data through your browser settings. Blocking analytics cookies will not affect your ability to view trail information or use maps.

5. Data Retention

We retain data according to the following schedule:

• Analytics data: Held in Google Analytics for up to 14 months before automatic aggregation or deletion.
• Server logs: Retained for up to 30 days for security and error investigation.
• Contact and trail report submissions: Stored for up to 12 months to process trail condition updates and safety reports.
• Local storage data: Under your control — stays on your device until you clear it.

6. Your Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have rights under the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Japan's Act on the Protection of Personal Information (APPI), including:

• Access personal data we have collected about you
• Request correction of inaccurate data
• Request deletion of your personal data
• Object to or restrict specific processing activities
• Receive your data in a structured, portable format
• Withdraw consent for consent-based processing
• File a complaint with a data protection supervisory authority

Your trail bookmarks, difficulty preferences, and progress data are stored in your browser and are fully under your control. For requests regarding server-side data, please email info@hikeinjapan.jp.

7. International Data Transfers

Hike in Japan is operated from Japan with primary infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific region. Third-party services such as Google Analytics, Vercel, and Sentry may process data in other jurisdictions. These providers maintain appropriate safeguards, including Standard Contractual Clauses, to protect transferred data in compliance with applicable privacy frameworks.

8. Children's Privacy

While hiking can be a wonderful family activity, Hike in Japan as a digital service is not directed at children under 16. We do not knowingly gather personal data from minors. If you believe a child has submitted personal information through our site, please contact info@hikeinjapan.jp so we can remove it promptly.

9. Changes to This Policy

This Privacy Policy may be updated to reflect changes in our data practices, third-party integrations, or legal requirements. Updates will be signaled by a new “Last updated” date at the top of this page. We recommend reviewing this policy before the start of each hiking season to stay informed of any changes.

10. Contact Us

For privacy questions, data rights requests, trail condition reports, or safety concerns, please reach out to the Hike in Japan team:

• Email: info@hikeinjapan.jp
• Website: hikeinjapan.jp

We aim to respond to all inquiries within 30 days.