PRIVACY POLICY

RYOKANWANDERINGS’ PRIVACY POLICY

1. INTRODUCTION & SCOPE

Welcome to RYOKANWANDERINGS (accessible via www.ryokanwanderings.com, hereinafter referred to as the "Website"). Protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal data is of paramount importance to us.

This Privacy Policy governs the collection, use, processing, and disclosure of personal information obtained through your interactions with our Website. By accessing, browsing, or otherwise using this Website, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and unreservedly agree to the terms outlined in this Privacy Policy.

• Applicability: This policy applies strictly to online activities and governs visitors to our Website with respect to information shared and/or collected herein. It does not apply to any information collected offline, via third-party channels, or through platforms not owned or controlled by RYOKANWANDERINGS.

• Updates: This Privacy Policy is subject to change at our sole discretion. Any modifications, amendments, or updates will be posted directly on this page with an updated revision date. Your continued use of the Website following any changes constitutes your explicit acceptance of the revised terms.

2. INFORMATION WE COLLECT

We collect information to operate the Website efficiently, enhance user experience, and fulfill legal or regulatory obligations. The categories of information we gather include:

A. INFORMATION YOU VOLUNTARILY SUBMIT

We collect personal data that you choose to provide to us directly. This includes:

• Contact & Communication Data: Your name, email address, and message content when you submit an inquiry via our contact form.

• Subscription Data: Your email address and preferences when you subscribe to our newsletters or mailing lists.

• User-Generated Content: Information you provide when leaving comments on blog posts or participating in interactive features.

B. AUTOMATICALLY COLLECTED TECHNICAL DATA

When you access the Website, our servers and analytics partners automatically log standard technical data transmitted by your web browser. This may include:

• Internet Protocol (IP) address

• Browser type, version, and language preferences

• Operating system type and version

• Referring website URLs, exit pages, and clickstream data

• Date, time, and duration of your visit

• Device type and unique device identifiers

C. COOKIES AND TRACKING TECHNOLOGIES

The Website utilizes cookies, web beacons, pixel tags, and similar tracking technologies to store user preferences, analyze traffic trends, and optimize functionality.

• First-Party Cookies: Set directly by us to remember your preferences and customize your browsing experience.

• Third-Party Cookies: Deployed by external service providers (such as analytics and advertising networks) to track interactions and deliver targeted content.

• Browser Controls: You have the right to disable, block, or delete cookies at any time via your web browser settings.
  Note that disabling cookies may impair certain features, functionality, or performance of the Website.

3. THIRD-PARTY SERVICE PROVIDERS & DATA SHARING

Except as expressly outlined in this policy or required by law, RYOKANWANDERINGS does not sell, trade, rent, or distribute your personal information to external parties without your explicit consent. However, we engage trusted third-party service providers to facilitate website operations.

Current Service Providers

Google Analytics:
Tracks website traffic patterns, user acquisition paths, and on-site behavior. Google Analytics may capture your IP address;
however, no other direct personal identifiers are logged by this service. Google's processing is governed by its own privacy policies.

Business Transfers:
In the event of a corporate merger, acquisition, consolidation, reorganization, joint venture, sale of all or a portion of our assets,
or filing of bankruptcy, your personal information may be transferred as part of the transferred business assets to the succeeding entity,
which will assume the rights and obligations regarding your data outlined herein.

4. MEDIAVINE ADVERTISING DISCLOSURE PROGRAMMATIC ADVERTISING
(Journey by Mediavine)

The Website works with Mediavine to manage third-party interest-based advertising appearing on the Website. Mediavine serves content and advertisements when you visit the Website, which may use first and third-party cookies. A cookie is a small text file which is sent to your computer or mobile device (referred to in this policy as a “device”) by the web server so that a website can remember some information about your browsing activity on the Website.

First party cookies are created by the website that you are visiting. A third-party cookie is frequently used in behavioral advertising and analytics and is created by a domain other than the website you are visiting. Third-party cookies, tags, pixels, beacons and other similar technologies (collectively, “Tags”) may be placed on the Website to monitor interaction with advertising content and to target and optimize advertising. Each internet browser has functionality so that you can block both first and third-party cookies and clear your browser’s cache. The “help” feature of the menu bar on most browsers will tell you how to stop accepting new cookies, how to receive notification of new cookies, how to disable existing cookies and how to clear your browser’s cache. For more information about cookies and how to disable them, you can consult the information at All About Cookies.

Without cookies you may not be able to take full advantage of the Website content and features. Please note that rejecting cookies does not mean that you will no longer see ads when you visit our Site. In the event you opt-out, you will still see non-personalized advertisements on the Website.

The Website collects the following data using a cookie when serving personalized ads:

• IP Address

• Operating System type

• Operating System version

• Device Type

• Language of the website

• Web browser type

• Email (in hashed form)

Mediavine Partners (companies listed below with whom Mediavine shares data) may also use this data to link to other end user information the partner has independently collected to deliver targeted advertisements. Mediavine Partners may also separately collect data about end users from other sources, such as advertising IDs or pixels, and link that data to data collected from Mediavine publishers in order to provide interest-based advertising across your online experience, including devices, browsers and apps. This data includes usage data, cookie information, device information, information about interactions between users and advertisements and websites, geolocation data, traffic data, and information about a visitor’s referral source to a particular website. Mediavine Partners may also create unique IDs to create audience segments, which are used to provide targeted advertising.

If you would like more information about this practice and to know your choices to opt-in or opt-out of this data collection, please visit National Advertising Initiative opt out page. You may also visit Digital Advertising Alliance website and Network Advertising Initiative website to learn more information about interest-based advertising. You may download the AppChoices app at Digital Advertising Alliance’s AppChoices app to opt out in connection with mobile apps, or use the platform controls on your mobile device to opt out.

For specific information about Mediavine Partners, the data each collects and their data collection and privacy policies, please visit Mediavine Partners.

5. AFFILIATE TRACKING & THIRD-PARTY WIDGETS (Stay22)

The Website integrates interactive travel maps, widgets, and booking tools (such as Stay22) to assist users in discovering accommodations, ryokans, and travel services.

• Tracking Mechanisms: When you interact with Stay22 interfaces, search fields, or click affiliate links (e.g., Booking.com, Agoda, Viator), cookies, local storage, or pixels may be deployed by these third-party platforms to monitor search parameters, track referral paths, and properly attribute affiliate commissions.

• Third-Party Governance: These external tools operate independently of RYOKANWANDERINGS. Your interactions with affiliate widgets are governed exclusively by the respective privacy policies and terms of service of those third-party platforms.

6. HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION

We process the collected data for legitimate business purposes, including:

• Provision, operation, maintenance, and optimization of the Website

• Customization and enhancement of user experience and site architecture

• Statistical analysis of user behavior, traffic trends, and engagement metrics

• Development of new features, products, or service offerings

• Administrative communication, customer support, and response to user inquiries

• Delivery of marketing materials, newsletters, and promotional updates (where explicit consent has been given)

• Detection, prevention, and mitigation of fraudulent activities, security breaches, or unauthorized access

7. GLOBAL PRIVACY RIGHTS (GDPR, CCPA, and Beyond)

Depending on your geographical jurisdiction—such as the European Economic Area (EEA), the United Kingdom, or California (CCPA/CPRA)—you may hold statutory rights concerning your personal data. These include:

• Right of Access: The right to request copies of the personal data we hold about you.

• Right to Rectification: The right to request correction of inaccurate, incomplete, or outdated data.

• Right to Erasure ("Right to Be Forgotten"): The right to request the permanent deletion of your personal data, subject to legal recordkeeping exemptions.

• Right to Restrict or Object: The right to object to or limit our processing of your personal data.

• Right to Data Portability: The right to request the transfer of your data to another organization.

• Right to Opt-Out: The right to opt out of the "sale" or "sharing" of personal data, encompassing programmatic advertising and cookie-based tracking.

To exercise any of these rights, please submit a formal request via our Website's contact form.

8. SENSITIVE PERSONAL INFORMATION

RYOKANWANDERINGS strictly prohibits the submission of sensitive personal data through our public forms, comments, or communication channels. This includes, but is not limited to, social security numbers, racial or ethnic origin data, political opinions, religious beliefs, health records, trade union memberships, or criminal background history. Any such data submitted voluntarily will be handled in accordance with this Privacy Policy but is done entirely at your own risk.

9. PROTECTION OF CHILDREN’S PRIVACY

The Website is intended for a general audience and is not directed toward individuals under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from children under 16. If a parent or legal guardian discovers that a child has provided personal information to the Website without verifiable consent, they should contact us immediately via the contact page, and we will take prompt, commercially reasonable steps to purge such data from our servers.

10. CONTACT INFORMATION

If you have any questions, concerns, or grievances regarding this Privacy Policy or our data processing practices, please reach out to us directly through the contact form provided on the Website’s contact form.