Privacy policy

This privacy policy covers the app Kokoro Japan Guide and this website.

1. Controller

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E-mail: app@sakuraharawerk.jp

2. The app in short

• No account, no advertising, no tracking. Kokoro Japan Guide contains no analytics or advertising software. We, the operator, do not receive your saved places, notes or your location.
• Your places stay with you. They are stored on your device. If you switch on iCloud sync (optional, "Sign in with Apple"), they are stored in your own private iCloud container. Apple processes this data under its own privacy policy; we cannot see it.
• Location. Your location is used on your device only, to show distances and guide you to a place. It is not sent to us.
• Reading map links. When you save a place from a map link, the app contacts the map provider (for example Google or Apple) to read the place details. That provider receives your IP address and the link.
• Maps and routes. Maps, routing and address search use Apple services (MapKit). Navigation can also be handed over to the Google Maps app if you choose so.
• Translation of Japanese names happens on your device (Apple Translation framework).
• Apple Watch, Share extension and Safari extension exchange data only between your own devices (App Group, iCloud). Places you send from Safari are kept temporarily in your iCloud key-value storage until the app imports them.

3. This website

• Server log files. When you visit, the server processes your IP address, the time, the requested page and browser information to deliver the page and keep it secure. Log files are deleted after a short period set by the hosting provider. Hosting: ,.
• Cookies. Only strictly necessary cookies are used by default (see the cookie page). Optional cookies are only used with your consent.
• Legal version by region. To show you the matching legal texts (Japan or EU) we compare your IP address with a list of Japanese address ranges stored on our own server. Your IP address is not passed on to third parties for this purpose. You can switch the version at any time.

4. Support requests (tickets)

If you contact us through the support form we process your e-mail address, your name (optional), your message and photos you upload (location data in photos is removed) to answer your request. You receive a private link to your request. Anyone who has this link can read and write in the request, so please do not share it. Closed requests are deleted automatically after 365 days. You can ask us to delete a request earlier. Our e-mails are sent through our mail provider.

5. Recipients

• Hosting provider: , (processes data on our behalf).
• Our e-mail provider (sending notifications).
• Apple (App Store, iCloud, MapKit) and the map providers whose links you open – for the app functions described above, under their own privacy policies.

6. Legal bases (GDPR)

• Website operation and security (server logs): Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR – legitimate interest.
• Support requests: Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR (answering your request) and Art. 6(1)(f); where you gave consent in the form, Art. 6(1)(a).
• Optional cookies: Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR and § 25 TDDDG – consent, which you can withdraw at any time.
• App functions on your device: processed locally; we are not the controller of that data.

7. International transfers

If a provider processes data outside the EU/EEA, this only happens with suitable safeguards (for example an adequacy decision or EU standard contractual clauses).

8. Your rights

You have the right to access, rectification, erasure, restriction of processing, data portability and to object (Art. 15–21 GDPR). You may withdraw consent at any time with effect for the future. To exercise your rights, write to app@sakuraharawerk.jp or use the support form (topic "Privacy request"). You also have the right to lodge a complaint with a data protection supervisory authority, for example in the EU member state where you live or work.

9. Changes

We update this policy when the app or website changes. Last update: 2026-11-05.

Last updated: 2026-11-05