Privacy Policy

Last updated: 5 November 2026

1. Who we are. Meiten Gourmet (meitengourmet.com) is an independent English-language guide to Japan’s top-rated restaurants, operated from Japan. This policy explains what personal information we collect, why, and the choices you have. It is written to meet Japan’s Act on the Protection of Personal Information (APPI) and the expectations of visitors from the EU, UK and elsewhere.

2. Browsing without an account. You can use the whole guide without signing in. When you visit, our hosting provider (Vercel) keeps standard server logs, such as IP address, browser type and the pages requested, for security and to keep the site running. We also use Google Analytics to understand which pages are useful. It sets cookies and collects pseudonymous usage data like pages viewed, approximate location (country/city), device type and how you arrived. We do not use this data to identify you. Maps on the site are provided by Google Maps, which may set its own cookies when a map loads.

3. If you create an account. You can sign in with Google or with a one-time link sent to your email. When you do, we receive and store your email address, and if you use Google, the name and profile picture on your Google account. We never receive your Google password and we never post anything on your behalf.

4. Trip lists. When you save restaurants, we store your list names and the restaurants in them so you can see them on any device. Your lists are private: only you can see them while signed in. They are not shown to other users or sold.

5. Ratings, reviews and photos. If you rate a restaurant, your score, tags, any review text and any photos you add are shown publicly on that restaurant’s page with your chosen display name and (optionally) your home country. Photos are resized in your browser before upload, which removes embedded data such as GPS location. You can edit or delete your rating and photos at any time.

6. Newsletter. If you subscribe, we store your email address, the page you subscribed from and the date. We use it only to send our Meiten Gourmet email (about once a month). Every email includes a way to unsubscribe, or you can email us to be removed.

7. How we use your information. We use your information to: provide your account and saved lists; send the newsletter you asked for; understand and improve the site; and keep the site secure and prevent abuse. We do not sell your personal information, and we do not share it with advertisers.

8. Service providers and where data is stored. We use trusted providers to run the site: Supabase (account sign-in and database, stored in Tokyo, Japan), Vercel (website hosting), Google (Google sign-in, Google Analytics and Google Maps) and an email delivery provider for sign-in links and the newsletter. Some of these providers may process data outside Japan, including in the United States. They may only use it to provide their service to us.

9. Cookies and local storage. We use your browser’s storage to keep you signed in. Google Analytics and Google Maps use cookies as described above. You can block or delete cookies in your browser settings, or opt out of Google Analytics with Google’s opt-out add-on. Blocking storage will sign you out but the guide will still work.

10. How long we keep it. We keep your account and lists until you delete them or ask us to delete your account. Newsletter addresses are kept until you unsubscribe. Analytics data is kept for Google Analytics’ standard retention period.

11. Your choices and rights. You can rename or delete your lists at any time on the My Trips page. You can ask us to see, correct or delete the personal information we hold about you, or to delete your account entirely, by emailing info@meitengourmet.com from the address you signed in with. We will respond within 30 days. Depending on where you live, you may also have the right to object to or restrict processing, to data portability, and to complain to your local data-protection authority.

12. Children. Meiten Gourmet is not directed at children under 16, and we do not knowingly collect their personal information.

13. Security. Your data is sent over encrypted connections (HTTPS), and access to account data is restricted by database security rules so that each user can only reach their own lists. No system is perfectly secure, but we take reasonable steps to protect your information.

14. Changes to this policy. We may update this policy as the site grows, for example when we add reviews or ratings. We will change the date below, and for significant changes we will notify signed-in users.

15. Contact. Questions or requests about your privacy: info@meitengourmet.com