Contents
This Privacy Policy explains how Tag Exploration ("we", "us", or "our") collects, uses, and shares information when you visit our website. We are a travel blog focused on Japan travel, and we collect only the minimum data needed to operate the site. Please note that this policy is a general template and does not constitute legal advice; the site owner should review and customize it, including the placeholder contact details below.
Information We Collect
Information collected automatically: when you visit the site, our hosting provider and analytics tools automatically collect standard technical information such as your IP address, browser type and version, device type, operating system, referring URLs, pages viewed, and approximate location derived from your IP address. Some of this information is collected through cookies and similar technologies — see our Cookie Policy for details.
Information you provide voluntarily: we do not offer user accounts. The only personal information you might give us is your email address and the contents of your message if you choose to contact us by email or through a contact form. We use this information solely to respond to your inquiry.
Affiliate link tracking: when you click an affiliate link (for example, to a booking platform or retailer), the destination site or affiliate network may record that you arrived from our site using cookies or similar identifiers. This happens on the third party's systems and is governed by their privacy policies.
How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect to operate, maintain, and secure the website; to understand how visitors use the site through aggregated analytics; to personalize basic preferences such as your light/dark theme choice; and to attribute affiliate referrals so we can earn commissions that keep the site running.
We do not use your information to build advertising profiles of individual users, and we do not send marketing emails unless you explicitly ask us to.
Legal Bases for Processing (GDPR)
If you are in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, or Switzerland, we process your personal data under the following legal bases: (a) legitimate interest — for operating and securing the site, producing aggregated analytics, and attributing affiliate referrals, where these interests are not overridden by your rights; and (b) consent — for non-essential cookies and similar technologies, which we request through our cookie consent banner before they are set.
Where we rely on consent, you may withdraw it at any time by clearing your cookies or adjusting your choices in the consent banner. Withdrawal does not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out before withdrawal.
Third-Party Service Providers
We rely on a small number of third-party processors to run the site: hosting and content delivery network (CDN) providers, website analytics services, and affiliate networks and partner platforms. These providers process data on our behalf or as independent controllers under their own privacy policies.
Some of these providers are located in the United States or process data there. Where personal data is transferred outside the EEA/UK, it is protected by appropriate safeguards such as the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework or Standard Contractual Clauses.
Cookies
We use cookies and similar technologies for essential site functions, analytics, and affiliate attribution. For a full description of the cookies we use, why we use them, and how to manage them, please see our Cookie Policy at /cookie-policy.
Data Retention
We keep automatically collected technical data (such as server logs) only for as long as needed for security and analytics purposes, typically no longer than 12 months. If you contact us by email, we retain the correspondence for as long as needed to handle your inquiry and for a reasonable period afterward, then delete it. Cookie retention periods are described in the Cookie Policy.
Your Rights Under GDPR
If you are in the EEA, UK, or Switzerland, you have the right to: request access to your personal data; request rectification of inaccurate data; request erasure of your data; request restriction of processing; request data portability; object to processing based on legitimate interests; and withdraw consent at any time where processing is based on consent.
You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection supervisory authority. To exercise any of these rights, contact us at the email address below.
Your Rights Under CCPA/CPRA (California)
If you are a California resident, you have the right to: know and access the personal information we collect about you; request deletion of your personal information; request correction of inaccurate personal information; opt out of the sale or sharing of your personal information; limit the use of sensitive personal information; and not be discriminated against for exercising these rights.
We do not sell personal information for money. However, some analytics and affiliate cookies may be considered a "share" of personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising under the CPRA. You can opt out at any time through our cookie consent banner, your browser settings, or by enabling the Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal, which we honor. We do not collect sensitive personal information as defined by the CPRA.
Data Controller and Contact
The data controller for this website is Tag Exploration, [placeholder address — the site owner should insert a real postal address here]. You can reach us about any privacy matter at [email protected] (placeholder — replace before launch).
If you have any questions about this policy, you can contact us at [email protected]. Please note: this is a placeholder address — the site owner should replace it with a real, monitored contact email before launch.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. When we do, we will revise the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Material changes will be highlighted on the site where appropriate.