PRIVACY POLICY
PRIVACY POLICY
JapanInPixels.com ("we", "us", "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This policy explains what data we collect when you visit or use our pixel art map of Japan, why we collect it, and how we use it.
INFORMATION WE COLLECT
We collect minimal data to operate the site. This falls into two categories: data you provide directly, and data collected automatically when you use the map.
- Usage data — pages visited, map tiles loaded, regions explored, session duration. Used to understand which areas of Japan are most popular and to prioritize mapping work.
- Technical data — browser type, device type, screen resolution, referring URL. Helps us ensure the map renders correctly across devices.
- Preferences — if you save map settings (zoom level, last-visited region), these are stored in your browser's local storage. They never leave your device unless you explicitly submit them.
- Contact data — if you email us or submit a contact form, we store your name and email address to respond to you. We do not add you to any mailing list without your explicit consent.
■ WHAT WE DON'T COLLECT
We do not collect payment data (the site is free), we do not sell advertising, we do not create user profiles, and we do not track you across other websites. JapanInPixels has no login system — no account, no password, no personal profile.
HOW WE USE YOUR DATA
Data is used solely to operate, maintain, and improve the site. Specifically:
- To serve you the correct map tiles and page content
- To fix bugs and performance issues
- To understand which regions and cities to prioritize mapping next
- To respond to enquiries or feedback you send us
- To detect and prevent abuse or malicious crawling of our tile data
We do not use your data for advertising, behavioural profiling, or resale to third parties.
COOKIES & LOCAL STORAGE
We use a small number of cookies and browser local storage entries. See the Cookie Policy tab for the full list. In summary:
| Name | Type | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| _jip_session | Cookie | Laravel session — keeps you on the same server | Session |
| _jip_prefs | Local Storage | Saves last-viewed region and zoom level | Persistent |
| _ga, _ga_* | Cookie | Google Analytics 4 — anonymous usage stats | 2 years |
| cf_clearance | Cookie | Cloudflare security challenge token | 1 day |
You can clear local storage and cookies at any time in your browser settings. Doing so will reset your saved map preferences but will not affect your ability to use the site.
THIRD-PARTY SERVICES
We use a limited set of third-party services to operate the site. Each is listed below with its purpose and a link to its own privacy policy.
Anonymous, aggregated traffic analytics. Used to understand which regions and map tiles are most visited. IP addresses are anonymised before storage — we never see individual IPs in GA4 reports.
Google Privacy Policy ↗Content delivery network, DDoS protection, and edge caching of map tile data. Cloudflare processes requests to serve assets faster and protect the site from bot traffic and attacks.
Cloudflare Privacy Policy ↗Application hosting and server infrastructure. The site and its map data are served from Laravel Cloud, which runs on AWS. Data is stored in EU/US data centres with encryption at rest.
AWS Privacy Policy ↗DotGothic16, Press Start 2P, and Noto Serif JP are loaded from Google's font CDN. Your browser makes a direct request to Google servers to fetch these files. No font data is stored on our servers.
Google Fonts FAQ ↗■ DATA TRANSFERS
Some of the above services may transfer data outside the European Economic Area. Where this occurs, we rely on Standard Contractual Clauses or equivalent safeguards as permitted under GDPR Article 46.
YOUR RIGHTS
Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:
- Right of access — request a copy of any personal data we hold about you
- Right to erasure — request deletion of your personal data
- Right to rectification — request correction of inaccurate data
- Right to object — object to certain types of processing
- Right to portability — request your data in a machine-readable format
Because we collect very little personal data (no accounts, no profiles), most requests will be straightforward to action. To exercise any right, contact us at the address below.
DATA RETENTION
We keep analytics data for 26 months (Google Analytics default). Contact form enquiries are kept for 12 months and then deleted. Server access logs are retained for 30 days for security purposes and then purged automatically.
CHILDREN'S PRIVACY
JapanInPixels is a general-audience website with no age restriction on viewing. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 13. If you believe a child has submitted personal data to us, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.
CHANGES TO THIS POLICY
We may update this policy as the site grows (new features, new third-party services, new regions mapped). Material changes will be noted on the Updates / Changelog page with at least 14 days notice before taking effect. The "Last Updated" date at the top will always reflect the current version.
// CONTACT & DATA CONTROLLER
JapanInPixels.com is operated as part of the Japan Empire network. For any privacy-related question, data request, or concern:
✉ legal@japaninpixels.com
🌐 japaninpixels.com
We aim to respond to all data-related requests within 30 days.
TERMS OF USE
By accessing or using JapanInPixels.com, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Use. If you do not agree, please do not use the site. These terms apply to all visitors, users, and anyone who accesses the map or any content on the site.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
All pixel art maps, tile data, illustrations, and written content on JapanInPixels.com are the intellectual property of JapanInPixels.com unless otherwise credited. This includes:
- All custom-drawn tile artwork and map compositions
- The four-level map hierarchy data and POI database
- Blog posts, lore descriptions, and location write-ups
- The site design, CSS system, and visual identity
■ LIMEZU TILESET ATTRIBUTION & LICENCE
Portions of the map use LimeZu's full Modern sets (Exteriors, Interiors, Farm, Office, User Interface — 16×16) from limezu.itch.io. Under LimeZu's licence we may use and edit the assets in commercial and non-commercial projects; we may not resell or redistribute the assets. Credits are required (or much appreciated per pack). We provide attribution on the About and Tilesets pages. Custom Ryukyuan and hand-drawn tiles are our original work. Full licence summary: Tilesets → LimeZu licence.
PERMITTED USE
You are welcome to:
- Browse, explore, and share links to any page or map on the site
- Use screenshots of the map for personal, educational, or editorial use with attribution
- Link to JapanInPixels.com from your own site or social media
- Quote short excerpts from lore/description text with a link back to the source
PROHIBITED USE
You may not:
- Scrape, crawl, or systematically download tile data, map JSON, or POI databases without written permission
- Reproduce or redistribute the pixel art maps, tile compositions, or map data commercially without a licence
- Mirror or republish substantial portions of the site's content
- Reverse-engineer, decompile, or extract the map rendering engine
- Use the site in any way that disrupts or burdens our infrastructure
- Misrepresent the source of map data or claim our pixel art as your own work
■ API / TILE DATA ACCESS
If you are interested in using our map data, tileset, or API for a project — educational, commercial, or otherwise — please get in touch. We are open to licensing discussions and collaboration with other Japanese culture projects.
DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES
JapanInPixels is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not warrant that the site will be uninterrupted, error-free, or that the map data is geographically accurate (it is pixel art — artistic interpretation is inherent). Historical and cultural information is researched in good faith but should not be used as a primary academic source.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
To the fullest extent permitted by law, JapanInPixels.com and its operators shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from your use of the site, even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damage.
GOVERNING LAW
These terms are governed by the laws of France. Any disputes arising from your use of the site shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of France, without regard to conflict of law provisions.
CHANGES TO TERMS
We reserve the right to modify these terms at any time. Continued use of the site after changes have been posted constitutes your acceptance of the revised terms. Material changes will be announced on the Updates page.
COOKIE POLICY
This policy explains what cookies and similar technologies we use on JapanInPixels.com, why we use them, and how you can manage your preferences.
WHAT ARE COOKIES?
Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. They allow the site to remember information about your visit — such as your preferred language or the last region you explored on the map. We also use browser local storage for similar purposes (it works like a cookie but stays on your device and is never sent to our servers).
COOKIES WE USE
| Cookie / Key | Category | Provider | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| _jip_session | Essential | JapanInPixels | Laravel session management. Required for the site to function correctly. | Session end |
| XSRF-TOKEN | Essential | JapanInPixels | Laravel CSRF protection token. Prevents cross-site request forgery attacks. | Session end |
| _jip_prefs | Functional | JapanInPixels | Local storage. Saves your last-viewed map region, zoom level, and tile preferences. Never sent to our servers. | Persistent |
| _ga | Analytics | Google Analytics 4. Distinguishes unique users for anonymous traffic reports. IP is anonymised. | 2 years | |
| _ga_[ID] | Analytics | Google Analytics 4 session persistence. | 2 years | |
| cf_clearance | Security | Cloudflare | Proves a browser passed a Cloudflare security challenge. Prevents bot abuse of the tile CDN. | 1 day |
| __cf_bm | Security | Cloudflare | Bot management. Distinguishes legitimate users from automated traffic. | 30 mins |
MANAGING YOUR PREFERENCES
You can control cookies through your browser settings. Here's how to manage them in common browsers:
- Chrome — Settings → Privacy and Security → Cookies and other site data
- Firefox — Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
- Safari — Preferences → Privacy → Manage Website Data
- Edge — Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Manage and delete cookies
■ IMPORTANT NOTE
Disabling Essential cookies (_jip_session, XSRF-TOKEN) will prevent the site from working correctly. Disabling Functional cookies (_jip_prefs) will mean your map preferences are not saved between sessions. Analytics and Security cookies can be disabled without affecting functionality.
OPT-OUT OF ANALYTICS
To opt out of Google Analytics across all sites you visit, you can install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on. Alternatively, blocking the _ga and _ga_* cookies in your browser settings will prevent tracking on this site.
We do not use any other advertising or marketing trackers. There are no Facebook Pixel, TikTok Pixel, or ad retargeting cookies on JapanInPixels.
// QUESTIONS ABOUT COOKIES
If you have questions about our use of cookies or local storage:
