Privacy Policy

GuidePal ("GuidePal", "we", "us", or "our") is an online marketplace that connects Travelers seeking authentic local experiences with independent local Guides. We are committed to protecting and respecting your privacy.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information when you visit our website, use our mobile applications, or otherwise access the GuidePal Platform (collectively, the "Platform").

This Privacy Policy applies to all users of the Platform, including Travelers, Guides, and visitors. Please read it carefully.

By accessing or using the Platform, you consent to the collection, use, and processing of your personal information as described in this Privacy Policy.

 

For the purposes of this Privacy Policy, the following terms have the meanings set forth below.

• "Personal Information" means any information that relates to an identified or identifiable individual, such as a name, email address, phone number, identification document number, or payment details.

• "Traveler" means any individual who browses, books, purchases, or participates in an Experience offered through GuidePal.

• "Guide" or "GuidePal Host" means an individual or business registered with GuidePal that offers Experiences through the Platform.

• "Experience" means any tour, activity, workshop, or service published by a Guide through the Platform.

• "Platform" means all websites, mobile applications, software, and online services operated by GuidePal.

We collect information that you provide directly to us and information collected automatically when you use the Platform.

3.1 Information You Provide

This may include:

• Full legal name

• Email address

• Mobile phone number

• Date of birth

• Nationality and residential address

• Profile photograph

• Government-issued identification documents (for Guides)

• Bank account or payment details

• Booking and communication records

• Reviews and other content you submit

 

3.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you access the Platform, we may automatically collect:

• Device and browser information

• IP address

• Approximate location

• Usage data, such as pages viewed and features used

• Cookie and similar technology data

 

3.3 Information From Third Parties

We may receive information about you from third parties, such as identity verification providers, payment processors, or when you sign in using a third-party account (for example, Google).

We use your Personal Information for the following purposes:

• Creating and managing your account;

• Processing and fulfilling bookings and payments;

• Verifying identity and maintaining platform trust and safety;

• Facilitating communication between Travelers and Guides;

• Providing customer support;

• Detecting, preventing, and addressing fraud, abuse, and other policy violations;

• Complying with legal and regulatory obligations;

• Improving, personalizing, and developing the Platform;

• Sending service announcements, updates, and (with your consent where required) promotional communications.

We do not sell your Personal Information to third parties.

To the extent required by applicable data protection laws, we process your Personal Information only where we have a lawful basis to do so, including:

• your consent;

• the performance of a contract with you (for example, to process your booking);

• compliance with our legal obligations;

• our legitimate interests in operating, securing, and improving the Platform; and

• the establishment, exercise, or defense of legal claims.

Where we rely on your consent, you may withdraw it at any time, though this may affect your ability to use certain features of the Platform.

We may share your Personal Information with the following categories of recipients, but only to the extent necessary for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy:

• Between Users: To facilitate a booking, we share limited information between the relevant Traveler and Guide, such as first name, contact details, and booking information.

• Service Providers: Third parties that support our operations, including payment processing, identity verification, cloud hosting, analytics, and email delivery.

• Legal Authorities: Where required by law, court order, or to protect the rights, property, safety, or security of GuidePal, our users, or the public.

• Business Transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, reorganization, or sale of all or part of our business.

Our service providers and partners are bound by obligations of confidentiality and may only use your Personal Information to provide services to or on behalf of GuidePal.

 

Your Personal Information may be processed and stored in countries other than your country of residence, including Japan and other jurisdictions where GuidePal or its service providers operate.

Where we transfer Personal Information across borders, we take reasonable steps to ensure it is protected in accordance with this Privacy Policy and applicable law, including through appropriate safeguards such as standard contractual clauses or other legally recognized transfer mechanisms.

We use cookies and similar technologies (such as web beacons and local storage) to operate, secure, and improve the Platform, remember your preferences, and understand how the Platform is used.

Types of cookies we may use include:

• Essential cookies: Required for the Platform to function correctly.

• Functional cookies: Remember your settings and preferences.

• Analytics cookies: Help us understand usage and improve the Platform.

You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings, although some features of the Platform may not function properly if cookies are disabled.

We retain your Personal Information for as long as your account is active or as necessary to provide the Platform's services, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements.

When your Personal Information is no longer required, we will delete it or anonymize it so that it can no longer be associated with you, unless retention is required by law.

We implement reasonable technical, administrative, and physical safeguards designed to protect your Personal Information against unauthorized access, loss, misuse, or alteration.

These measures include encryption in transit, access controls, and regular security reviews.

However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security, but we are committed to protecting your Personal Information in accordance with applicable law.

In the event of a personal data breach affecting your rights, we will respond in accordance with our legal obligations.

Subject to applicable law, you may have the following rights regarding your Personal Information:

• Access: Request a copy of the Personal Information we hold about you.

• Correction: Request that we correct inaccurate or incomplete information.

• Deletion: Request that we delete your Personal Information, subject to legal retention obligations.

• Restriction: Request that we limit the processing of your information.

• Portability: Request your Personal Information in a structured, machine-readable format.

• Objection: Object to certain processing of your information.

• Withdrawal of Consent: Withdraw consent at any time where processing is based on consent.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details in the Contact Information section. We may need to verify your identity before responding.

 

Guides are independent controllers of any Personal Information they collect directly from Travelers during an Experience, such as during communication or service delivery.

Guides agree to handle all Personal Information obtained through the Platform lawfully and only for the purpose of delivering the booked Experience, in accordance with applicable privacy laws, including the Act on the Protection of Personal Information (Japan).

Guides must not sell, distribute, or misuse Traveler Personal Information. Further details are set out in the GuidePal Local Guide Agreement.

The Platform is not directed at individuals under the age of eighteen (18), and we do not knowingly collect Personal Information from children.

If you believe we have collected Personal Information from a child, please contact us so that we can take appropriate steps to delete it.

The Platform may contain links to third-party websites or services that we do not control. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those third parties.

We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party websites or services you visit.

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or the operation of the Platform.

When we make material changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date and, where appropriate, notify you through the Platform or by other means.

Your continued use of the Platform after a change takes effect constitutes acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

 

This Privacy Policy shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Japan, without regard to its conflict of law principles.

The handling of Personal Information described in this Privacy Policy complies, where applicable, with the Act on the Protection of Personal Information (Japan) and other applicable data protection laws.

If you have any questions, requests, or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy or your Personal Information, please contact GuidePal using the following details:

Contact GuidePal

Email: guidepaljapan@gmail.com

Website: To be announced

Business Address: To be announced

GuidePal may update its contact information from time to time. The most current details will always be published on the official GuidePal website.