Privacy Policy

Takayuki Hashimoto (Family App Studio, the "Developer") sets out below how the iOS app "Niseko Guide - Hokkaido Trips" (the "App") handles your information. By using the App you agree to this policy.

1. Overview

The App works without an account and never asks for your name, email address, phone number, or other personally identifying details. Your travel data, such as trip plans, bookings, expenses, and photos, is stored only on your device by default. Information is sent to the Developer's servers only when you use the AI features described in section 3.

2. Data stored on your device

• Trip plans (dates, schedule items, places, travel legs, expenses, notes)
• Booking details (flight numbers, accommodation, confirmation numbers, and other details copied by the import feature)
• Trip photos and booking images (copied into the App's storage)
• Display preferences (last opened tab, map region, and so on)

This data is not sent to the Developer's servers. Deleting the App removes it from your device. Whether it is included in device backups (such as iCloud Backup) depends on your iOS settings.

3. Data sent when you use AI features

When you use the features below, the necessary information is sent through the Developer's servers (Google Cloud / Firebase, Tokyo region) to the AI provider DeepSeek (DeepSeek API). Data is sent only when you use the feature, never in the background.

3.1 AI travel assistant (Premium feature)

3.2 Booking email import

This feature reads confirmation emails you paste or images you select and copies flight numbers, dates, accommodation, and similar details into your trip. Text recognition on images happens on your device; the images themselves are never uploaded. The extracted text and your trip dates are sent to the server, and the AI returns the structured result. The text is not stored on the server or in logs.

3.3 Place lookup from schedule item names

Based on the name of a schedule item (such as a venue) and the planned visit time, the AI looks up opening hours, address, and similar details. The result is stored on the server as a shared cache that is reused for other users who enter the same name. Only the item name and the lookup result are stored; nothing that identifies you is included.

4. Advertising

If you do not subscribe to Premium, the App shows ads through Google AdMob. Through mediation, ads from Zucks and Unity Ads may also appear. To deliver ads, prevent fraud, and measure performance, the ad SDKs may collect the advertising identifier (IDFA, only if you allow tracking), IP address, device and OS information, and app usage data.

If you decline the iOS "Allow Tracking" prompt, the advertising identifier is not used and non-personalized ads are shown. You can change this at any time in iOS Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking. Premium subscribers see no ads.

5. Analytics

To improve the App we use Google Analytics for Firebase. It collects statistics such as ad load, impression, and tap events, app launches, OS and app versions, device type, and approximate region. This data is not used to identify you personally.

6. Location

With your permission, the App uses your device's location to show your current position on the map. Location data is used only on the device for map display and is not sent to the Developer's servers. You can change the permission at any time in iOS Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services.

7. Photos

When you pick trip photos or booking images, the App uses the iOS photo picker. Only the photos you choose are passed to the App; the App does not access your whole photo library.

8. Subscription (Premium)

Purchases and payments are processed by Apple. The Developer never receives payment details such as card numbers. When you use the AI travel assistant, the Developer's server verifies the Apple-signed transaction to confirm your subscription is active. You can manage or cancel the subscription in your Apple ID settings.

9. Spot data delivery and external links

Spot listings, photos, and ratings are delivered from the Developer's servers (Firebase Hosting). Connection details such as your IP address are processed temporarily by Google's infrastructure when the data is fetched. When you open external links such as official or booking websites, the linked operator's privacy policy applies. Content you share through the itinerary sharing feature is handled by the app you choose as the destination.

10. Third-party services

11. Retention

• Travel data on your device: until you delete the App
• Text sent to AI features: not stored on the server (discarded after processing)
• AI feature usage counters: deleted automatically after a fixed period
• Shared place lookup cache: only the item name and lookup result, with nothing that identifies you
• Technical logs without content (processing time, character counts, and so on): kept only as long as needed for operations

12. Children's privacy

The App is not directed at children under 13, and the Developer does not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

13. Your choices

• You can change the tracking (advertising identifier) permission at any time in iOS Settings
• You can change the location permission at any time in iOS Settings
• You can erase on-device data by deleting the App
• AI features are optional. If you do not use them, your travel data is never sent to the Developer's servers

14. Changes to this policy

This policy may be updated when laws change or features are added. Significant changes will be announced by updating this page and through a notice in the App.

15. Contact

For questions about this policy or how your information is handled, please use the contact page.