Preferences
Cookie Policy
Last updated: September 27, 2026
This page lists every cookie and tracking technology Japan Rated Stays uses, what it is used for, and how long it persists. You can change your preferences at any time using the Cookie settings link below.
What is a cookie?
A cookie is a small piece of data stored in your browser. Some are strictly necessary for the site to work. Others help us understand how readers use the site or track affiliate referrals. We also use localStorage and sessionStorage entries — they behave like cookies but are scoped to a single browser.
Essential cookies and storage
These cannot be disabled. They are required for the site to function:
- Selected language (so every page renders in your locale).
- Recently viewed ryokans (so the Recently Viewed shelf can render without a full database trip).
- Booking dates and guest count from the homepage search (so the booking widget on the detail page pre-fills correctly).
Analytics cookies
Before you choose, Google Analytics 4 may receive cookieless page-view and activity signals, but it cannot use analytics cookies until you accept. Rejecting analytics disables further GA4 measurement; earlier signals cannot be recalled. Vercel Analytics page views run by default, while Microsoft Clarity stays off until you turn it on. If you later turn Clarity off, it ends its session, clears cookies and may continue in a limited cookieless mode. You can change the three services individually below. Sentry has no switch; the reason is explained below.
Vercel Analytics
Anonymous page-view counts and Web Vitals (LCP, CLS, INP) so we can monitor site performance. No cookies; no cross-site tracking.
Retained 30 days, anonymized at collection.
Learn more→Microsoft Clarity
Session replay and heatmaps. Helps us see where readers get stuck so we can improve the navigation. Replays mask all text inputs.
Retained 90 days. Provided by Microsoft.
Learn more→Google Analytics 4
Aggregated visitor counts, traffic sources, and conversion funnels. IP anonymization enabled.
Retained 14 months.
Learn more→Sentry
Receives a report when a page fails, so we can fix it. The reports are made by our server: your browser never sends anything to Sentry, which is why Cookie settings has no switch for it. A report can carry the address of the page, what went wrong, and details of the request that failed, including the browser it was sent from, the language it asked for and the page it came from.
Retained 90 days. Provided by Sentry.
Learn more→Marketing & affiliate cookies
When you click a booking button for one of our partners, the link passes through our own redirect, which appends a sub-ID to the destination URL so the partner can attribute the referral to us. The Official button, shown where a property has its own booking page, is not one of these: it sends you straight there with nothing attached. No cookies are set on this site — the sub-ID is submitted only at click time. The toggle below turns this tracking on or off for every partner; with it off, the link still opens the same page at the same price, we are simply not credited.
Booking.com, Agoda and Expedia
Covers every booking button on stay pages — today Booking.com, Agoda and Expedia, through Travelpayouts or Stay22. A sub-ID is appended at the moment you click, and no cookies are set on this site. The Official button, where a property has its own booking page, sends you there with nothing attached; it is not affiliate tracking and is unaffected by this switch.
Conversion ID submitted only at click time.
Learn more→Your rights
Under GDPR (EU), CNIL (France), and PIPA (South Korea), you have the right to withdraw consent at any time, request a copy of any data we hold, and request deletion. We do not sell personal data. For requests, contact privacy@japanratedstays.com.
Withdraw or change consent
You can withdraw or change your consent at any time. Click below to re-open the cookie preferences dialog: