Cookie Policy
Last updated: January 25, 2026
1. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work efficiently and provide information to website owners.
In addition to cookies, we also use similar technologies such as:
- Local Storage: Stores data in your browser that persists across sessions
- Session Storage: Stores data that is cleared when you close your browser tab
Throughout this policy, we refer to all these technologies collectively as "cookies."
2. How We Use Cookies
We use cookies for the following purposes:
- To authenticate you and keep you logged in
- To remember your preferences (theme, currency)
- To understand how you use our Service
- To improve our Service based on usage patterns
- To remember your cookie consent preferences
3. Types of Cookies We Use
3.1 Essential Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the Service to function and cannot be disabled. They include:
| Name | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
sb-* | Supabase authentication session | Session / 1 year |
nihontowatch_consent | Stores your cookie consent preferences | 1 year |
nihontowatch_session | Current browsing session identifier | Session |
3.2 Functional Cookies
These cookies enable personalized features and remember your preferences. They require your consent:
| Name | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
theme | Remembers your light/dark mode preference | 1 year |
currency | Remembers your preferred currency (JPY/USD/EUR) | 1 year |
nihontowatch_auth_cache | Caches authentication state for performance | 1 hour |
3.3 Analytics Cookies
These cookies help us understand how visitors use our Service. They require your consent:
| Name | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
nihontowatch_visitor_id | Unique identifier for anonymous analytics | 1 year |
nihontowatch_visitor_created | When the visitor ID was created | 1 year |
nihontowatch_session_id | Tracks the current browsing session for analytics | Session |
Note: If you do not consent to analytics cookies, we will not create a persistent visitor ID. Instead, a temporary session-only identifier is used that is deleted when you close your browser.
3.4 Marketing Cookies
We currently do not use marketing or advertising cookies. This section is reserved for future use. If we begin using such cookies, we will update this policy and request your consent.
4. Third-Party Cookies
Some cookies are set by third-party services we use:
4.1 Stripe (Payment Processing)
When you make a payment, Stripe may set cookies for fraud detection and security purposes. These are essential for payment processing. See Stripe's Privacy Policy.
4.2 Supabase (Authentication)
Supabase sets cookies to manage your authentication session. These are essential for logging in. See Supabase's Privacy Policy.
5. Managing Your Cookie Preferences
5.1 Using Our Preference Center
You can manage your cookie preferences at any time by:
- Clicking the link (opens our preference center)
- Visiting the cookie banner that appears when you first visit
- Going to your account settings (if logged in)
5.2 Using Browser Settings
Most browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. Common options include:
- Block all cookies: This may prevent parts of the Service from functioning
- Block third-party cookies: Blocks cookies from domains other than nihontowatch.com
- Delete cookies: Remove existing cookies from your browser
Instructions for managing cookies in popular browsers:
5.3 Impact of Disabling Cookies
If you choose to disable certain cookies:
- Essential cookies: Cannot be disabled; blocking them may prevent the Service from functioning
- Functional cookies: Your preferences (theme, currency) will not be remembered between visits
- Analytics cookies: We will have limited insight into how the Service is used, which may affect our ability to improve it
6. Do Not Track
Some browsers offer a "Do Not Track" (DNT) setting. Currently, there is no industry standard for how websites should respond to DNT signals. We honor your cookie preferences as set through our preference center.
7. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we will:
- Update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page
- Display a new cookie banner to inform you of the changes
- Request your consent again if required
8. Contact Us
If you have questions about our use of cookies or this policy, please contact us:
Nihontowatch - Privacy
Email: privacy@nihontowatch.com
For more information about how we handle your personal data, please see our Privacy Policy.