Legal
Privacy Notice
Your information deserves careful handling.
Scope and commitment
This Privacy Notice explains how Karasuma Leaf Tea collects, uses, discloses, retains, and protects personal information when you visit this website, contact us, make an enquiry, purchase or reserve a service, or otherwise interact with our Japanese tea shop. We aim to use information responsibly, transparently, and only for purposes a reasonable person would consider appropriate in the circumstances. This notice is written for customers, prospective customers, website visitors, and people who contact us on another person's behalf.
Information we collect
We may collect contact details such as your name, email address, telephone number, delivery or visit details, and the content of your message. Where relevant, we may collect order, booking, programme, payment-status, preference, and correspondence records. We also receive limited technical information from your browser, including approximate location inferred from IP address, device and browser details, pages viewed, referral source, and cookie preferences. We do not seek sensitive information unless it is necessary for a request you have made and permitted by law.
Why we use it
We use personal information to respond to enquiries, provide and improve our services, manage bookings or orders, verify and complete transactions, provide customer care, prevent fraud or misuse, maintain internal records, and meet legal obligations. We may also use your information to send service messages, such as changes to an order or booking. We only send optional marketing where permitted and you can withdraw consent or unsubscribe at any time without affecting service communications.
Lawful basis and consent
Our handling of personal information is governed by Japan's Act on the Protection of Personal Information (APPI). Where consent is required, we will ask for it in a clear form or rely on consent that is reasonably implied by the circumstances. We may also process information where it is needed to perform a request, comply with law, protect legitimate interests that do not override your rights, or otherwise as allowed under applicable privacy law. You may refuse or withdraw consent, though this can limit what we can provide.
Sharing and service providers
We do not sell personal information. We may share limited information with trusted providers that help us operate this website, host data, process payments, send communications, analyse consented website use, deliver orders, or provide professional advice. These providers may use information only under our instructions and appropriate confidentiality and security obligations. We may disclose information where required by law, to protect rights or safety, or in connection with a genuine business reorganisation.
International processing
Our service providers may process information outside Kyoto or outside the country in which you live. Where cross-border processing occurs, information may be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction where it is held. We take reasonable steps to select providers with appropriate safeguards, contractual commitments, and access controls. If you want more information about the categories of providers or safeguards relevant to your information, contact us using the details below.
Retention
We retain personal information only as long as reasonably needed for the purposes described in this notice, to resolve disputes, keep appropriate business records, and meet legal or accounting requirements. Retention periods depend on the nature of the record and our obligations. When information is no longer needed, we delete it, anonymise it, or securely isolate it. Backup copies may remain for a limited period under normal disaster-recovery procedures.
Security
We use administrative, technical, and physical measures appropriate to the sensitivity of information, including access limitation, secure service providers, staff awareness, and review of our practices. No internet transmission or storage system is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security. If we identify a breach creating a real risk of significant harm or requiring notification, we will assess it promptly and take the steps required by applicable law.
Your choices and rights
Depending on applicable law, you may ask to access or correct personal information we hold about you, withdraw consent, object to certain uses, request information about our practices, or complain about our handling of your information. We may need to verify identity and may decline or limit a request where law allows, for example to protect another person's privacy or legal privilege. We will explain any material limitation and respond within the timeframe required by law.
Children and third parties
Our website is not designed to collect personal information from children without a parent or guardian's involvement. If you provide information about another person, you confirm that you have authority to do so and that they have been given relevant information about this notice. If you believe a child has provided personal information to us without appropriate authority, please contact us so we can review and take appropriate action.
Cookies and analytics
We use essential cookies to operate the website and may use optional analytics cookies only in accordance with your choice in our cookie banner. You can accept, decline, or change optional cookie preferences at any time. Our Cookies Notice explains categories, purposes, retention, and browser controls. Declining optional cookies does not stop you from viewing the main website, although certain preferences or measurements may be unavailable.
Contact, complaints, and changes
Please send privacy questions, access or correction requests, or complaints to [email protected], or write to Karasuma Leaf Tea, 318 Shimo-Ochiai-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto 604-8201, Japan. We will investigate concerns fairly. You may also contact Personal Information Protection Commission (PPC) if you are not satisfied with our response. We may update this notice as our practices or legal obligations change; the revised date and notice will be posted here. Continued use after publication is subject to the updated notice where law permits.
Last updated: 20 July 2026.