Terms of Service

1. Description of the Service

GuideMate Tokyo is a matching platform that connects foreign travelers visiting Tokyo ("Travelers") with Tokyo-based Japanese residents ("Guides") who wish to interact with people from overseas in a casual, friendly manner. The Service is intended to facilitate social interaction and cultural exchange. The Service does not provide professional tour guide services, travel arrangement services, or interpretation services for compensation.

2. Registration, Identity Verification, and Age Requirement

1. The Service is available only to individuals who are at least 18 years old. Persons under the age of 18 may not register or use the Service. The operator reserves the right to terminate accounts created using false date-of-birth information without prior notice.
2. To use the Service, users must complete email verification and provide their date of birth.
3. To act as a Guide, users must complete both identity verification using a valid government-issued identification document and phone number verification. Identity verification information will not be shown to Travelers.
4. Travelers must complete phone number verification before sending their first request.

3. Prohibited Conduct

Users must not engage in any of the following activities:

1. Violating any applicable laws, regulations, or public order and morals;
2. Engaging in criminal activities or activities related to criminal conduct;
3. Infringing upon the rights, reputation, privacy, or interests of other users or third parties;
4. Using the Service for sexual, romantic, or dating purposes, or sending sexually explicit messages;
5. Advertising, marketing, solicitation, or spamming;
6. Soliciting loans, donations, investments, or financial contributions;
7. Interacting with minors or falsely claiming to be under or over the required age;
8. Impersonating another person or providing false information;
9. Attempting unauthorized access to the Service or interfering with its operation;
10. Providing benefits to organized crime groups or anti-social forces;
11. Any other conduct deemed inappropriate by the Operator.

4. Matching and Communication

1. Before a match is established, Guides may only receive the initial message submitted with a Traveler's request.
2. After a match is established, users may communicate through the chat functionality provided within the Service.
3. To promote safe interactions, users must not force, pressure, or improperly require other users to exchange personal contact information outside the Service, including phone numbers, social media accounts, or email addresses.

5. Fees and Tips

1. The Service is currently provided free of charge.
2. Guides voluntarily share their time and local knowledge.
3. Whether a Traveler chooses to provide a tip or gratuity to a Guide is solely a matter between the users involved. The Service does not facilitate, process, record, or mediate any tipping arrangements. The Operator assumes no responsibility for taxes, currency exchange matters, disputes, or any issues arising from tips or gratuities.

6. Reviews, Reporting, and Account Restrictions

1. Within 72 hours after a session has ended, users may submit mutual reviews consisting of a star rating from 1 to 5, and a written comment.
2. Reviews will become visible when both parties have submitted reviews or when 72 hours have elapsed, whichever occurs first.
3. Users may report inappropriate behavior through the reporting functionality provided by the Service.
4. The Operator reserves the right, without prior notice, to issue warnings, temporarily suspend access, or permanently ban users who violate these Terms.

7. Safe Use of the Service

1. Users are strongly encouraged to hold their first meeting in a public place such as a café, train station, or other busy public location.
2. The Operator does not supervise, monitor, or control offline interactions between users. Users interact with one another entirely at their own risk.
3. Users are responsible for their own safety. If a user feels unsafe, they should immediately discontinue communication and contact the appropriate authorities if necessary.

8. Disclaimer of Warranties and Limitation of Liability

1. The Operator makes no warranties, express or implied, regarding the suitability of the Service for a particular purpose, the availability, usefulness, accuracy, or reliability of the Service, the absence of errors, bugs, interruptions, or defects.
2. The Operator shall not be responsible for any disputes, damages, losses, injuries, accidents, theft, financial losses, or other issues arising between users or involving third parties.
3. To the maximum extent permitted by law, if the Operator is found liable for damages, the total liability of the Operator shall not exceed the total amount of fees paid by the affected user to the Operator during the six (6) months preceding the event giving rise to the claim, except in cases of intentional misconduct or gross negligence.

9. Intellectual Property, Account Deletion, and Amendments

1. All intellectual property rights related to the Service, including text, images, logos, designs, and source code, belong to the Operator or the respective rights holders.
2. Users may delete their accounts at any time through the settings provided within the Service. The handling of personal information after account deletion is governed by the Privacy Policy.
3. The Operator reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time without prior notice. Revised Terms shall become effective upon publication within the Service.

10. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Japan. Any dispute arising out of or relating to the Service shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Tokyo District Court as the court of first instance.