Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using Japanese Castles DB at castles.matrix-db.com (the "Site"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use the Site.

The Site is operated by SHOYA KIHARA, 7F Tenjin First Building, 4-6-28 Tenjin, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka 810-0001, Japan ("Operator", "we", "us"). Contact: contact@matrix-db.com.

2. Use of the Site

The Site is provided as a free reference resource for individuals researching and planning visits to Japanese castles. You may:

• Access and read the content for personal, non-commercial purposes
• Share links to individual pages on this Site
• Reference specific factual data with appropriate attribution to Japanese Castles DB

You may not:

• Systematically scrape, copy, or reproduce the Site's content in bulk for commercial purposes without prior written permission
• Use automated tools to index, copy, or cache the full dataset for redistribution
• Remove or obscure any attribution, copyright, or proprietary notices
• Attempt to gain unauthorised access to any part of the Site or its infrastructure
• Use the Site in any way that could damage, disable, or impair its operation

3. Accuracy of Information

We strive to maintain accurate, up-to-date information about Japanese castles, including admission fees, opening hours, access directions, and historical data. However:

• Practical information such as admission fees and opening hours changes frequently and may not reflect current reality
• Scores (Tourism Score and Defense Score) represent editorial judgements and are not official ratings from any government body or academic institution
• Historical and archaeological information reflects our best understanding at the time of writing and may be subject to revision as scholarship evolves

Always verify practical information (fees, hours, access) directly with the official castle website before visiting. We accept no liability for losses or inconvenience caused by reliance on outdated information.

4. Intellectual Property

All original content on this Site — including editorial text, scoring methodologies, diagrams, and the selection and arrangement of data — is the intellectual property of the Operator and is protected by copyright.

Factual data about castles (dates, names, locations, dimensions, historical events) is not subject to copyright. Scores, editorial text, and original descriptions are our intellectual property.

If you would like to license content from this Site for commercial use, please contact us at contact@matrix-db.com.

5. External Links

The Site contains links to external websites, including official castle websites and transport operators. These links are provided for convenience. We do not control external sites and are not responsible for their content, accuracy, or privacy practices. The inclusion of a link does not constitute endorsement.

6. Disclaimer of Warranties

The Site is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranty of any kind, express or implied. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we disclaim all warranties, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.

We do not warrant that the Site will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free of viruses or other harmful components.

7. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Operator shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to loss of profits, data, or goodwill, arising out of or in connection with your use of, or inability to use, the Site or its content.

In no event shall our total liability to you for all claims arising out of these Terms or your use of the Site exceed the amount paid by you, if any, in the twelve months preceding the event giving rise to the claim (which, for a free service, is zero).

8. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Japan, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of the Site shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Fukuoka, Japan.

9. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to update these Terms at any time. When we do, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Continued use of the Site after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated Terms. If changes are material, we will make reasonable efforts to notify users.

10. Contact

Questions or concerns about these Terms should be directed to: