Terms of Use
Last updated: October 28, 2026
1. Acceptance of these terms
By accessing or using Open Lantern Path (the "Site") you agree to these Terms of Use and to our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the Site.
2. About the site
The Site provides free, general information and ideas about decorating a home for the Japanese New Year. The Site does not sell goods or services, and nothing on it is an offer to sell.
3. Using the site
You agree to use the Site only for lawful, personal and non-commercial purposes. You must not:
- copy, scrape or republish Site content in bulk without our permission;
- try to gain unauthorised access to the Site, its servers or connected systems;
- upload or send malicious code, spam or unlawful content through our forms;
- use the Site in a way that could damage, disable or overload it.
4. Content and intellectual property
The text, design, layout and logo of the Site belong to Open Lantern Path or its licensors and are protected by copyright and other laws. You may view and print pages for your own personal use. Any other use requires our written permission.
5. Photos
Photographs on the Site are provided by photographers on Pexels and are used under the Pexels License. They are illustrative and may not show traditional Japanese decorations exactly as described. Copyright in each photo remains with its photographer.
6. Email list
If you sign up for our checklist, you agree to receive the checklist and occasional seasonal decorating emails. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in any email or by contacting us. Most of these emails arrive between late November and early January, when the decorating dates matter; outside the season we write rarely, if at all.
7. Third-party links
The Site may link to other websites. We do not control them and are not responsible for their content, policies or practices. Visiting them is at your own risk.
8. No guarantees
We try to keep information accurate and up to date, but customs vary by region and family, and the Site is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind. See our Disclaimer.
9. Limitation of liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, Open Lantern Path is not liable for any indirect, incidental or consequential loss arising from your use of the Site or reliance on its content. Nothing in these terms limits liability that cannot be limited under applicable law, including Japan's Consumer Contract Act.
10. Changes to these terms
We may update these terms at any time. The updated version applies from the date shown at the top of this page. Continuing to use the Site means you accept the changes.
11. Governing law
These terms are governed by the laws of Japan. Any dispute will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Tokyo District Court as the court of first instance, unless mandatory consumer protection law gives you the right to bring a claim elsewhere.
12. Decorating safely
Much of the guide is about pine, bamboo, straw rope and warm lights — materials that dry out over the holidays and burn easily. Ideas such as candles on the osechi table or a string of lights along a shelf are suggestions, not safety instructions. Please keep open flames away from shimekazari, dried pine and paper decorations, never leave candles burning unattended, use lights that are rated for indoor use, and follow your building's rules if you live in an apartment.
When you take decorations down, we mention bringing them to a dondo-yaki fire around January 15. Shrines and neighbourhoods run these on their own dates and with their own rules about what can be burned, and some areas ask you to dispose of decorations as household waste instead. Check with the shrine or your local ward or city office before you go.
13. Your tips and photos
If you write to us with a correction, a regional custom we missed or a photo of your own entrance, you confirm that you have the right to share it. Unless you tell us otherwise, you allow us to use your tip to improve the guide. We will not publish your name, your photo or the inside of your home without asking you first, and you can ask us to remove anything we have used.