Last Updated: July 3, 2026
EkiWalk is designed with your privacy in mind. This app operates entirely on your device, and your health data never leaves your device.
This app requests permission to read your step count data from your device's health platform — Apple Health (HealthKit) on iOS, and Health Connect on Android — for the sole purpose of tracking your virtual journey progress along various train routes in Japan.
Specifically, we access:
• Step count data (required)
• Walking and running distance data (optional - used for distance tracking when selected as your distance source in Settings)
• Height data (optional - used to calculate personalized step length for more accurate distance tracking)
• Only from the time you start your journey
We do NOT access any other health data such as heart rate, location, workout data, or any other health metrics.
Your health data is used exclusively to:
• Calculate your distance traveled (you can choose between step-based calculation using step count and optionally height for personalized step length, or Health App distance data from walking/running distance)
• Determine your progress along the route
• Unlock station postcards when you reach them
• Display your current station and journey statistics
All calculations happen locally on your device. No health data is ever transmitted, stored on external servers, or shared with third parties.
The following information is stored locally on your device (using iOS UserDefaults on iPhone/iPad and the equivalent local preferences store on Android):
• Your journey start date
• Your total journey step count
• Your current route selection
• Which postcards you've unlocked
• Your completed journey history
• Your distance unit preference (kilometers or miles)
• Notification preferences
• Journey Buddy sharing preferences (if you enable this optional feature)
This data remains on your device and is only used to maintain your journey progress. It can be deleted at any time by resetting your journey or uninstalling the app.
We do not:
• Share your health data with anyone
• Send your health data to external servers
• Track your location
• Use analytics or advertising
• Sell or monetize your data in any way
This app operates offline by default. The optional Journey Buddy feature (see below) requires internet connectivity and iCloud, but you must explicitly enable it to share any data.
Journey Buddy is an optional feature, currently available only on iOS, that lets you share your journey progress with friends. This feature is completely opt-in and disabled by default. It is not present in the Android version of the app.
If you choose to enable Journey Buddy:
• You must explicitly tap "Start Sharing" and enter a display name
• Your journey progress (not health data) is stored in Apple's CloudKit service
• Data shared includes: your display name, current route, current station, and distance traveled
• Your raw health data (step counts, height) never leaves your device
• Only derived journey progress information is shared
• Requires an active internet connection and iCloud account
• You can stop sharing at any time by tapping "Stop Sharing"
When you follow a friend's journey, their shared progress is downloaded to your device. No data about you is sent when viewing a friend's progress.
If you enable notifications, the app will send you local notifications when you reach new stations. These notifications are generated entirely on your device and do not involve any external services.
You have complete control over your data:
• On iOS, you can revoke HealthKit access at any time through Settings → Privacy & Security → Health → EkiWalk
• On Android, you can revoke Health Connect access at any time through Settings → Security & privacy → Health Connect → App permissions → EkiWalk
• You can disable notifications in the app's About tab or iOS Settings
• You can stop sharing your journey progress by tapping "Stop Sharing" in Journey Buddy settings
• You can reset your journey data at any time using the Reset Journey button
• You can delete all app data by uninstalling the app
If we update this privacy policy, the new version will be included in an app update with the "Last Updated" date changed accordingly.
If you have questions about this privacy policy or how your data is handled, please contact ekiwalk@matthewamsterburton.com
By using EkiWalk, you agree to this privacy policy.