Japanese municipal premium voucher programs

Japanese municipalities have implemented various premium voucher and gift certificate schemes to support residents and stimulate local economies.

In Kanagawa Prefecture, Kawasaki City launched a digital voucher program where residents could purchase ¥40,000 in PayPay vouchers for ¥52,000, providing a ¥12,000 discount. Yokohama’s Hodogaya-ku also introduced a “premium product voucher” through a local merchants’ association, offering ¥13,000 in value for ¥10,000.

Other regions have expanded these efforts to combat inflation. Matsukawa Town introduced the ‘Matsukawa Nana-maru Gift Certificate’ with a 30% premium, offering both paper and cashless options. In Mie Prefecture, Komono Town announced a similar 30% premium program, providing both ‘common certificates’ for general use and ‘specialized certificates’ restricted to local businesses. To manage demand, Komono Town planned to use a lottery system for its 43,000 available booklets.

Newer initiatives include Nara City, where child-rearing households can purchase ¥15,000 in digital certificates for ¥10,000, while other households can obtain ¥13,000 in paper certificates for ¥10,000. Applications in Nara City are set to begin in mid-September 2026.

Several regions are also launching PayPay-based digital certificates starting in October 2026. These include Iruma City in Saitama, which offers up to ¥20,000 in benefits via lottery; Edogawa City in Tokyo, offering up to ¥10,000 via lottery; and Oshu City in Iwate, providing ¥4,000 in value for a ¥3,000 purchase. Other programs include Daigo Town, Kurayoshi City, and Karatsu City, which offer various value-added certificates ranging from ¥5,000 to ¥6,000.