# Japanese municipal premium voucher programs

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/japanese-municipal-premium-voucher-programs
> Updated: 2026-09-02T03:50:52.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 3.

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.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-02: Japanese municipalities launch premium gift certificate programs

Japanese municipalities, including Nara, Iruma, and Edogawa, are issuing premium digital and paper gift certificates to help residents offset rising inflation and living costs.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/japanese-municipalities-launch-premium-gift-certificates-to-combat-inflation

### 2026-08-20: Japanese towns launch 30% premium gift certificates to combat inflation

Matsukawa and Komono towns are issuing 30% premium gift certificates to support residents and local businesses against rising inflation.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/japanese-towns-launch-30-premium-gift-certificates-to-combat-inflation

### 2026-07-28: Kawasaki and Yokohama launch premium cashless voucher schemes

Kawasaki and Yokohama roll out premium cashless vouchers, offering discounts of up to ¥12,000 and ¥3,000 respectively, with limited availability for Kanagawa residents.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kawasaki-and-yokohama-launch-premium-cashless-voucher-schemes

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Cite as: Japanese municipal premium voucher programs. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/japanese-municipal-premium-voucher-programs