Expert Picks! “Great Value” Return Gifts for Hometown Tax Donations of 20,000 Yen or Less… Only One Month Left!

On October 1 of last year, the government implemented a “deterioration” of the system by banning point rewards from portal sites received through the Hometown Tax Donation program. While this decision drew widespread criticism from users across the country, it is reported that the rules will be revised again this October.Masahiro Kai, who has surveyed all 1,781 municipalities nationwide and uses return gifts to cover his daily living expenses, explains the situation.

“Until now, 50% of donations received through the Hometown Tax program were utilized by local governments, while the remaining 50% covered return gifts, shipping costs, and handling fees. However, under this revision, starting in October, the former percentage will increase to 52.5%.In other words, the percentage available for return gifts, shipping, and handling fees will decrease by 2.5% compared to the current system. Since labor and logistics costs are constantly rising, local governments will have no choice but to either increase the donation amount required for return gifts or reduce the quantity of the gifts. In some cases, return gifts that were previously good value for money may become more expensive, or they may even be discontinued altogether due to high costs.”

There is no time to waste. FRIDAY presents the following list of “great value return gifts” costing 20,000 yen or less—carefully selected by Furusato Tax donation experts—that you should apply for by the end of September.

[Part 1] Before Donation Amounts Rise Due to System Reforms! Make the Most of the “Great Value Return Gifts” Selected by Experts Through the Hometown Tax Donation Program

Mackerel Is a Great Choice

There are also great value return gifts among meat products.

“The ‘Thick-Sliced Beef Tongue (Salted) 500g’ (donation amount: 8,000 yen) from Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture, is pre-seasoned, so it’s a great item that you can grill and eat right away.The ‘Miyazaki Prefecture Pork Set (2.3 kg)’ from Miyakonojo City, Miyazaki Prefecture (donation amount: 12,500 yen and up) is a generous assortment of four cuts—sliced pork belly, sliced pork thigh, diced pork, and either sliced pork shoulder or loin—and comes in a generous quantity. It’s not uncommon for donation amounts for these popular return gifts to vary by portal site.“If you find a thank-you gift you want, it’s a good idea to compare prices across different sites,” (ibid.)

Next, Mr. Tobita highlighted the following ready-to-eat food gifts that prioritize portion size: “30 Hamburg Steaks” from Izumisano City, Osaka Prefecture (donation amount: 9,000 yen); “Beef Bowl Toppings for 8 Servings” from Kawasaki Town, Fukuoka Prefecture (donation amount: 5,000 yen);Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture’s “40 Hamamatsu Gyoza” (donation amount: 6,000 yen), and Katsuura City, Chiba Prefecture’s “1 kg of Norwegian Salted Mackerel” (donation amount: 8,500 yen).

“The ‘Hamburg Steaks’ weigh an astonishing 3.6 kg—that’s a volume in a league of its own. As for the ‘Beef Bowl Toppings,’ while a similar product from a major beef bowl chain costs 9,000 yen for 5 servings—which is a bit pricey—this one offers 8 servings for 5,000 yen, making it an incredibly good value.While gyoza return gifts often feature small individual pieces, Hamamatsu City’s ‘Hamamatsu Gyoza’ are generously sized, and you can rest assured they contain no preservatives or artificial coloring. They also come with a special dipping sauce.
However, the item I’d particularly like to recommend from this selection is the “Salted Mackerel.” In fact, due to significant reductions in fishing quotas by Atlantic coastal nations aimed at conserving resources, this year’s catch of Norwegian mackerel has fallen to less than half of previous levels. Prices are highly likely to rise in the future, so be sure to place your order while it’s still affordable.”

Beer: Orion

After enjoying a hearty meal, fruit makes for a great dessert. While Shine Muscat grapes are a classic choice for the Hometown Tax Donation program, Mr. Kai, mentioned earlier, recommends the “Amaou” strawberries from Uruu Farm in Dazaifu City, Fukuoka Prefecture (donation amount: 5,000 yen and up).

“‘Amaou’ is known as the king of strawberries, with an exquisite balance of rich sweetness and just the right amount of tartness. If you place your order while the donation amount remains the same and arrange for delivery to your home during the peak season—from December through April of next year—you can enjoy them at a great value.Even with a 5,000-yen donation, you’ll receive two packs, and if you have extra in your budget, you might want to consider the larger-sized option.”

You can also enjoy alcoholic beverages at a great value through the Hometown Tax Donation program.

“For beer, ‘Orion The Draft (350 ml × 24 bottles)’ from Tomigusuku City, Okinawa Prefecture (donation amount: 14,100 yen) is a great choice. That’s because it’s about 1,000 yen cheaper than return gifts of the same volume from major manufacturers.
While the October amendment to the Liquor Tax Act will lower the tax on beer, it will raise the tax on happoshu and chu-hi.Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture’s ‘Takara “Shochu Highball” (350 ml × 24 bottles)’ (donation amount: 10,000 yen) has officially announced a donation amount increase starting in October, so fans should apply by the end of September,” said Mr. Tobita (mentioned earlier).

Other options include “5 Senshu Towels” from Kumatori Town, Osaka Prefecture (donation amount: 6,000 yen) and“Toilet Paper (Single-Ply), Equivalent to 144 Rolls” (donation amount: 12,000 yen), as well as daily necessities, and even “Fuji Hirahara Golf Club Play Vouchers” (donation amount: 13,500 yen and up) from Gotemba City, Shizuoka Prefecture—the variety of return gifts is vast.

“To reiterate, we expect many thank-you gifts to see their donation amounts increase starting in October. For those who have a fairly clear idea of their income this year, I recommend making a donation by the end of September,” (Mr. Kai, cited above)

Time is running out. We hope you’ll use this article as a guide to find your favorite thank-you gifts.

From the September 11 & 18, 2026, combined issue of *FRIDAY*