Okaya City, Suwa City, Shimosuwa Town, and Fujimi Town will commence operation of the hometown tax return gift "Yoisa! Suwa Meguri Common Thank You Voucher," usable across the four municipalities, starting July 1, 2026.

This project marks the 7th initiative nationwide and the first in Nagano Prefecture where multiple municipalities collaborate over a wide area to issue common return gifts such as thank you vouchers usable within the region (※1).

The "Yoisa! Suwa Meguri Common Thank You Voucher" will be issued to donors residing outside the city/town who have made donations of 10,000 yen or more to each municipality, equivalent to 30% of the donation amount. Donors can widely use these vouchers for accommodation, dining, experiences, shopping, and more at participating stores within the Suwa area.

The aim is to revitalize the regional economy of the entire Suwa area by not ending the return gift with just "receiving a product," but by encouraging visits to the area, travel across the four municipalities, in-person visits to local businesses, and local consumption.

(※1) Based on publicly available information, researched by Namakemono LLC.

"Highlights of the Suwa Area"

Features of This Project

1. Wide-Area Collaboration Thank You Voucher: 7th Nationwide, 1st in Nagano Prefecture

Okaya City, Suwa City, Shimosuwa Town, and Fujimi Town collaborate beyond municipal boundaries. This initiative creates opportunities for donors nationwide to visit the Suwa area and experience its charm firsthand through hometown tax donations.

2. Usable Across 4 Municipalities, Promoting Travel Within the Suwa Area

Donors can use the thank you vouchers at all participating stores, regardless of the municipality they donated to. By enabling utilization in various aspects of travel (accommodation, dining, experiences, shopping) beyond single-municipality use, it strongly promotes wide-area travel and stays throughout the entire region.

3. Thank You Vouchers Issued Equivalent to 30% of Donation Amount (Supports Donations from 10,000 to 4,000,000 Yen)

Donors will receive thank you vouchers equivalent to 30% of their donation amount. The donation amount can be flexibly chosen according to the donor's needs, ranging from 10,000 yen (3,000 yen in thank you vouchers) to a maximum of 4,000,000 yen (1,200,000 yen in thank you vouchers).

4. Approximately 30 Stores Participating at Launch, Featuring Popular Local Facilities

As of the commencement of operations on July 1, 2026, approximately 30 stores will be participating.

Activities/Experiences

Fujimi Kogen Resort, Fujimi Panorama Resort, Kagome Vegetable Life Farm, Suwako Rental Cycle, JMB Fujimi Panorama Paragliding School

Accommodation Facilities

Katakura Silk Hotel, Sagino-yu, Masuya Guesthouse, Umegetsu

Dining/Shopping

Seramasumi, and other popular restaurants and facilities in the area.

*Participating stores are subject to addition at any time.

Background of the Project's Launch

The Suwa area possesses diverse regional resources, including Lake Suwa, hot springs, mountain resorts, sake breweries, manufacturing, local produce, cycling, and experiential tourism. However, traditional hometown tax donations often concluded with just "delivery of return gifts," posing a challenge in creating a system that leads to actual visits and local consumption.

Furthermore, with the filming of the NHK serial TV novel "Meguru Swan" scheduled for broadcast in Spring 2027 and the Suwa Grand Shrine Onbashira Festival planned for 2028, the Suwa area is expected to see increased attention and demand for visits.

The "Yoisa! Suwa Meguri Common Thank You Voucher" aims to promote travel within the area and revitalize the regional economy as a platform to connect this tourism demand, which might otherwise be temporary, to local consumption such as accommodation and dining.

Target Users and Usage Method

Target Users: Products and services that meet the "local product standards" for hometown tax return gifts in each municipality (e.g., local agricultural products, local sake, crafts manufactured in the region).

*Cannot be used for national brand products, products from other regions, items with high cash value (gift certificates, beer coupons, etc.), or payment of public utilities.

*No change will be given (shortfall can be settled with cash, etc.).

Expiration Date: 3 years from issuance (can be used with ample time according to travel plans).

Listing Portals: Rakuten Furusato Nozei, Furusato Choice, Furunavi, Municipal Special Sites, etc.

Official Information Page URL: https://yoisapay.com/

Usage Flow

1. Select "Yoisa! Suwa Meguri Common Thank You Voucher" for the desired municipality from the relevant portal site.

2. Select the donation amount and complete the donation.

3. Receive thank you vouchers (1,000 yen or 10,000 yen vouchers) equivalent to 30% of the donation amount.

4. Use for payment of eligible products and services at participating stores in Okaya City, Suwa City, Shimosuwa Town, and Fujimi Town.

Project Overview

Name

Yoisa! Suwa Meguri Common Thank You Voucher

Start Date

July 1, 2026

Issuing Bodies

Okaya City, Suwa City, Shimosuwa Town, Fujimi Town

Target Recipients

Those who have made donations of 10,000 yen or more to each municipality

Residents outside the city/town

Donation Amount

10,000 yen to 4,000,000 yen

Issuance Details

Equivalent to 30% of the donation amount

(1,000 yen or 10,000 yen vouchers)

Expiration Date

3 years from issuance

Scheduled Listing Portals

Rakuten Furusato Nozei, Furusato Choice,

Furunavi, Municipal Special Sites, etc.

Official Information Page URL

https://yoisapay.com/

Usable Area

Participating stores in Okaya City, Suwa City, Shimosuwa Town, and Fujimi Town (approx. 30 stores / accepting applications continuously)

Wide-Area Collaboration Case

7th nationwide, 1st in Nagano Prefecture

※ Based on publicly available information, researched by Namakemono LLC.

Operational Structure

This project will be implemented in collaboration by Okaya City, Suwa City, Shimosuwa Town, and Fujimi Town. Each municipality will handle system design, confirmation of local product standards, and store screening, while Namakemono LLC, as the secretariat, will manage practical tasks such as recruiting participating stores, handling inquiries, processing redemptions, and coordinating operations among stakeholders.

Namakemono LLC, as a regional trading company based in the Suwa area, undertakes hometown tax-related services, primarily for Fujimi Town and Shimosuwa Town. Leveraging its existing network with regional businesses and its expertise in return gift operations, it will support the smooth operation of this project.

Representative Comments: Namakemono LLC, Co-Representatives Kazuyuki Yamanaka and Yushi Harada

"This project is a regionally circulating hometown tax initiative that leads to in-person visits and consumption at local businesses. As the first wide-area collaboration thank you voucher in Nagano Prefecture, it will start with these four municipalities, but we aim to expand the circle of collaboration to the entire Suwa area in the future. We will continue to expand the number of participating stores and, in collaboration with all stakeholders, contribute to promoting travel throughout the Suwa area and revitalizing the regional economy."

Inquiries

"Yoisa! Suwa Meguri Common Thank You Voucher" Secretariat (Namakemono LLC)

・ Address: Shinano Bldg. 401, 2-17-16 Ote, Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture, 392-0026

・ Email: contact@namakemono-inc.jp

・ Phone: 080-8003-0121

Inquiries from Media Representatives

・ Contact Person: Planning and Statistics Section, Planning and Finance Division, Fujimi Town Hall, Nagano Prefecture

・ Email: kikakutoukei@town.fujimi.lg.jp

・ Phone: 0266-62-9332

FACT BOX

  • Source: PR TIMES
  • Category: 地域経済