Furusato Nozei × Point Activity: Tax Cut + Gift + Points, 15–20% Effective
Why point activity works for furusato nozei
Furusato nozei (hometown tax donation) is defined by a large "spend = donation amount." A single office worker earning 5M yen has a yearly cap of around 60,000 yen; at 10M yen income it can exceed 170,000. The bigger the donation, the more the 1% via a point site compounds.
Donate 100,000 yen and the point site alone returns 1,000 yen. With Rakuten Furusato Nozei, double-dipping with Rakuten points earns 10,000–25,000 yen back. The triple win of "tax cut + gift + points" is complete.
Impact of the October 2026 system reform
From October 2025, a reform in principle banned points that furusato-nozei sites grant on their own (Rakuten points, d points, etc.). As a result, Rakuten Furusato Nozei's "Rakuten point cashback" is trending smaller. However, "cashback via a point site" is a different thing (a performance reward to the advertiser) and remains valid.
In other words, post-reform the importance of going via a point site has actually increased. As the site-side Rakuten points shrink, the weight of the 1% via point activity rises relatively.
The optimal route for Rakuten Furusato Nozei
Rakuten Furusato Nozei is treated as "one of Rakuten Ichiba's shops," so Rakuten Ichiba cashback (point site 1% + SPU + the Marathon) rides on directly.
- Log in to Hapitas or MoppyDuring campaigns, Hapitas is ahead (1.5–2.0%).
- Search "Rakuten Ichiba" → click "earn points"Enter from the Rakuten Ichiba gateway, not the Rakuten Furusato Nozei direct URL.
- Search "furusato nozei" on Rakuten Ichiba → pick municipalities
- During the Marathon → split donations across 10 municipalities+9× from the shop-around.
- Pay with a Rakuten Premium Card or Rakuten Card → SPU added
Effective rate example: Hapitas 1.0% + Rakuten points (SPU 8× + Marathon 9×) + municipality points = about 15–20% back. A 100,000-yen donation yields 15,000–20,000 yen + the gift.
The optimal route for Satofuru
For Satofuru, going via PointTown is stable. Base 1.0% + 0.5–1.0% during campaigns.
- During campaigns: PointTown 1.5–2.0%
- Normally: Hapitas / Moppy 1.0%
- Combine with Satofuru's own "Satofuru Day" (days with a 3 or 8) for an extra +α
For people without Rakuten Ichiba SPU or who aren't Rakuten members, Satofuru + PointTown is the realistic route.
Quick cashback table by site
| Donation site | Strongest point route | Cashback | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rakuten Furusato Nozei | Hapitas or Moppy | 1.0% + Rakuten points | 15–20% effective with SPU + Marathon |
| Satofuru | PointTown | 1.0–2.0% | Combine with "Satofuru Day" |
| Furunavi | Moppy or Hapitas | 1.0% + Furunavi Coin | Strong on appliance gifts |
| Furusato Choice | Moppy | 0.5–1.0% | Most municipalities listed |
| au PAY Furusato Nozei | Hapitas | 0.5–1.0% | For au users |
Year-end last-minute cautions
① Missing the December 31 deadline
For credit-card payment, "payment date = donation date." A late-night Dec 31 rush is within the safe zone, but convenience-store and bank-transfer payments risk falling out due to reflection lag.
② The one-stop application deadline is January 10 of the next year
The "one-stop exception" for those not filing a tax return requires documents to arrive by January 10 of the year after donating. Year-end rushers should obtain the application documents within December.
③ Point-site cashback reflects 1–2 months later
Points for December donations post in January–February. Don't panic if they don't reflect immediately.
④ Exceeding your furusato-nozei cap means self-payment
Check the cap with a simulator before donating. The "Rakuten Furusato Nozei simulator" is the easiest to use.
FAQ
Does the reform kill the point-site route?
What if I'm not a Rakuten member?
If the Marathon is next month, should I wait to donate?
Why are Furusato Choice and Satofuru lower cashback?
This article was written from publicly available information on each point site as of May 2026. Cashback rates, campaign terms, and redemption rules can change without notice — always check each site's official page for the latest. This site uses each point site's referral program, but going through a referral link never changes the rate you receive.