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Rakuten Furusato Nozei works like shopping on Rakuten Ichiba. You log in with your Rakuten account, add a return gift to your cart, and pay. The site is in Japanese only, but with your browser’s translate feature and the steps below, you can finish a donation without reading Japanese.
Key facts (as of October 2026)
- What you need: A Rakuten account, your name and address exactly as registered at city hall, and a credit card.
- Cost: ¥2,000 per year if you stay within your deduction limit.
- Points: Since October 1, 2025, Rakuten no longer gives Rakuten Ichiba points for donations. Your credit card company can still give its usual card points.
- Tax deduction: Choose the one-stop exception or a tax return when you check out.
Why do foreigners use Rakuten for furusato nozei?
Many foreign residents already have a Rakuten account for shopping. Rakuten Furusato Nozei uses the same account and the same checkout as Rakuten Ichiba, so there is less to learn. (Rakuten)
| What you get | What to watch out for |
|---|---|
| The same login and checkout as Rakuten Ichiba | Every screen is in Japanese |
| Many gifts to search in one place | Search works best with Japanese words |
| Your saved card and address | Your saved address must match your resident registration |
If you don’t have a Rakuten account and don’t want one, other portals work too. See Best Furusato Nozei Sites for English Speakers.
Do you still get Rakuten points for donations?
No, not from Rakuten itself. From October 1, 2025, the government banned portals from giving points for furusato nozei donations. Rakuten stopped its normal Ichiba points, Super Sale and Shopping Marathon campaign points, and SPU bonus points on donations. (Rakuten, MIC)
Points from your credit card are different. Rakuten says card companies still give their normal points when you pay by card. If you use a Rakuten Card, check its current rules on the Rakuten Card site. (Rakuten)
Older English guides tell you to time donations with Rakuten Marathon events. That advice no longer works for points.
What do you need before you start?
Prepare these four things. Most mistakes happen when one of them is missing.
- A Rakuten account. You can create one for free.
- Your name and address as registered at city hall. Copy them from your residence card or resident record (juminhyo, 住民票). Rakuten treats your order details as your resident record. (Rakuten)
- Your deduction limit. Use Rakuten’s simulator. Rakuten’s simple simulator is for salaried workers. (Rakuten)
- A credit card.
If you moved this year, update the address in your Rakuten account before you donate. The municipality uses that address to send your receipt and forms.
How do you donate on Rakuten, step by step?
Step 1: Turn on translation
Open Rakuten Furusato Nozei in Chrome or Safari and turn on page translation. Translation makes the menus readable. It often mistranslates gift names, so use the search words in Step 2.
Step 2: Search with Japanese words
Searching in English finds very few gifts. Copy a Japanese word from this table into the search box.
| You want | Search for | How to say it |
|---|---|---|
| Wagyu beef | 和牛 | wagyu |
| Rice | 米 | kome |
| Crab | かに | kani |
| Scallops | ホタテ | hotate |
| Salmon roe | いくら | ikura |
| Fruit | フルーツ | furutsu |
| Japanese sake | 日本酒 | nihonshu |
| Whisky | ウイスキー | uisuki |
| Travel voucher | 旅行券 | ryokoken |
| Regular deliveries | 定期便 | teikibin |
You can also sort results by donation amount. This helps you find gifts that fit your limit.
Step 3: Check the gift page
Before you add a gift to your cart, check three things on the gift page. Use translation if needed.
- Donation amount (寄付金額). This is what you pay, not the gift’s value.
- Delivery timing. Some gifts ship months later, such as fruit in season.
- Delivery restrictions. Some gifts can’t be delivered to certain areas or on certain dates.
Step 4: Add to cart and check out
Checkout works like normal Rakuten shopping. On the order screen (注文確認画面), confirm that the donor’s name and address match your resident registration. The donor must be the person whose taxes you want to reduce. (Rakuten)
Step 5: Choose the one-stop exception or a tax return
At checkout, you choose how you will claim the tax deduction. (Rakuten)
- Choose the one-stop exception if you donate to 5 municipalities or fewer this year and don’t need to file a tax return.
- Choose tax return if you donate to 6 or more municipalities, or you file a tax return anyway.
Step 6: Pay and wait for your receipt
After you pay, each municipality mails the donation receipt and, if you asked, the one-stop form. They go to the address in your order details. Timing differs by municipality, and documents may arrive after the gift. (Rakuten)
Donated late in the year and no form yet? Rakuten says you can download the form yourself and send it. (Rakuten)
How do you finish the one-stop exception?
Fill in the form from each municipality and send it back by January 10 of the next year. Rakuten’s guide also says you can apply online instead of on paper. (Rakuten)
Online applications use your My Number Card and the Mynaportal app. Each municipality decides which online services it accepts. For example, Mutsu City accepts online applications for donations made through some portals, but not for Rakuten donations. (Mutsu City) Check the instructions each municipality sends. (MIC)
For a line-by-line guide to the paper form, see One-Stop Exception Form in English.
What other foreign residents say
In a 2021 Retire Japan forum thread, users advised making the Rakuten billing name and address match your juminhyo exactly. Rakuten’s own FAQ says the same today. (Retire Japan forum, 2021, Rakuten) Users in the same thread said the one-stop forms arrived separately from the gifts.
What mistakes do foreigners make on Rakuten?
These are the problems that come up most often.
| Mistake | What happens | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| Your Rakuten name differs from your resident record | Rakuten treats your order details as your resident record, so documents carry the wrong name (Rakuten) | Use the exact name on your residence card |
| Your Rakuten address is old | Your receipt and forms go to the wrong place | Update your address before you donate |
| You donate to 6 or more municipalities | The one-stop exception no longer applies | Count municipalities, not orders |
| You use your spouse’s Rakuten account | The donation counts for your spouse, not you | Each person donates from their own account |
| You donate more than your limit | You pay more than ¥2,000 | Check your limit first |
The one-stop exception allows up to 5 municipalities. Several orders from the same municipality count as one. (Takasaki City)
Is Rakuten the best portal for you?
Rakuten suits you if you already shop on Rakuten Ichiba. It may not suit you if you want an English interface or don’t want another account.
| If you | Consider |
|---|---|
| Already use Rakuten Ichiba | Rakuten Furusato Nozei |
| Want English screens | Furusato Japan, which had an English option in October 2026 |
| Care most about gift choice | Compare several portals |
We compare portals in Best Furusato Nozei Sites for English Speakers.
What should you do next?
- Check your deduction limit.
- Update your Rakuten name and address to match your resident record.
- Search with the Japanese words above and pick your first gift.
Start on Rakuten Furusato Nozei (in Japanese).
FAQ
Can I use Rakuten Furusato Nozei without reading Japanese?
Yes, with browser translation. Use Japanese search words for gifts, since English searches find very few results.
Do I get Rakuten points for furusato nozei in 2026?
Not from Rakuten. Portal points ended on October 1, 2025. Your credit card company may still give its normal card points.
Can I pay with a foreign credit card?
Rakuten’s FAQ does not say whether foreign-issued cards work. Every municipality accepts credit cards, but some limit the card brands. Check the municipality overview page (自治体概要) before you pay. (Rakuten)
Use a card in your own name. Rakuten asks donors to pay with their own card. (Rakuten)
How many municipalities can I donate to with the one-stop exception?
Up to 5. If you donate to 6 or more, you need to file a tax return.
When is the deadline on Rakuten?
Finish your donation by 11:59 p.m. on December 31 for it to count this year. Rakuten asks you to check payment methods on the municipality page and leave extra time. (Rakuten) Send one-stop exception forms by January 10 of the next year.
Can I cancel a donation?
No. Rakuten says you can’t cancel or change a donation after you apply. Check the gift, amount, and your details before you pay. (Rakuten)
This article is general information, not tax advice. Information is as of October 2026. Rakuten’s rules and screens may change. Sources: Rakuten Furusato Nozei guide, Rakuten notice on points, MIC.