Furusato Nozei (hometown tax donation) has recently become popular nationwide. The secret to its popularity lies in the value and luxury of the return gifts.

In Hokkaido, too, each municipality naturally prepares unique and thoughtful return gifts. However, with so much information available, you might be wondering where to apply.

This time, we'll introduce seven carefully selected and attractive hometown tax donation programs in Hokkaido. Each one is appealing and unique, and they all offer a great way to experience the charm of Hokkaido.

Now, let's narrow down our target and give hometown tax donations a try! And we hope that you'll also become interested in the different hometowns of Hokkaido!

<Table of Contents>
1. Kamishihoro Town
2. Yubari City
3. Erimo Town
4. Yakumo Town
5. Ikeda Town
6. Niki Town
7. Haboro Town
Summary

Kamishihoro Town's hometown tax donation program ranks first in Hokkaido in terms of donation amount, and third nationwide. The secret to its popularity is, of course, its return gifts.

Naitai Wagyu beef is especially popular. While there are many variations for yakiniku (Japanese barbecue) and sukiyaki, the most popular item here is undoubtedly the Tokachi Herb Wagyu beef, 180g x 2. There have been over 10,000 orders for this so far. The 1.2kg Naitai Wagyu hamburger is also a super-sized portion. With its luxurious offerings and great value, it's no wonder that it ranks third in tax revenue nationwide.

Another famous product of Kamishihoro Town is Shinmura Farm's milk jam. While there are various gift sets available, the most popular is the standard set that includes precious clotted cream.

The honey sets, potatoes, and bean products all embody the spirit of the Tokachi Plain. For donations of 20 yen or more, you can even receive a whole sheep—a truly extravagant gift. Every gift you choose is brimming with the essence of the rich Tokachi land. It's a solid lineup.

Contact: Planning and Finance Division, Kamishihoro Town Hall
Phone 01564-2-2111
The Kamishihoro Town Furusato Tax Donation page isClick Here

Two melons for 1.5 million yen!! That's the price at the first Yubari melon auction of 2015. Naturally, Yubari melons are a return gift for Yubari City's hometown tax donation program.

This is an extremely popular gift item and sells out very quickly. You can choose from a single melon, a reasonably priced option, or even two melons, or upgrade the grade of the melon, with a variety of options available.

Yubari City is constantly facing financial difficulties as a municipality undergoing financial reconstruction, but it is incredibly generous when it comes to hometown tax donations. The minimum donation is 15,000 yen, which is a bit higher than other municipalities, but if you donate 25,000 yen or more, you get two eggs. The value is more than doubled.

While there are many famous melon-producing regions throughout Hokkaido, Yubari's brand recognition is overwhelming. Experience the essence of Hokkaido summer with its rich aroma, juicy flesh, and breathtaking sweetness.

Unfortunately, orders placed now will not arrive until July of next year. Furthermore, the "Superior" and "Premium" grades, which have limited production quantities, have limited application periods and quantities. They sell out very quickly, so please start preparing for next year.
Contact: Community Planning Section, Community Planning Office
Phone 0123(52)3141
The Yubari City hometown tax donation page isClick Here

This town is famous for Cape Erimo. The song says, "It's a spring with nothing to offer," but it's obvious that this is just modesty if you take a look at the list of hometown tax return gifts.

You'll get a sense of the richness of the sea around Erimo Town. And you'll definitely want to visit Erimo Town yourself. It's such a fascinating list that no amount of words would be enough to describe it all.

To give one example, there's Hidaka kelp, which is highly valued for making dashi (broth). From here on, there are a variety of return gifts that will make you want to take another look. The variety is quite extensive, including seasonings and seafood products.

The most popular item is the hairy crab. You'll receive two large crabs. The salmon caught in nearby waters, hardened by the rough waves of the Pacific Ocean, is exceptionally fatty and so delicious that you might wonder if it's really the same fish as the salmon you usually eat. One of the charms of the Furusato Nozei (hometown tax donation) program is that local people select only the very best salmon from among the many caught.

Seriously, take a look at the Furusato Choice website as soon as possible. You'll find it's not just a theme park of return gifts, but a wonderland.

Contact: Industrial Promotion Division, Commerce and Tourism Section
Phone 01466-2-4626
The Erimo Town Hometown Donation page isClick Here

During the Meiji Restoration, a group of retainers of the Tokugawa family settled in what is now Yakumo Town. The name Yakumo itself was given by Lord Tokugawa, the feudal lord. Yakumo Town, overlooking Funka Bay, is a town where time flows slowly, steeped in history, dairy farming, livestock raising, and fishing, and where townspeople descended from Tokugawa retainers live.

This region's hometown tax donation program offers local specialty livestock products. This set includes a variety of locally produced ham and sausages. The contents are plentiful, including sausages that burst with flavor with every bite, and hamburgers made from Yakumo beef, a favorite among connoisseurs.

Even the seafood set, unique to Yakumo Town which faces both the Sea of ​​Japan and Funka Bay, includes overnight-dried flatfish, slices of salted salmon, and octopus shabu-shabu—a selection of dishes that will delight even those who aren't heavy drinkers. You might find yourself savoring the flavors so much that your tongue, not your jaw, will get tired first.

Yakumo Town is a place you'll inevitably pass through no matter which route you take when traveling from Sapporo to Hakodate. Because everything is locally sourced, you can rest assured of its quality and enjoy great value.

For inquiries, please contact: Yakumo Town Planning and Promotion Division, Planning Section, Hometown Support Donation 담당 (person in charge).
Phone: 0137-62-2111
The Yakumo Town Hometown Support Donation page isClick Here

Ikeda Town in Tokachi is a rural area on the outskirts of Obihiro. It's a town known for Ikeda beef and wine. The Wine Castle, which stands tall in the town, is open not only for sightseeing but also for dining. There is also a museum dedicated to musician Miwa Yoshida (Dreams Come True), who is from the town.

The most highly sought-after gift here is "Kiyomi no Oka," a specially brewed wine that isn't available anywhere else in Hokkaido and can only be found at this wine castle. Its refreshing and transparent taste is incredibly popular both within and outside of Hokkaido. While this wine alone is well worth the price, you can also enjoy vintage wines if you pay a higher amount.

For a perfect accompaniment, we recommend the Japanese-style cheese with mountain wasabi. This cheese is made with mountain wasabi, a favorite of Hokkaido residents, kneaded into the cheese. It's a prize-winning product that received the gold medal at the 2013 FOODEX Gourmet Women's Grand Prix.

Other offerings include Ikeda beef hamburgers, roast beef, beef jerky, and a selection of famous sweets featuring various Tokachi delicacies. With its catchy melody, you'll likely find yourself paying your taxes again and again. Be sure to check out the Furusato Choice page!

Contact: Ikeda Town Hometown Tax Donation Department
Phone: 015-572-3112
The Ikeda Town Hometown Tax Donation page isClick Here

Niki Town boasts one of the highest fruit production volumes in Hokkaido. Grapes and apples, in particular, are as popular as those from neighboring Yoichi Town, and are so well-known that almost every Hokkaido resident has likely tasted them at least once. So, it's only natural that the return gifts would also be fruits and sweets.

The apple pie and chiffon cake from Niki Farm Fruit Factory, a local favorite, are highly recommended. Their light and refreshing chiffon cake is popular even outside the local area. They are also known for their wide variety of flavors and many repeat customers.

The apple pie is packed with the delicious flavor of local apples and the rich taste of butter. Being able to enjoy something that can only be found locally is a luxury that can only be experienced through the Furusato Nozei (hometown tax donation) program.

Furthermore, Niki Town's hometown tax donation program offers experiential return gifts. Depending on the season, these include tickets that allow you to enjoy cherry picking or grape picking. When the cherry season arrives, you can combine your trip with an agricultural experience.

This is a truly wonderful gift that allows you to enjoy freshly picked fruit along with the delicious air of Hokkaido. And don't miss out on the sweet grape season coming up!

Contact: Niki Town Planning Division
Phone: 0135-32-3951
The Niki Town Hometown Tax Donation page isClick Here

Haboro Town, located on the Sea of ​​Japan coast, is the gateway to the remote islands of Teuri and Yagishiri. It is a fishing town nurtured by the harsh nature of winter and the mild climate of spring and summer. In the past, it was also famous for its coal mines and is a town with a history that firmly supported the development of Hokkaido.

This gift is freshly caught sweet shrimp, and a whopping 2 kg of it! This town boasts the highest sweet shrimp catch in Japan, so it's a truly satisfying product.

As expected, freshly caught raw sweet shrimp, especially those delivered directly from the source, are on a completely different level of flavor compared to those bought at the supermarket. The sweetness is intense, yet not cloying. There's absolutely none of the fishy smell that people who dislike shrimp hate. In fact, they're so good that they can instantly convert someone who disliked shrimp because of the smell into a shrimp lover.

If you donate even more, you'll receive spot prawns, a highly coveted item among Hokkaido residents. Otaru and Sapporo sushi restaurants generously offer these top-quality sushi ingredients as a token of their appreciation. It's a product that truly reflects the generosity of local fishermen. As for the taste, it's so sweet it will leave you speechless, so delicious it will leave you breathless, and so firm it will leave you utterly captivated. We highly recommend trying it as sashimi.

Contact: Haboro Town Regional Development Division, Policy Promotion Section
Phone: 0164-68-7013
The Haboro Town Hometown Tax Donation page isClick Here

Final thoughts

Hokkaido can be felt closer to you through the Furusato Nozei (hometown tax donation) system. The return gifts are all from highly reputable companies known only to those in the know. If you experience it even once, you're sure to fall in love with the town.

The fact that many people become repeat donors, making hometown tax donations to the same town year after year, is proof of this. And, they say, their next motivation is to want to see that place with their own eyes.

While the places introduced here aren't all famous tourist spots, perhaps the Furusato Nozei (hometown tax donation) system can be seen as a journey to discover another side of Hokkaido's charm.

　　　

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