Caution
Notes on use
- Gift vouchers are valid only for the period indicated on the gift voucher. (They are no longer valid after this period.)
- Gift vouchers may only be used at participating stores registered with the city of Yokohama. Participating stores may be changed without prior notice.
- The issuer is not responsible for stolen, lost, damaged, forged, altered, or imitation gift vouchers.
- Gift vouchers marked or stamped as "USED" cannot be used.
- Gift vouchers cannot be transferred, sold, or exchanged for cash to third parties.
- Change will not be given.
- Refunds will not be granted if items purchased with the gift voucher are returned.
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As a rule, gift vouchers cannot be used if they are removed from the booklet.
If a gift voucher was accidentally removed, please present both the gift voucher and booklet to see if it will be accepted at the participating store. -
Gift vouchers cannot be used for the following products or services:
- Investments or debt payments (taxes, transfer payments, transfer fees, insurance premiums, electricity, gas, water, and telephone payments, etc.)
- Payments to national or local governments and public groups (including municipally operated gambling)
- Purchase of items with high cashable value such as securities, cash vouchers, gift vouchers (beer gift vouchers, sake gift vouchers, rice gift vouchers, book store gift vouchers, individual store gift vouchers, etc.), travel vouchers, railway tickets, stamps, official postcards, revenue stamps, prepaid cards, etc.
- Tobacco products manufactured under Article 2, Paragraph 1, Item 3 of the Tobacco Industries Act (Law No. 68, 1984)
- Lottery tickets stipulated in Article 2 of the Lottery Tickets Act (Law No. 144, 1948) or sports promotion lottery tickets stipulated in Article 2 of the Act on Carrying Out, etc. Sports Promotion Vote (Law No. 63, 1998)
- Raw materials, equipment, and product stock used in business
- Payments related to real estate such as land or housing purchases, house or land rent, parking fees (excluding temporary parking)
- Membership fees, products or services paid in advance with an expiration date that exceeds March 31, 2020
- Exchange for cash, deposit in a financial institution
- Payments related to Article 2 of the Act on Control and Improvement of Amusement Business, etc. (Law No. 122, 1948)
- Anything involving specific religions or political groups, or actions that go contrary to public morals
- Items designated by participating stores
- Other things not deemed appropriate for payment with gift vouchers by the issuer
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Yokohama City Premium Gift Voucher(Yokohama-shi Premium-tsuki Shohinken)?
This item is intended to lessen the effects of the consumption tax hike in October on those exempt from resident tax and families with children, as well as stimulate and help support consumption in the area.
Can anyone purchase these gift vouchers?
Only persons who meet the following requirements may purchase the gift voucher.
① Persons exempt from resident tax as of 2019 and registered as a resident in Yokohama City as of January 1, 2019,
- Excludes persons dependent on persons paying resident tax, those receiving public assistance, and Japanese returnees from China receiving assistance
② Household heads with a child that was born between April 2, 2016 and September 30, 2019
- Persons registered as a resident as of the cutoff date (June 1, July 31, September 30, 2019)
- A purchase ticket will be issued once per applicable child
- Persons who fall under both categories are eligible to purchase gift vouchers under each requirement.
Will the gift voucher be sent to the purchaser?
Instead of a gift voucher, a Yokohama City Premium Gift Voucher Purchase Ticket will be sent. Please see below for further details.
Persons in category ① from question 2: Application is necessary. Persons who fall under the category will receive a "Yokohama City Premium Gift Voucher Purchase Ticket Application" in a light blue envelope in late July. If you do not receive the application even though you meet the requirements, call the phone number below. Submitted applications will be reviewed by the city of Yokohama in the order they are received and a purchase ticket will be sent to eligible persons. If you are not eligible, a notice to that effect will be sent.
Persons in category ② from question 2: No application is necessary. The purchase ticket will be sent starting in September.
Please use the following contact information for inquiries on persons who are eligible to purchase the gift certificate and on purchase vouchers.
Premium Gift Certificate Office, Health and Social Welfare Bureau Planning Division
TEL: 045-671-3421 (Hours: 8:45 - 17:00 weekdays)
FAX: 045-664-4739
Note: The Yokohama City Premium Gift Certificate dedicated phone line (office in charge of gift certificate applications and purchase vouchers) is no longer available.
What denominations is the gift voucher available in?
One booklet may be purchased for ¥4,000, which can be used to make ¥5,000 in purchases (10 x ¥500 vouchers). Persons who fall under category ① in question 2 may purchase up to 5 booklets (¥25,000 value), and persons who fall under category ② in question 2 may purchase up to 5 booklets (¥25,000 value) for each applicable child. Gift vouchers can be purchased all at once or at separate times.
When will gift vouchers be available for purchase?
Sales period: Sales have been extended until March 22, 2020*. Please note that gift certificates will no longer be available for sale after this period has ended (Note that sales end on February 29 for some stores).
*Search for stores with extended sales periods on the [gift certificate purchase voucher desk(Japanese)] page.
Where can I purchase the gift vouchers?
The gift vouchers can be purchased at the gift voucher purchase ticket desk located in each city ward. When the Yokohama City Premium Gift Voucher Purchase Ticket is delivered, it will contain a list of these locations as of July 31. You can also check the latest information at the following website.
https://premium-gift.jp/yokohama/sales_store
You can also find information on gift voucher purchase ticket desks via the following phone number.
[Gift voucher information (office in charge of gift voucher purchase ticket desks and participating stores)]
TEL: 0120-907-175 FAX: 0120-445-977
9:00 to 18:00 (Excluding December 29 to January 3) Including weekends and national holidays during October
What do I need to bring when purchasing gift vouchers?
Please bring the following to the gift voucher purchase ticket desk.
① Yokohama City Premium Gift Voucher Purchase Ticket
② Identification (driver's license, health insurance card, employee ID, student ID, etc.), and documents that can be used to confirm your name and address such as mail
③ Cash (enough to purchase the gift voucher)
Can I use the My Number card as a form of ID when purchasing the gift vouchers?
Yes, you can. Please use a card cover so that your My Number is not visible.
Can I send someone to purchase the gift vouchers for me?
Yes, you can. In that case, the person you send will need to present a form of ID. They will also need to verbally confirm their relationship to the gift voucher purchaser.
Can gift vouchers be purchased with a credit card?
No. The gift vouchers are sold at a counter, and can only be purchased with cash.
Can I return the gift vouchers after they are purchased?
No, the gift vouchers cannot be returned.
When can the gift vouchers be used?
Gift vouchers can be used between October 1, 2019 and March 31, 2020. Please note that they cannot be used outside this period.
Where can the gift vouchers be used?
A list of participating stores will be included in the pamphlet available at the gift voucher purchase ticket desk. You can also check the latest information at the following website.
https://premium-gift.jp/yokohama/use_store
Information on participating stores can also be obtained via the following phone number.
[Gift voucher information (office in charge of gift voucher purchase ticket desks and participating stores)]
TEL: 0120-907-175 FAX: 0120-445-977
9:00 to 18:00 (Excluding December 29 to January 3) Including weekends and national holidays during October
How can I identify participating stores?
Participating stores can be identified by the Premium Gift Voucher logo sticker, etc.
Can Yokohama City gift vouchers be used in other municipalities?
Yokohama City gift vouchers can only be used at registered stores within Yokohama City.
Will I receive change when using the gift vouchers?
No, you will not. Gift vouchers are in denominations of ¥500, so make sure to purchase items of the same value or higher.
Can gift vouchers be used with individual store discounts and for store points?
Gift vouchers are handled differently at each store. Please ask at the store for further details.
Can gift vouchers be reissued if lost or stolen?
No, they cannot. We cannot provide compensation for lost or stolen gift vouchers.
Are some items not available for purchase with gift vouchers?
The following cannot be purchased with gift vouchers:
・Investments or debt payments (transfer payments, transfer fees, insurance premiums, electricity, gas, water, and telephone payments, etc.)
・Payments to the national or local governments and public groups (taxes, municipally operated gambling, etc.)
・Purchase of items with high cashable value such as gold, platinum, silver, securities, cash vouchers, gift vouchers (beer gift vouchers, sake gift vouchers, rice gift vouchers, book store gift vouchers, individual store gift vouchers, etc.), stamps, postcards, revenue stamps, prepaid cards, travel vouchers, railway tickets, etc.
・Tobacco products manufactured under Article 2, Paragraph 1, Item 3 of the Tobacco Industries Act (Law No. 68, August 10, 1984)
・Raw materials, equipment, and product stock used in business
・Payments related to real estate such as land or housing purchases, house or land rent, parking fees (excluding temporary parking) or high-value assets such as automobiles
・Payments related to Article 2 of the Act on Control and Improvement of Amusement Business, etc. (Law No. 122, 1948)
・Anything involving specific religions or political groups, or actions that go contrary to public morals
・Items designated by participating stores