The “Furusato Choice Grand Thanksgiving Festival” was held at Pacifico Yokohama on November 12-13, 2012. This year was the 8th event hosted by Trust Bank, which operates the comprehensive website “Furusato Choice,” and was the first real event in three years, since it was held online in 2020 and 2021.
A total of 106 municipalities and local producers from all over Japan gathered in Yokohama with the aim of “directly conveying their gratitude to donors” for their donations to the region. At the booths, visitors enjoyed tasting and sampling local products and experiencing local traditions, and also engaged in a heated PR battle before the deadline for applications for hometown tax payment in 2022, which is only a little over two months away.
In addition to stage programs such as workshops where experts introduced the charms of the region and offered hands-on manufacturing experience, there was also a Twitter campaign where participants could win JTB travel coupons and local specialties on the spot, as well as a survey drawing with prizes to be won.
There is also a special section for a new application that was launched this September under the name “Furusato Tax Payment: Choice Pay” (Android/iOS version).
Choice Pay is a program that allows you to receive points instantly as a reward for completing the payment of your donation to a municipality. The points can be exchanged for goods, and can also be used to pay for leisure activities such as lodging, meals, and golf. Visitors interested in the new service stopped to ask the staff for explanations.
© Source travel watch