[Dec 2026 Update] Is the Rakuten Ecosystem Dead? 5 New Rules to Save ¥30,000/Year After the "Nerf"

As of December 2025, if you look at Japanese SNS or foreign communities like Reddit, you might hear a common complaint:

"I feel like I'm not earning Rakuten Points like I used to..." "Is it true that the Furusato Nozei point rewards are over?"

To give you the honest conclusion: Yes, that is correct. The old "Point Festival" is over.

Due to stricter regulations by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications in October 2025, the "alchemy" of donating to Furusato Nozei, getting gifts, and earning tens of thousands of points on top of that is no longer possible. Furthermore, the SPU (Super Point Up program) rules have become more complex. If you just use your card aimlessly, your return rate will only go down.

So, should we escape the "Rakuten Ecosystem"?

The answer is "No." The rules have become stricter, but Rakuten remains the strongest tool to reduce our living costs by "¥30,000 to ¥50,000 per year." All you need to do is "adapt" to the new rules.

In this article, we will guide you through the "5 New Iron Rules" to earn points wisely and steadily in Japan in 2025.

Rule 1: "The Click" (Don't Forget the Monthly Ritual)

First, let's talk about the most critical change. In the past, if you had a Rakuten Mobile contract, your point multiplier on Rakuten Ichiba increased automatically. However, those convenient days are over.

Starting February 2025, for Rakuten Mobile subscribers (Saikyo Plan) to receive the SPU benefit (+4x), you must press the "Entry Button" every single month.

What happens if you forget this? No matter how much you shop on Rakuten Ichiba, your point multiplier will not increase. Your precious "+4x" becomes "0x".

Action Plan: Do This Now

1. Make it a Monthly Routine: Put it in your calendar. When the month changes, open the Rakuten Ichiba app first thing.
2. Find the Button: Click the "Entry" button from the "SPU" banner on the top page or the campaign page.
3. Check Before You Buy: Always confirm that it says "Entered" (エントリー済み) before you start shopping.

Honestly, it's a hassle. But that single click dramatically changes your return rate. If you aren't using Rakuten Mobile yet, it is still worth switching just to get this "+4x" right.

Rule 2: "The Ritual" (Defend the Rakuten Pay 1.5% Return)

Once you've set up Rakuten Mobile, let's review your "payments in town." At convenience stores, drugstores, and supermarkets, are you still pulling out a plastic credit card? Or are you just using PayPay out of habit?

The correct answer for Rakuten users is "Rakuten Pay charged via Rakuten Card."

• PayPay: Basic return rate 0.5% (Conditions to raise this are extremely difficult).
• Rakuten Pay: Basic return rate 1.5% (Conditions apply).

Why is PayPay not enough? We compare the detailed return rates in "[2025 Edition] PayPay vs. Rakuten Pay: Which is the Strongest Mobile Payment in Japan?](/en/money-cards/japan-mobile-payment-guide)"

The condition to maintain this overwhelming "1.5%" became slightly stricter from July 2025. It is: "You must present the Rakuten Point Card App at least twice in the previous month."

The "Ritual" to Maintain 1.5%

If you don't clear this, your return rate drops to 1.0%. Make the following routine a habit:

• At a Convenience Store (Early in the Month): When buying a coffee or water, always ask to scan the barcode on your "Rakuten Point Card App."
• At a Drugstore: When shopping at Matsumotokiyoshi or Sundrug, always have them scan it.

Just doing this (twice a month) locks in your 1.5% return rate for the next month. Think of it as a game quest and clear it every month.

Rule 3: "The Sober Tax" (The Truth About Furusato Nozei)

After daily shopping, let's talk about the biggest annual saving opportunity: "Furusato Nozei" (Hometown Tax Donation).

Until September 2025, we could earn massive points with Furusato Nozei. However, due to the October regulations, excessive point rewards by portal sites have been banned.

So, is there no point in doing Furusato Nozei anymore? No. The biggest benefit, "Tax Deduction," hasn't decreased by a single yen.

• Before: Taxes got cheaper, you got gifts, and you made a profit in points (It was a bit abnormal).
• Now: Taxes get cheaper, and you get gifts (It has returned to a normal state).

From now on, you don't need to rack your brain with complex point calculations. You don't need to worry about "Shopping Marathon" multipliers. Simply choose the "return gifts you want (rice, meat, fruit)" and pay with your Rakuten Card. The 1% point return for card payments is still granted as usual.

If you are thinking, "I don't really understand how Furusato Nozei works in the first place," please check "Furusato Nozei Complete Guide for Foreigners" to understand how it lowers your Residence Tax.

User Review★★★★☆4/5

The festival is over, but if I can get 60kg of rice for a self-pay burden of just ¥2,000, there's no reason not to do it. Just think of the points as a bonus. :::

Rule 4: "Waste Management" (How to Use Limited Time Points)

Just as important as "earning" points is not "wasting" them. The biggest mistake you can make in the Rakuten Ecosystem is "letting Limited Time Points expire."

Many points received from campaigns expire in about 45 days. And annoyingly, these cannot be used for "Rakuten Card payments."

The Optimal Disposal Route

So, how should you use them up?

1. Use with Rakuten Pay (Recommended): Open the settings next to "Use all points/cash" in the app and check "Use Limited Time Points first." This will automatically consume them for payments at convenience stores and supermarkets.
2. Use for Rakuten Mobile: If you set your monthly smartphone bill to use points, it will automatically consume them every month.

Warning: Do not use points for shopping on Rakuten Ichiba. You don't earn points on the portion paid with points, so your return rate decreases. "Pay with Card on Ichiba, Pay with Points in Town." This is the iron rule.

Rule 5: "The Timing" (Wait for Days with 0 and 5)

Finally, let's talk about shopping "timing." Many campaigns have ended or been nerfed, but the "Every month on days ending in 5 and 0 (5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, 30th)" campaign is still alive.

When you think about buying something on Rakuten Ichiba (water, detergent, gadgets, etc.), always ask yourself: "Is today a day ending in 5 or 0?"

If not, put the item in your "Cart" and wait for that day to come. Just by entering and buying on that day, your point multiplier increases. Unless it's an emergency, waiting a few days leads to profit.

Conclusion: Rakuten Ecosystem - From "Game" to "Infrastructure"

The Rakuten Ecosystem of 2025 doesn't have the flashy excitement it used to. However, by consolidating your life's infrastructure—electricity, gas, communication, and daily groceries—into Rakuten, the system that generates "tens of thousands of yen in tax-free profit per year" is still alive and well.

1. Get a Rakuten Card (The basis of everything).
2. Contract Rakuten Mobile and enter every month (SPU +4x).
3. Use Rakuten Pay and present the app twice a month (1.5% return).

Just by calmly executing these three steps, you can live smarter than other foreigners living in Japan.

Use the money you saved with points to pay for rent and utilities. For a breakdown of real living costs in Tokyo, "Cost of Living in Tokyo for One Person (2025 Edition)" will be helpful.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. Can I buy investment trusts (NISA) with Limited Time Points?

No, you cannot. Only "Regular Points" can be used for point investment at Rakuten Securities. It is most efficient to use Limited Time Points for daily food expenses via Rakuten Pay.

Q2. Can I use points to pay my Rakuten Card bill?

If they are "Regular Points," you can apply them to your card bill (Point Payment Service). However, "Limited Time Points" cannot be used for this.

Q3. Is there English support?

Unfortunately, most of Rakuten's official websites and apps are in Japanese only. We recommend using Google Chrome's auto-translate feature or referring to our "English Application Guides" while operating.

Q4. Do I get zero points for Furusato Nozei now?

You won't get "Campaign Points for donations to municipalities (+9x, etc.)" anymore. However, the "Credit Card Usage Points (usually 1%)" as a payment method are still granted just like regular shopping.