Tokyo App Guide 2026: Get ¥11,000 Free — Expats Eligible!

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government just handed every resident in Tokyo — including expats — ¥11,000 in free points. No catch, no lottery, no complicated conditions. The Tokyo App (東京都公式アプリ / 東京アプリ) launched in early 2025 as Tokyo’s official government smartphone app, and the city is now running a Life Support Campaign (生活応援事業) that gives 11,000 Tokyo Points — worth exactly ¥11,000 — to anyone who downloads the app and completes identity verification using their My Number Card. This applies to foreign nationals registered in Tokyo. You do not need to be Japanese. You do not need to be naturalised. You just need to live in Tokyo, be 15 or older, and have your My Number Card ready. This post walks you through exactly what the Tokyo App is, how the ¥11,000 campaign works, and step-by-step how to claim it before the deadline.

Tokyo App: ¥11,000 free points for expats — the most important detail first

What is the Tokyo App (東京アプリ)?

The Tokyo App (東京都公式アプリ, Tōkyō-to Kōshiki Apuri — or 東京アプリ, Tōkyō Apuri, for short) is the official smartphone app of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, launched in February 2025. It is designed to connect Tokyo residents directly with city government services, information, and support on a single platform — replacing the fragmented web of separate ward and city government portals. Think of the Tokyo App as your personal gateway to Tokyo city hall on your smartphone. The Tokyo App currently offers QR-code-based participation in city campaigns, Tokyo Points accumulation and exchange, personalised city service information, and identity-linked government services through My Number Card verification. It is available on iOS (iOS 16 or above) and Android (Android 9 or above) — smartphones only, not tablets or computers.

Tokyo App 11,000 points campaign: who is eligible?

The Tokyo App Life Support Campaign (東京アプリ生活応援事業) gives 11,000 Tokyo Points — equivalent to ¥11,000 — to anyone who meets all of the following conditions:

• Aged 15 or older — there is no upper age limit for the Tokyo App points campaign
• Registered as a Tokyo resident — your Residence Card must show a Tokyo address and you must be registered in the Jūminhyo (住民票) resident register at your ward office
• Hold a valid My Number Card (マイナンバーカード) — the physical card, not just the My Number notification letter. If you do not yet have your My Number Card, apply at your ward office before the April 1, 2027 campaign deadline
• No nationality restriction — foreign nationals registered as Tokyo residents are explicitly eligible for the Tokyo App 11,000 points. Japanese citizenship is NOT required. This has been confirmed in official guidance and is one of the most important facts for expats to know.

Note: the Tokyo App is currently only available in Japanese. Using Google Translate or a translation app alongside it is recommended for expats who are not yet proficient in Japanese. Multilingual support is planned for future updates.

Tokyo App 11,000 points: what are Tokyo Points and how do you use them?

Tokyo Points (東京ポイント) are the city’s own digital point currency awarded through the Tokyo App. 1 Tokyo Point = ¥1 in exchange value. The 11,000 Tokyo Points from the Tokyo App campaign are worth exactly ¥11,000 and are valid for 24 months from the date they are issued to your account. Tokyo Points can be exchanged for the following rewards via the Tokyo App:

• au PAY残高 (au PAY balance): Use like cash at 6.2 million au PAY-accepting locations — one of the most flexible Tokyo App points exchanges
• dポイント (NTT Docomo points): Universal points accepted at thousands of stores, restaurants, and online services across Japan — bonus 10% increase campaign available, making this one of the best-value Tokyo App exchanges. Exchange minimum: 100 points.
• 楽天ペイ (キャッシュ) (Rakuten Pay cash): Spendable via Rakuten Pay at millions of locations — integrates with your wider Rakuten ecosystem rewards
• Vポイント (Sumitomo Mitsui): Redeemable at convenience stores, restaurants, and Vポイント partner services — bonus campaigns available for Tokyo App exchange periods
• メルカリポイント (Mercari Points): Use on Japan’s largest C2C marketplace for purchases — useful for expats who shop on Mercari regularly
• PayPay Points and WAON POINT: Currently being prepared — exchange expected to launch soon. Monitor the Tokyo App for announcements.
• Tokyo Metropolitan facility tickets: Exchange Tokyo App points for admission to Tokyo Metropolitan museums, parks, and cultural facilities

All exchanges are at a 1:1 rate (1 Tokyo Point = 1 point of the destination service), with a minimum exchange of 100 points per transaction.

Tokyo App 11,000 points: step-by-step guide for expats

Before starting, prepare the following items: your My Number Card (マイナンバーカード) with both 4-digit PINs ready — your User Authentication PIN (利用者証明用電子証明書) and your Card Information PIN (券面事項入力補助用). Both are 4-digit numbers you set when you received your card. If you forgot them, reset at your ward office before proceeding.

• Step 1 — Download the Tokyo App: Search for “東京都公式アプリ” on the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android). Download and install. Note: make sure your phone region is set to Japan to find the Tokyo App — see our guide to changing your phone region to Japan.
• Step 2 — Create your Tokyo App account: Open the app and tap “新規登録（初めての方）” (New Registration). Enter your email address, set a password, and confirm via the verification email sent to your inbox. Tap the confirmation link to activate your Tokyo App account.
• Step 3 — Complete My Number Card identity verification (本人確認): On the Tokyo App home screen, tap the “マイナンバーカードによる本人確認” (Identity Verification with My Number Card) button. Review the instructions and tap “手続きを進める” (Proceed). The Digital Authentication App (マイナポータル app) will launch automatically — download it if prompted. Enter your two 4-digit PINs and hold your My Number Card to your phone’s NFC reader when instructed. This is the most common point where Tokyo App users encounter difficulty — ensure NFC is enabled on your phone and hold the card flat and steady until the scan completes.
• Step 4 — Apply for the 11,000 points: After identity verification is complete, navigate to the Life Support Campaign section in the Tokyo App. Tap the application button (申込) and confirm your participation. This is separate from the verification step — both must be completed to receive your 11,000 Tokyo Points.
• Step 5 — Receive your points: Tokyo Points are credited to your Tokyo App account within a few days to approximately one week after your application is processed. You will receive a notification in the app when your 11,000 Tokyo Points arrive.
• Step 6 — Exchange your Tokyo Points: From the Tokyo App home screen, tap “ポイント交換” (Point Exchange). Choose your preferred destination service (au PAY, dポイント, Rakuten Pay, Vポイント, Mercari Points), enter the amount to exchange, and follow the linking instructions. You can exchange in multiple transactions — minimum 100 points each time.

Tokyo App: what else does it do beyond the 11,000 points campaign?

The 11,000 yen points campaign is the most urgent reason to download the Tokyo App right now — but it is not the only reason. The Tokyo App is being developed as the long-term central platform for Tokyo Metropolitan Government digital services. Current and planned features include QR code participation in city events and campaigns to earn additional Tokyo Points over time; personalised city service information delivered directly to your Tokyo App account; online administrative procedure submission — replacing physical trips to ward offices for many services; and emergency and disaster information specific to your Tokyo address. As a foreign resident registered in Tokyo, the Tokyo App represents an important link to the city’s administrative infrastructure — one that will become increasingly useful as the platform expands. Think of downloading the Tokyo App not just as claiming your ¥11,000 today, but as setting up your long-term connection to Tokyo’s digital government services for years ahead.

Tokyo App: tips for expats to avoid common problems

• Avoid peak access times: The Tokyo App servers get congested immediately after campaign launches, on holidays, and on weekday evenings between 20:00 and 23:00. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government publishes a Congestion Calendar (混雑カレンダー) on the Tokyo App website — check it before choosing when to complete your verification at tokyoapp.metro.tokyo.lg.jp
• Check your My Number Card PINs in advance: The most common cause of Tokyo App identity verification failure is forgotten or incorrect PINs. Verify both your 4-digit PINs at your ward office before starting. PIN resets require an in-person ward office visit and can take 1–2 weeks if the office is busy.
• iPhone users: set Safari as your default browser: A known Tokyo App issue on iOS causes the app to redirect to the App Store instead of completing the payment service linking flow. Fix: set your default browser to Safari in iPhone Settings before attempting any Tokyo App point exchange.
• NFC must be enabled: My Number Card scanning requires NFC. Ensure NFC is turned on in your phone settings before attempting the Tokyo App identity verification step.
• Scam warning from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government: Tokyo city staff will never visit your home, call you by phone, or request credit card numbers or personal information in connection with the Tokyo App. If you receive any such contact, it is a fraud attempt — report to the Tokyo App operations office.

Tokyo App FAQ for expats

• Can foreigners get the Tokyo App 11,000 points? Yes — explicitly confirmed. Foreign nationals registered as Tokyo residents aged 15+ who hold a My Number Card are fully eligible for the Tokyo App 11,000 Tokyo Points campaign. There is no nationality restriction.
• Do I need a Japanese bank account to receive the 11,000 points? No — the points are issued to your Tokyo App account, not to a bank account. You then exchange them within the app for au PAY, dポイント, Rakuten Pay, Vポイント, or Mercari Points without needing a Japanese bank account for the points themselves.
• What is the deadline for the Tokyo App 11,000 points? The campaign runs from February 2, 2026 to April 1, 2027 (Thursday). Apply before this deadline — there is approximately one year remaining as of mid-2026. Do not leave this too late.
• Is the Tokyo App available in English? Not yet — the Tokyo App is currently Japanese only. Use Google Translate’s camera mode or a Japanese translation app to navigate the interface. English and multilingual support is planned but no confirmed timeline exists.
• Do the 11,000 Tokyo App points expire? Yes — Tokyo Points are valid for 24 months from the date they are issued. Points not exchanged before expiry are forfeited. Points transferred to external services (au PAY, dポイント etc.) follow that service’s own expiry rules.
• I already did the Tokyo App test campaign in December 2025 — do I get the 11,000 points automatically? No — even if you participated in the December 2025 pilot and received 500 points, you must complete the full identity verification and application process again to receive the 11,000 Tokyo Points campaign award. It is not automatic.

Tokyo App — quick reference for expats

• What: 東京都公式アプリ (Tokyo Metropolitan Government Official App) — the city’s central digital platform
• Launched: February 2025
• Key campaign: 11,000 Tokyo Points (= ¥11,000) for downloading + My Number Card verification
• Campaign period: February 2, 2026 — April 1, 2027
• Who qualifies: All Tokyo residents 15+ with My Number Card — foreigners explicitly eligible, no nationality restriction
• My Number Card required: Both 4-digit PINs needed — verify or reset at your ward office first
• Points exchange options: au PAY, dポイント, Rakuten Pay, Vポイント, Mercari Points — all 1 point = ¥1
• Points validity: 24 months from issue date
• Language: Japanese only currently — Google Translate recommended for expat navigation
• Download: App Store (iOS 16+) and Google Play (Android 9+) — search “東京都公式アプリ”
• Official website: tokyoapp.metro.tokyo.lg.jp
• Campaign page: Life Support Campaign (生活応援事業)
• Scam warning: City staff never visits homes or requests card numbers — report suspicious contact immediately

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