Gifts? (!)

My friends and I went to the same ramen restaurant today because we were with some new people who were interested in trying it. (Also, it was pretty cheap). This time, however, we got a free appetizer with our meal. I was talking with Row, and she said it was probably because 3 of us had eaten there before, and had come back with more people. It was the restaurant's thank you "gift".

Right after that, we wandered down the street a bit to a shop that sold sweets. Three of us bought something there, and we then received a free soft serve ice cream much to our surprise. It was because it was the shop's one year anniversary, so they were giving out free ice cream for this day only.

One of my friends said it was interesting because she had bought something since she had walked in, and then she received something because she had bought something. It is a custom in Japanese culture to give gifts in return for gifts, and this process can go back and forth many times.

Tonight we'll be going to ride the gondola to the top of the mountain here in Hakodate. Hopefully I'll get some good pictures, maybe some with me in them!