Bunkyo-ku merchants have banded together to create a point card system. Pink banners with cartoon figures of bees declare “I (heart) Bunkyoker” let you know which shops give points.
Last night, I filled up my first card. As a reward for spending 35,000 yen at the ward’s independent stores, I get 500 yen off an upcoming purchase. It’s not much of a prize really, but it’s nice to get to know the local shopkeepers.
It took me 20 weeks to fill the card; that means I should see my next one filled in early October.
