Restaurant gift card?

Do Japanese restaurants sell gift cards/certificates in monetary amounts? We would like to get a gift for some friends and thought that a gift certificate to their favorite restaurant would be nice, but are unsure if they are common here. (We recently moved to Japan and are still figuring things out...) Thank you!

Maureen,

If you have a specific restaurant in mind, the best thing is to ask that restaurant. But I can't recall any gift certificate that is particular to restaurants. We do have the custom of sending gift certificates in Japan, but those usually allow you to shop at most department stores and major supermarkets. However, department stores do have nice restaurants in them. Also, if they're food-loving people, they can go to department basement floors to use these certificates on wines or quality ready-made food to go.