Perhaps you have noticed the abundance of rubber stamps lurking in random places all across Japan. From the shadowy corners of famous train stations to the celebrated entryways of national monuments, there is usually a special, rubberized carving provided for the commemoration of almost every excursion.

They tend to appear in the most unexpected places: behind forgotten benches at Narita airport, tucked underneath the “Coming Attractions” posters at dingy movie theaters, scattered across stone slabs at natural parks, collecting dust in the local library…

Upon discovering any new stamp, I feel an irresistible urge to press it into its accompanying ink pad and make a memorable mark on the nearest scrap of available paper. Childish though my compulsion may be, it has turned out to be a rather lucky habit. Stamps have helped me score far more than mere souvenirs on several occasions. I give you, the Japanese Stamp Rally. Simply put, a stamp rally is a scavenger hunt for stamps.

Few clues or maps are provided to help you, although pinpointing their whereabouts is hardly a challenge. Stamp rallies might be held anywhere, at any time, but are likely to be found in places of commerce around holidays and other festive times. Usually, a customer service representative will approach you as you enter the building in order to encourage participation. Sometimes, you might not realize what is going on until you notice stamps popping up in surprising places.

First, get your hands on one of the blank brochures provided by the rally sponsor. Then, as you tour the facilities and browse the goods on each floor, keep an eye out for different stamps. When your brochure is filled up, the quest is complete.

So…why bother? While this whimsical search might possess an innate value for the sentimental and easily amused, others may regard it as an utter waste of time, sure to result in unnecessarily clogged aisles and escalators. These critics will further assert that, by participating in such an endeavor, you are willfully playing the role of the pawn in a childishly contrived marketing tactic masquerading as innocent fun.

The stamp rally is guilty on every charge, except for one. In the end, it might actually prove to be well worth your time. Your patience and capitalistic complicity could lead to some interesting rewards.

Upon completion of the rally sheet you are immediately eligible for a little in-house raffle. Show your stamps to an employee and you will be asked to reach into a special box crammed with tickets or tokens. Each trinket is equivalent to a certain type of prize. Depending on your luck, you can either walk away with a piece of insignificant junk or something for which you might have actually paid money.

Among the eclectic array of items I have accumulated over time: a poinsettia, lavender seeds, a body pillow formed to look like Hello Kitty in a frog suit, and tickets to the Sony Explora Science Center. More importantly, my friends and I have had some really good times running around in public like little kids. Sometimes stamp rallies help you notice things (pop-up art exhibits, especially adorable babies, cool design, innovative new gadgets, free screenings of short films, cute employees and strange fellow shoppers) you might have totally ignored under normal circumstances.

Shopping, and adult life in general, can be such a stressful blur. A lot of us tend to rush around from one place to the next without fully absorbing or enjoying the present moment. When you take the time to look for something in particular, different aspects of your environment are often illuminated in unexpected ways.

Next time you stumble upon a stamp rally, consider going ahead and joining in the fun. You may get a lot more out of it than you think!