先日はお心遣いいただきありがとうございました。こちら、ほんのお礼のしるしです。 — Thank you for your thoughtful gesture the other day. This is just a small token of my appreciation. (Cultural · Gift, Formal to Acquaintance, JLPT N3)

Gesture & etiquette

Present the gift with both hands and a slight bow. The recipient will likely say they don't deserve it — accept this modesty graciously and do not insist they open it in front of you.

「お返し」(okaeshi) is the custom of returning a gift of roughly half the original value, typically within one to two weeks. 「ほんの」downplays the gift's value to avoid appearing boastful — this modesty is culturally expected even when the gift is substantial.