A new month means new boxes from Sakuraco and TokyoTreats for imported snacks from Japan. While both boxes are filled with Japanese snacks, the branding and snack contents are made for slightly different audiences. Both boxes are the same price points for all subscription levels and guarantee the delivery of authentic Japanese for your friends and loved ones. Join me in my discovery of both boxes this to celebrate the traditional and snacktastic seasons.

Sakuraco

Sakuraco (starting at $32.50 USD/mo for 12 months) specializes in a refined snack experience. This month's theme was "Moonlit Sakura". We're talking snacks bundled with the traditional vibes of cultural celebrations of yozakura – the tradition of enjoying nighttime, in Japan. This box would be ideal for somebody who loves savoury snacks or enjoys a Japanese tea with their Japanese snacks. In my box, I received the following:

1. Sakura Hibiscus Tea
2. Sakura Dorayaki
3. Sakura Chocolate Cookie
4. Sakura Madeleine
5. Sakura Wagashi Plate
6. Sakura Cream Cookie
7. Sakura Wagashi
8. Sakura Mochi
9. White Peach Jelly
10. Kinako Mochi Senbei
11. Sakura Shrimp Senbei
12. Sakura Boro Cookies
13. Shrimp Mentaiko Arare

Out of the snacks above, I most enjoyed the Chocolate Cookie which had a chewy and soft texture with a sweet glaze on top, much like a donut.

I was most surprised by the Shrimp Senbei. This snack was the classic shrimp chip that most Westerners know but with a twist of a floral finish from the infused sakura flavouring.

If snacks were judged on their aesthetic value, I would rank the Sakura Dorayaki highest. These had a fun aesthetic to them and weren't too sweet and it admired the sakura branding emblazoned onto each piece.

TokyoTreat

Next I opened the TokyoTreat (starting at $32.50/mo USD for 12 months) box and this month's theme was "Sakura Bites Snackfest". We're talking snacks from the vibes of Tokyo amidst the pink glowy wonderland of cherry blossom season. This box would be ideal for somebody who loves festive snacks, sweet surprises, or wild variations of their favourite KitKat sticks. In my box, I received the following:

1. KitKat Matcha Latte
2. Goodnight Grape Gummies
3. Strawberry Jelly Marshmallow
4. Umaibo Mentaiko
5. Sakura Castella Cake
6. Sakura Sandwich Cookies
7. Sakura Matcha Wafers
8. Sweet and Sour Gummies
9. Springtime Senbei
10. Sakura Jelly
11. Perfect Ponzu Soup
12. Twilight Truffle Chips
13. Strawberry Rice Puffs

Out of the snacks above, I most enjoyed the Sakura Matcha Wafers. These reminded me of the popular drink "strawberry matcha latte" that took over stores last summer so it's kind of cool to see it manifested in a snack form in a timeless design and just the right amount of sweetness.

I was most surprised by the Sakura Donut. Who knew corn and cod row could go well together? Leave it to the Japanese to put together complementary flavours with lots of umami.

Subscription Options:

Both TokyoTreat and Sakuraco boxes can be had for as low as $32.50/month, but if you're not ready for that kind of commitment, 6, 3, and 1-month options are also available. For gifts, I like to give the 3-month subscription because you get to see how the snacks rotate through the seasons and your recipient gets to reminded of your great gift-giving skills 3 different times.

Compared to other subscription boxes I've tried, both TokyoTreat and Sakuraco go an extra mile by providing a little booklet describing the goods inside and share holiday or seasonal travel guides based on the theme of the month. There might be 2-4 fewer overall snacks inside but I also appreciate the price point being lower than competitors. It's a fair tradeoff and I think you get 95% of the joy.

Final Thoughts:

One-liner: Sakuraco and TokyoTreat offer different vibes of subscription boxes filled with a variety of treats and Japanese lore for you to eat your way through every Japanese season
Highlight: Sakuraco snacks
Price per box: Starting from $32.50 USD a month for 12 months

To order your own Sakuraco or TokyoTreat box, head on over to the links below: