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 "Holidays in Hokkaido". We're talking snacks bundled with the winter vibes of the Hokkaido prefecture, where the first snowflakes in Japan fall. 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. Hokkaido Genmaicha
2. Hokkaido Milk Manju
3. Hokkaido Milk Danish
4. White Chocolate Raspberry Puff
5. Honey Apple Mochi
6. Hokkaido Melon Cookie
7. Hokkaido Strawberry Chocolate Cookie
8. Mt. Fuji Senbei
9. Butter Senbei
10. Shonzui Flower Dish
11. Hokkaido Butter Cookie
12. Salted Edamame Arare
13. Roasted Soybean Senbei
14. Fried Corn Snack
15. Chocolate Kaki no Tane

Out of the snacks above, I most enjoyed the Hokkaido Milk Manju which had a strong white bean flavour amidst a soft, brownie-like texture.

I was most surprised by the Fried Corn Snack. I have had tons of corn chips and inca corn from the grocery stores in Vancouver but this treat had a ton of crunch without overloading on the sodium which I really enjoyed.

If snacks were judged on their aesthetic value, I would rank the Mt. Fuji Senbei highest. Its simplicity combined with an artfully accurate dusting of frosting for the top of Mt. Fuji was really cute to look at and even more fun to eat.

TokyoTreat

Next I opened the TokyoTreat (starting at $32.50/mo USD for 12 months) box and this month's theme was "Very Merry Snackmas". We're talking snacks from the vibes of Tokyo with holly jolly themes. 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 Snowy Chocolate Crepe
2. Merry Mentaiko Mayo Chips
3. Fudgey Festive Choco Pie
4. Mistletoe Mochi Donut Gummies
5. Winter Wonder Waffle Chips
6. Warming Tom Yum Pretzel Sticks
7. Ghana Holiday Truffles
8. Cozy Caramel Corn Puffs & Nuts
9. Festiva Foamy Fizz
10. Silent Night Sesame Crackers
11. Jolly Cola Chew
12. Yuletide Yakisoba
13. Seaweed & Sauce Christmas Crunch
14. Sleigh-bell Salted Cheese Cookie Sandwich

Out of the snacks above, I most enjoyed the Mistletoe Mochi Donut Gummies. These were shaped just like the real mochi ring donuts I had on my last trip to Japan and the chewy strawberry center was not as sweet as I was afraid of.

I was most surprised by the Warming Tom Yum Pretzel Sticks. This snack was nothing I've had before. It's basically a stick-version of Thai tom yum soup that actually leaves a numbing sensation in your mouth. I thoroughly enjoyed this snack's lasting experience.

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: