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 "Valentine's Delights". We're talking snacks bundled with the ancient customs of Valentine's, where gratitude and connection with friends, families, and loves ones are cherished. 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. Caramel Hojicha
2. Chocolate Karinto
3. Chocolat eSable
4. Strawberry Monaka
5. Strawberry Coated Peanuts
6. Strawberry Chocolate Crunch
7. Plum Furoshiki
8. Chocolate Yokan
9. Pudding Baumkuchen
10. Orange Chocolate Cookie
11. Chocolate Kuzumochi
12. Ume Shiso Senbei
13. Daruma Senbei
14. Tanba Kuromame Arare
15. Seto Salt Arare

Out of the snacks above, I most enjoyed the Strawberry Monaka which had a fun, white bean paste texture amidst a strawberry-infused wafer.

I was most surprised by the Chocolate Yokan. This snack had an amazing mix of chocolate-infused jelly and a fun jiggle in the wagashi decadence.

If snacks were judged on their aesthetic value, I would rank the Ume Shiso Senbei highest. It was positively pink and dotted with bits of sour plum, making each cracker look like little cherry blossoms, but edible!

TokyoTreat

Next I opened the TokyoTreat (starting at $32.50/mo USD for 12 months) box and this month's theme was "Sweet Valentine". We're talking snacks from the vibes of Tokyo meant to make your heart skip a beat. 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 Red and White
2. SUPER Red Bean Bread
3. Rassucho Chocolate Crunch
4. Soy Sauce Senbei
5. Koikeya Farm Salt & Seaweed Chips
6. PokéHearts Ramune Candy
7. White Chocolate Strawberry Latte
8. Sweet Strawberry Mochi
9. Crunky Choco Banana
10. Kenpi Sweet Potato Sticks
11. Wasabi & Seaweed Savory Snack
12. Tanuki's Best Spicy Ramen Noodles
13. Satsubun Peanuts
14. Sweet & Salty Mini Rice Crackers

Out of the snacks above, I most enjoyed the PokéHearts Ramune Candy. I'm already a sucker for Pokemon-branded candy and this Valentine's themed fits the box so perfectly well. I'm easy like that.

I was most surprised by the Wasabi & Seaweed Savory Snack. This snack was nothing I've had before. It's basically a stick-version of deep-fried wasabi but with a seaweedy finish. It was almost briny but still just a chewy snack. As such, 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: