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 "Mt. Fuji Summertime". We're talking snacks inspired by the precipice of Japan, from centuries-old tea cultivation to ancient shrines. 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. Matcha Genmaicha
2. Muscat Konjac Jelly
3. Mt. Fuji Biscuit
4. Mt. Fuji Jelly
5. Mt. Fuji Chocolate Crunch
6. Mt. Fuji Kohakuto
7. Mt. Fuji Dish
8. Matcha Friand
9. Chocolate & Plain Crown Melon Wafers
10. Shizuoka Green Tea Cookie
11. Amaou Strawberry Dorayaki
12. Ako Salt Agemochi
13. Nori Wasabi Arare
14. Sakura Shrimp Kakimochi

Out of the snacks above, I most enjoyed the Matcha Friand which had ton of moisture in its little matcha package and I felt pretty fancy reading the classic typeface on the label. I could eat like 5 of these.

I was most surprised by the Ako Salt Agemochi. These were chips in the traditional sense but enhanced with agemochi, meaning they had a fun, almost rice pudding-like aftertaste that had me hunting for more.

If snacks were judged on their aesthetic value, I would rank the Mt. Fuji Jelly highest. These were a pleasant surprise to look at and much to regard despite its simplicity. Basically, a shape of a trapezoid represents Mt Fuji and you can even see a nice gradient of colour down the side of this treat.

TokyoTreat

Next I opened the TokyoTreat (starting at $32.50/mo USD for 12 months) box and this month's theme was "Harajuji Snackventure". We're talking snacks from the vibes of Tokyo's trendiest neighbourhood – Harajuku. 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 Cookies & Cream
2. Fruity Fizz Gummies
3. Grape Rainbow Belts
4. Salted Lemon Pretzel Sticks
5. Kirby's Crazy Gum Mix
6. Happy Harajuku Choco Cake
7. Garlic Potato Chips
8. Mega Marshmallow Stick
9. Crunchy Cheese Puffs
10. Simple Sweet DIY Ice Cream
11. Super Sour Chewing Candy
12. Seafood and Vegetable Dashi Ramen
13. Fabulous Fried Rice Crackers
14. Twisty Corn Bites

Out of the snacks above, I most enjoyed the Grape Rainbow Belts. These reminded me of the sweet and sour candy belts which you can get at Sweet Factory in Canada but way higher quality sugar that leaves less of a residue on one's teeth.

I was most surprised by the Salted Lemon Pretzel Sticks. I never really imagined salt and lemon going together but these pretz really made the combination stick and made me wonder why we don't see this combination of flavours more in Canadian snacks.

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: