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Japan Crate Subscription Box Review – May 2015

Lindsey Morse
ByLindsey MorseMay 30, 2015 | 9 comments

Japan Crate Subscription Box Review – May 2015 - Box

Japan Crate is a monthly subscription that sends full-sized, Japanese candy and DIY food kits straight from Tokyo.

Japan Crate Subscription Box Review – May 2015 - Inside

Japan Crate sent us this box for review purposes. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)

Japan Crate Subscription Box Review – May 2015 - Contents

The Subscription Box: Japan Crate

The Cost: $12 per month for the mini crate (4-6 candies); $25 per month for the original crate (8-12 candies and DIY Kits); $30 per month for the premium crate (10-14 candies and DIY Kits).

The Products: Full-sized Japanese candy and DIY food kits.

Ships to: Worldwide. (US shipping is free. Shipping elsewhere is $10.)

Japan Crate Subscription Box Review – May 2015 - Card 2

Japan Crate includes a card detailing the items in the box. (Note that this is a review of the premium crate.)

Japan Crate Subscription Box Review – May 2015 - Card 1

On the reverse, there’s a really neat cartoon.

Japan Crate Subscription Box Review – May 2015 - Drink

Sangaria Hajikete Cider (11.66 oz)- $1.48 (currently out of stock)

This cider is described as “fruity, crisp, refreshing and delicious.” It’s sweet and tasty. I really like that Japan Crate sends beverages with every Premium Crate. I think it’s so much fun to try drinks from abroad.

Japan Crate Subscription Box Review – May 2015 - Cheetos

Umashi Oasi Cheetos

These Japanese Cheetos aren’t cheesy like the ones we get in the US. Instead, they have a mellow, salty, and sweet corn flavor. They’re incredible. So good, in fact, that I had to ask my husband to take them away from me before I devoured the entire bag.

Japan Crate Subscription Box Review – May 2015 - Grapes

Ginbisu Chocolate Bar Z (.77 oz)

Beware the Sour Grapes (.43 oz)

I’m not sure how to describe the Ginbisu Chocolate Bar, so I’m going to directly quote the Japan Crate card. They explain the candy as “a light wafer stick that has been soaked in rich, chocolately goodness. A unique texture between smooth & chocolatey and crunchy. It’s a whole new experience!” I have to agree with them there!

Beware the Sour Grapes is a treat that contains three pieces of gum. Two are sweet and one is very sour, so you have to be careful when eating them. What fun!

Japan Crate Subscription Box Review – May 2015 - Gum

Yaokin Maple Hot Cakes (.88 oz)

Gyogyogyogamu Gum (.56 oz)

I love maple treats, so the Yaokin Maple Hot Cakes were one of the first treats I tried. They consist of a maple caramel sandwiched between two mini pancakes. I’ve never had a treat like this before, but I’m a fan!

Gyogyogyogamu Gum allows you to create your own flavors by mixing the four basic flavors (green apple, yogurt, peach, and grape) in the pack.

Japan Crate Subscription Box Review – May 2015 - Keychain

Chocolate in Disguise (.56 oz)

Bun Keychain- BONUS ITEM

Subscribers to the premium crate receive a bonus item every month. This month’s bonus item is a scented bun keychain. This is such an odd item! I’m not really sure what to make of it, but I can confirm that it does indeed smell a bit like bread.

This little wrestler dispenses differently colored candies and also tells your fortune. Your fortune depends on the color of the candy you receive. Of course, they’re in Japanese. Happily, JapanCrate translated the fortunes on their site. I got a yellow candy, so my fortune is: “You will be the champion.” Huzzah!

Japan Crate Subscription Box Review – May 2015 - Frog

Strawberry Chocolate (.67 oz)

Waku Waku Zukan Gummies (1.76 oz)

This strawberry chocolate is another treat with a fortune! The color of the spoon holding the chocolate determines your fortune. My chocolate was on a pink spoon, so my fortune is: “You will have a good conversation with your crush.” Ha!

I’m a little obsessed with the Waku Waku Zukan Gummies. The gummies help depict the lifecycle of a frog with egg, tadpole, and frog shapes. I love that these are educational. Luckily, they’re tasty, too. Flavors include apple and Muscat.

Japan Crate Subscription Box Review – May 2015 - DIY 1

Kabaya Tukettemiyo Ju-C DIY Kit (1.05 oz)

Every month, I look forward to assembling the DIY candy kits that Japan Crate sends, but I had a hard time with them this month. This kit provides the supplies to make round candies in an animal shape. Since the instructions are in Japanese, I rely on the small illustrations to figure out how to make the candy. Unfortunately, these instructions didn’t make sense to me, so I wasn’t able to complete the project.

Japan Crate Subscription Box Review – May 2015 - DIY 2

Corocoro Animal DIY (.7 oz)

With this DIY kit, I made it about halfway through the project before I threw in the towel. Using different jellies, you’re meant to construct 3D animal faces. I found the texture of the jellies really hard to work with, and it was pretty clear that my animal heads were going to look more like amorphous blobs than the panda, pig, and lion shapes the DIY kit recommended making. Oh, well. I was still able to nibble on the goo, and it was pretty tasty. Even though this kit wasn’t successful, I had fun giving it a try.

Verdict: I think Japan Crate is so much fun! It’s hard to determine a value for this box because I couldn’t find the majority of the items for sale online, but I think the price is fair. I didn’t have very good luck with the DIY snacks this month, but I haven’t had a problem with them in the past, so I think these were just a little more difficult than usual (or my DIY skills were just having an off day). Japan Crate always puts a smile on my face, and I love discovering new Japanese candy every month!

What do you think about Japan Crate?

Lindsey Morse
Lindsey Morse

Lindsey is a professional baker, cold brew coffee addict, and rosé aficionado who loves writing about food and wine. When she’s not sharing her love of subscription boxes with the world, you’ll find her in the podcasting studio, perfecting her cake decorating techniques, or cursing her way through the New York Times daily crossword puzzle. 


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9 comments

Vanessa

They also have a youtube channel showing how to make the kits they send. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIKixnCmFRa9ZwRiXarW6xw My girls love watching the kit making tutorials on youtube!

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Rebecca

Anyone know if Japan crate has any discount codes? My 13yo wants this fio his birthday. Thanks!

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Kristine

My son was really into those squishy toys last year after seeing them all over YouTube. They have a bunch of different pastries and different characters like Japanese cartoons and Disney. He also loves those diy candy kits. I can only read some of the Japanese, so I just search for them on YouTube, and there’s usually a few tutorials to choose from.

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Lura

I think maybe the comic was trying to tell you to go to their blog or youtube channel for better instructions on the DIY candies?

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Lindsey

You’re right, Lura! Luckily, I still have the supplies for one of the DIY kits. I’ll check it the Japan Crate blog for instructions. Thanks so much for pointing that out! 🙂

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Rose

They sent out how to do the kits via email as well too. Love Japan Crate such a fun crate every month!

Lindsay

The videos weren’t released until a week or so (maybe longer even) after I received my crate, which was slightly frustrating, but it did keep me from eating my entire crate in one sitting.

Joycelyn

Squishy bun charms (and bun versions of characters) are very common in Japanese and Asian culture in general. They’re squishy and fun to hang on a backpack, purse or phone!

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Lindsey

Interesting! Thanks for sharing! 🙂

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