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Japan Crate Subscription Box Review – September 2015

Lindsey Morse
ByLindsey MorseSep 29, 2015 | 15 comments

Japan Crate Subscription Box Review September 2015 - Box

Japan Crate
4.7 overall rating
224 Ratings | 204 Reviews

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

Japan Crate Subscription Box Review September 2015 - Inside

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

Japan Crate Subscription Box Review September 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 September 2015 - Booklet

Japan Crate contains a booklet that lists the items in the box.

Japan Crate Subscription Box Review September 2015 - ItemList

The booklet also provides instructions for the DIY kit and spotlights certain items in the box. It reads back to front and right to left like manga.

Japan Crate Subscription Box Review September 2015 - Sugoi

It also reveals the month’s “Sugoi Crate,” a large box full of giant Japanese candy and electronics that one lucky subscriber receives instead of their usual crate. Sugoi Crates are valued at over $500, and subscribers are automatically entered to win.

Japan Crate Subscription Box Review September 2015 - Squash

Glug Glug Want Chocolate

Glug Glug Want Chocolate? What a cute name! This candy is a form of taiyaki, a traditional snack that consists of waffle-like batter that’s stuffed with a flavored filling. The crunchy outer shell on this taiyaki is shaped like a fish and filled with airy chocolate.

Lemon Squash

According to the Japan Crate booklet, Lemon Squash is the name for Lemonade in Japan. The outer packaging contains a plastic squeeze bottle that’s filled with the drink. Personally, I wasn’t a huge fan. I like my lemonade strong and tart, and the Lemon Squash was a little watery for my liking. Still, I can see how the muted flavor would appeal to kids.

Japan Crate Subscription Box Review September 2015 - Pretz

Kawarinbo

If I’d discovered Kawarinbo as a child, I think it would have been my favorite candy. The large lollipop has two sides with different flavors (apple and grape), and inside the lollipop is a ramune-flavored disc. When you’re finished eating the lollipop, the stick unwraps to reveal a stick of gum. This is definitely a treat that keeps on giving!

Sweet Corn Pretz (1.09 oz.)

These buttery biscuit sticks are flavored with sweet corn and taste remarkably like the real thing! I really like them- so much that I’m considering buying more.

Japan Crate Subscription Box Review September 2015 - FullGurt

Calbee Potato Chips Seaweed & Salt (60 g.)

Japan Crate almost always impresses me with the savory snacks they include in their boxes, and these chips were no exception! I’m always a tiny bit hesitant when it comes to unfamiliar flavors (especially when the flavors are ocean-related), but I really liked the mild seaweed flavor on these chips.

Full Gurt

This bag of Full Gurt contains individually wrapped candies in two flavors: blueberry yogurt and mango yogurt. They look like hard candies, but they’re crunchy and break down really easily when you chew them. The texture is unlike any candy I’ve had before, and I really like both of the flavors.

Japan Crate Subscription Box Review September 2015 - Konpeito

Konpeito

Konpeito is a classic Japanese candy that’s been around since the 16th century. The crunchy, sugary balls remind me a little bit of rock candy. Despite the variety of colors, all of the pellets are made from unflavored sugar syrup.

Nata de Coco Grape Gummy

Typically, I love the gummies that Japan Crate sends, but, sadly, I’m not a fan of these soft candies. They’re made with coconut water and have a mild grape flavor. I like the sound of them and was excited to give them a try, but something about the combination of flavors just doesn’t work for me.

Japan Crate Subscription Box Review September 2015 - Ramune

Lychee Ramune

I really like that Japan Crate includes a drink in every premium crate. I think it’s so much fun to try a different Japanese beverage every month. (Two, this month!) Lychee Ramune is refreshing and fruity with a slightly perfumed flavor. It’s delicious!

Japan Crate Subscription Box Review September 2015 - Gudetama

Gudetama Gashapon (BONUS)

Gudetama Gashapon is Japanese character developed by Sanrio, the same company behind Hello Kitty. He’s a lazy egg, and I love the way he’s depicted on this key ring.

Japan Crate Subscription Box Review September 2015 - DIY

Moko Moko Toilet 3 DIY- $5.60

Japan Crate includes a DIY kit in every premium crate, and I always have a blast putting them together. This month’s DIY kit includes all of the pieces you need to construct a small toilet-candy dispenser. (Now, I’ve seen everything!)

Japan Crate Subscription Box Review September 2015 - DIY2

With help from the instructions provided in the Japan Crate booklet, I began by putting my toilet together and decorating it with the provided stickers. Each kit contains a toilet from 1 of 4 countries, France, the US, Japan, or China. My kit contained a French toilet- ooh la la!

Japan Crate Subscription Box Review September 2015 - DIY3

When the toilet was assembled, I poured powdered candy into the back of the toilet, shook it, and added water. It foamed up and started to overflow.

Japan Crate Subscription Box Review September 2015 - DIY4

I’m not quite sure what to say about this DIY kit. I mean, it’s a toilet. That you eat out of... Despite my mix of fascination and revulsion, though, I can absolutely see how kids (young boys, in particular) could become obsessed with this. I think my brother, when he was younger, would have thought this was really cool.

Verdict: I really like Japan Crate! I really enjoy trying different kinds of Japanese snacks and always have a great time constructing the DIY kits. It’s always tricky to do a price breakdown for this box, but the value is definitely there for me. I’m always impressed by how many treats Japan Crate is able to pack into their premium crates! If you’re looking for a box full of fun and unusual Japanese candy, I can definitely recommend Japan Crate!

What do you think about this month’s Japan Crate?

Starting at $39.99
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Japan Crate is a monthly candy and snack subscription box! The company’s HQ is based in Tokyo, where they handpick unique candy, snacks, drinks, DIY kits, and more. Each box contains between 5-20 full-size candies and snacks that are difficult or impossible to find outside of Japan for as low as ... read more.

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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15 comments

Dom

Japan Crate is probably one of my favorite boxes. Although I have access to a great local Asian Supermarket, but even so there are some things that they don’t seem to stock often.

My favorites from this month are the Calbee chips (which I fortunately found locally and bought more!) and the Pretz Sweet Corn (which tasted very accurate). I keep the toylet (Get it? Toy-let…I’ll leave now…) on my desk to hold paper clips.

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misty

My husband and I were just talking about Japanese toilets the other day. They are very elaborate with many buttons and various devices and LED screens. The Wikipedia article on them is very enlightening!

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Melissa

That foaming toilet is hysterical! I read an article recently about a Japanese children’s museum devoted to excrement? It included a giant toilet that children would slide into while wearing stuffed turds on their heads LOLLL

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Vanessa

I also love all of the corn flavored goodies from Japan! I’ve been able to find gummies and ice cream, both in corn on the cob shapes. So weird, but so good! (And the young boys comment was completely unnecessary.)
Both of my young girls would love the toilet candy. I keep hoping to find it at our local Japanese market, but alas, not yet…..

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Vanessa

That’s weird, it reposted my corn comment here! What I meant to say was, Have you seen the children’s books from Japan titled, “Everyone Poops” and “The Gas We Pass?” Hysterical! These are two of my girl’s favorite books!

Flubs

I love Japan because lots of places there love corn as much as I do lol! I keep forgetting about Japan Crate exists so it’s a good thing I took the time to read this review (despite the unnecessary reinforcement of the gender binary lol).

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chris

My kids would love that toilet candy! For some reason, any bathroom-related jokes are especially hilarious to kids around kindergarten age.

Great review, Lindsey! Your pictures are awesome.

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Heathery

*tries to pretend like she’s not interested in the toilet candy*
*fails miserably*

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Jen

“I mean, it’s a toilet.” LMAO!!!!!

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venefica

Lindsey, has anyone told you lately how awesome your reviews are? if not, here’s another one for you.
YOU ROCK!!

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Lindsey

Thanks so much, Venefica!! 🙂

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Rain

I JUST placed an order on their website last night and now I’m sad I didn’t find out about the DIY toilet in time to order it. What can I say, I’m a 12 year old boy at heart…

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Dean

FYI Lindsey – “lemon squash” is the British term for lemonade. You also see it in many British-influenced cultures.

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Lindsey

Thanks for the info, Dean! 🙂

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Ragan

I saw the cartoon toilet on the booklet and wondered how it was related to the box. Now I’m not sure what to think. Although this probably would’ve been a hit with my brothers, too, about 25 years ago.

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