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Japan Crate Subscription Box Review + Coupon– January 2017

Nancy Su
ByNancy SuFeb 20, 2017 | 4 comments

Japan-Crate-January-2017-Box

Japan Crate
4.7 overall rating
224 Ratings | 204 Reviews

Japan Crate is a monthly subscription box that sends candy and snacks from Japan. The box aims to "recreate the excitement of exploring Japan through fun candy and everything kawaii," and the assortment is handpicked straight from Japan.

Japan-Crate-January-2017-Box-Interior

There are 3 crate sizes to choose from: Mini ($12/month and currently on waitlist), Original ($25/month), and Premium ($30/month).

This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post  to learn more about how we review boxes.)

This review is of the Premium, $30 a month, crate. 

Japan-Crate-January-2017-Review

The Subscription Box: Japan Crate

The Cost: $12 a month for the Mini crate, $25 a month for the Original crate, $30 a month for the Premium crate. Free shipping to the US. Save with 3, 6, and 12-month subscriptions

The Products: Candy and snacks from Japan!

Ships to: Internationally with exceptions found here.

Check out all of our Japan Crate reviews and the Food Subscription Box Directory!

Keep Track of all Your Subscriptions: Add Japan Crate to your subscription list or wishlist!

Japan-Crate-January-2017-Booklet

Japan-Crate-January-2017-Booklet-Products

Each box comes with a "manga-zine" that details the included snacks along with information on Japanese food and culture. January's theme is Indulgence!

Japan-Crate-January-2017-Kajiriccho-Grape-Candy

Japan-Crate-January-2017-Kajiriccho-Grape-Candy-Closeup

Kajiriccho Grape & Soda Soft Candy

This is a chewy taffy candy. It has a grape-flavored exterior and a soda-flavored core. I don't really taste the soda flavor but the grape flavor is similar to Laffy Taffy..

Japan-Crate-January-2017-Lollipop

Japan-Crate-January-2017-Lollipop-Closeup

Double Ice Cream Lollipop: Chocolate & Vanilla

This is a chocolate and vanilla ice cream flavored lollipop. The actual candy looks different from what's advertised on the packaging, but the flavor is delicious. I got a perfect balance of chocolate and vanilla from the two "scoops."

Japan-Crate-January-2017-Fruit-Gummy

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Fruit Donuts

This packet contains one fruit-flavored gummy ring. One single gummy! I'm a little bummed that there weren't any more because it tastes delicious. It is coated in sugar crystals and has a stiff, chewy texture. I can see myself eating a whole bag of these!

Japan-Crate-January-2017-Umai-Ring

Japan-Crate-January-2017-Umai-Ring-Closeup

Umai Ring Mentai Flavor

These are puffed corn rings. They can come in a variety of flavors, but this one is mentai-- marinated roe from pollock and cod! At first I felt uncertain about eating what is essentially caviar-flavored corn puffs, but they taste really good! It has a big, bold umami flavor that's very savory and a little sweet. I enjoyed snacking on this a lot more than I thought.

Japan-Crate-January-2017-Umaibou-Chocolate

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Umaibou Chocolate

Umaibou means "delicious stick." This is a puffy corn snack dipped in chocolate. The puffy interior is very airy and dissolves in your mouth. I just think of it as a vehicle for delivering the sweet, creamy milk chocolate shell!

Japan-Crate-January-2017-Chocolate-Chip-Cookies

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Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies

Everyone loves chocolate chip cookies and it is no different in Japan. These mini chocolate chip cookies taste like Chips Ahoy cookies! They have the same crunch and crispness, and even the sweetness of the chocolate chips are similar. I am simultaneously excited and a little disappointed that this snack tastes like something I can get in the States.

Japan-Crate-January-2017-Suppai-Lemon-Gum

Japan-Crate-January-2017-Suppai-Lemon-Gum-Pieces

Suppai Lemon Gum

Suppai means "sour," and these gum pieces are indeed sour lemon flavored!

Japan-Crate-January-2017-Suppai-Lemon-Gum-Packaging

This lemon face should give you an idea of what they taste like.

Japan-Crate-January-2017-Suppai-Lemon-Gum-Closeup

Each piece comes individually wrapped. You can split it in two or eat the thing whole. If you can't handle really sour things I suggest splitting the gum in half. The flavor is not long lasting and disappears after several minutes. That said, I would be hard pressed to enjoy the gum for longer than a couple of minutes anyway.

Japan-Crate-January-2017-Matcha-Cookies

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Matcha Sandwich Cookies

These are crunchy, buttery vanilla cookies with a matcha cream filling. The cookies taste very similar to those vanilla sandwich cookies you can find at any grocery store. In that sense, the cookies are rather generic. However, the matcha cream filling is what makes this snack unique. The filling has the perfect amount of sweetness and creaminess, and a matcha lover like me can definitely appreciate the subtler flavors inside.

Japan-Crate-January-2017-Matcha-Cokokies-on-Plate

Japan Crate suggests eating these with tea or coffee and I definitely agree with them! I paired my cookies with a steaming cup of green tea, and the combination was splendid.

Japan-Crate-January-2017-Chocola-Gummy

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Chocola Gummy

These are cola-flavored gum drops enveloped by smooth chocolate coating. Think chocolate-covered gummy bears except the gummy bears taste like Coca Cola. It's definitely a unique snack. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked these.

Japan-Crate-January-2017-Magic-Slime-DIY

Japan-Crate-January-2017-Magic-Slime-DIY-Contents

Magic Slime DIY Kit

This is the monthly DIY Kit. English instructions are in the manga-zine. This one is very easy to make-- you simply mix the included powders in a specific order with water.

Japan-Crate-January-2017-Magic-Slime-DIY-Final-Product

Japan-Crate-January-2017-Magic-Slime-DIY-Product-Closeup

The final product, a sticky blue slime, is the stuff of horror movies. Pardon my choice of language, but it tastes like tangy, fizzy boogers. The DIY process was great! The flavor? Not so much.

Japan-Crate-January-2017-ABC-Cookies

Japan-Crate-January-2017-ABC-Cookies-Closeup

ABC Message Cookies

These are mini butter cookies shaped like different alphabets. They have a tender crunch, and the buttery sweetness is not too rich but just enough. I can see this as the perfect snack for a lunchbox or even as an afternoon pick-me-up.

Japan-Crate-January-2017-Chocolate-Pie

Japan-Crate-January-2017-Chocolate-Pie-Closeup

One Stick Chocolate Pie

The flaky crust and the shape of this snack reminds me of the apple pies offered at McDonald's. This is a chocolate pie complete with sweet, creamy chocolate filling and a lattice-like design across the top. If you've ever wondered what a chocolate pie would taste like in cookie form, this is it!

Japan-Crate-January-2017-Strawberry-Gum

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Meigum Gaburichu: Strawberry Yogurt Flavor

This is strawberry yogurt flavored gum in stick form. It's too bad that this isn't a soft candy instead because I would enjoy it much more in a dissolvable form. Like most Japanese gum I have tried, the flavor lasts a couple of minutes at the most. Nonetheless, it earns top marks in taste from me.

Japan-Crate-January-2017-Animal-Gummy

Japan-Crate-January-2017-Animal-Gummy-Closeup

Animal Land Gummy

These are grape-flavored gummies that are shaped like animals. While it's not the softest or juiciest gummy, the chewy texture is very satisfying. I love the grape flavor as well. I can definitely see myself eating a whole bag of this.

Japan-Crate-January-2017-Beverage

Bodyguard Plus

This is an energy drink that tastes very similar to Red Bull. Full disclosure-- I'm not a fan of energy drinks, so this influences my opinions on the taste. That said, this beverage has a more bitter and acidic aftertaste than Red Bull, so I'm really not a fan of this one!

Japan-Crate-January-2017-Bonus-Candy

Sherbert Pero Cola

Everyone received a bonus mystery candy because of Japan Crate's holiday delays last month. I received this candy way back in the April 2016 box. It contains a cola-flavored lollipop with sweet and sour fizzy powder at the bottom of the package. You can lick the lollipop and dip it into the powder for extra flavor. I am not a fan of the powder but the lollipop itself is nice.

Verdict: Snack boxes can be hit or miss but I always feel positively about Japan Crate overall. There are 16 snacks total for a cost breakdown of about $1.88 per snack. This is a personal matter, but I would rather see less or no gum in each box. Other than that, I'm very happy with the snack selection. There are always interesting snacks that I have never tried before, like the Umai Rings and One Stick Chocolate Pie! The manga-zine also provides fun insight into Japanese cultures that anybody can appreciate.

What do you think of Japan Crate?

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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.

Nancy Su
Nancy Su
Nancy began her subscription box adventure in 2014 and never looked back. She loves Asian beauty and is constantly in search of skincare holy grails. She hoards lipsticks. Her favorites are beauty, lifestyle, and jewelry subscriptions.

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4 comments

Zara

My sister gets this box and because she loves me, she gives me her DIY kits. I thought the “boogers” tasted just like Ramune! I also got to sample that lemon gum and seriously wished I could find it here because I think sour (especially lemon flavoured) is the business!

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Zo

I received this box and it was my least favorite month overall. My favorite item was the lemon gum. I prefer super sour candy to chocolate any day and that gum is very sour (in a good way). That said the chocolate umaibo was really good. I liked the matcha cookies as well but I’m a fan of anything matcha.
This is my last box of Japan Crate for a while. I subscribe to another similar box which has more items for less $$. Curation is not great in the cheaper box but for me that’s fine.

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michelle

Yes, I’d love to know as well. I think this box looks pretty awesome.

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Heather P

Which one is the other box?

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