Doki Doki is a subscription box from Japan Crate for all things kawaii! Items range from plushies, collectible, household goods, apparel, miniatures and more.
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.)
The Subscription Box: Doki Doki by Japan Crate
The Cost: $30 per month + free shipping. Save with 3, 6, and 12-month prepaid subscriptions.
ACTIVE DEAL: Save $3 off your first box
CODE: MSADD3
The Products: 5-7 licensed, authentic kawaii items including an exclusive monthly wearable
Ships to: Internationally with a few exceptions found here
Check out all of our Doki Doki and Japan Crate reviews as well as the Kawaii Subscription Box Directory!
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Each month comes with a booklet that includes item descriptions as well as other relevant literature. April's box has a slumber party theme.
Sentimental Circus Hand Towel
Sentimental Circus is a character line from San-X, the same people who created Rilakkuma and Sumikko Gurashi. It's the size of a typical hand towel, which is nice for carrying to the gym or storing in a purse for emergency situations. There were three designs and I received Mouton the elephant. The playing card design is quirky but very cute! The lace edges give it an almost Victorian handkerchief vibe.
Rilakkuma Coin Purse
This charming Rilakkuma coin purse is made from vinyl plastic and features a metal kiss lock closure. It fits in the palm of my hand and can be carried around in a bag with zero problems. The quality is all right but I think I would have preferred a different purse material. Well, at least it's water resistant!
Sakura Hoppe-Chan
This month's Hoppe-chan features cherry blossom petal decorations on her head. Cherry blossoms in Japan bloom around this time, so it's only appropriate that she celebrates the arrival of spring in a flowery get-up! Hoppe-chan is made from a rubbery material while the decorations are made from hard plastic.
Mocchi-Zu Mascot Plush Keychain
This line of plushes are named after mochi because they're soft just like mochi, and I have to agree-- this is one of the softest plushes I've ever received. Also, I just love my mint-colored elephant! It has a long and flat body and it stacks like a Disney Tsum Tsum. What makes this elephant a little different from a Tsum Tsum is that you can carry it around like a keychain. If that's not really your style, the ball chain is easily removable.
Here is a closer look at its face. Look at the little pink cheeks!
Disney Princess Scrunchie
This is the monthly wearable item. There were six Disney princess designs sent out and I received Snow White!
The scrunchie is made from a soft velvet material and feels super elastic. I love how they condense Snow White's color scheme into a scrunchie that looks modern yet immediately recognizable. The apple on the side is made from felt.
Pink Flower Pen
Doki Doki sends out novelty pens pretty often, and this one is similar to other pens I've seen in the past. The barrel is carefully wrapped in ribbons, while the top of the pen explodes into a multitude of pink petals. It's very appropriate for springtime, but I don't really see its relevance to a slumber party themed box.
Your Name Notepad
Your Name., also known as Kimi No Na Wa., is Japan's highest-grossing animated film of all time. It's caught immense worldwide attention since its release. It was even screened by a large theater in my area, which is a rare feat and evidence of its impact on current pop culture. This notepad has tear-off pages and two beautiful designs inspired by the colors of Your Name. It is compact, making it perfect for slipping into a purse. I will use mine with the pink flower pen!
Verdict: Overall, the April box deserves a thumbs up. My favorite was the scrunchie! Even though I'll be gifting it to my younger sister, it was one of the more unique items I've received from Doki Doki. I also loved that many of them were practical items as well. There were seven items total for a cost breakdown of about $4.29 each. Seeing that many of the items are high quality, licensed goods, I consider it a pretty sweet value.
That said, I want to point out a slight issue with shipping. According to the postal slip on the box, this was sent out at the end of March, but it didn't show up on my doorstep until early May. I know Japan Crate is trying to ship these out in a timely manner, but I have not been seeing any improvements. Since there aren't any perishables in the box, I don't have an issue with my box being a little late this month. However, I could see this being a problem in the long term and for things like gift subscriptions.
What do you think of Doki Doki?
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