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.
There are 3 crate sizes to choose from: Mini, Original, and Premium.
This review is of the Premium crate.
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: Japan Crate
The Cost: $12/month for Mini crate, $25/month for Original crate, $30/month for Premium crate. Free shipping to the US.
COUPON: Save $5 off your first Original or Premium box with code MSA5!
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!
Each box comes with a "manga-zine" that details the included snacks along with information on Japanese food and culture. August's theme is Mad Scientist.
Tohato Mamesupi Chips
These are toasted pea flavor and reminds me of snap pea crisps but crunchier! The shape is a little strange but they're yummy.
Sittori Matcha
"Shittori" means soaked, and these puffy rice crackers are soaked in a thick layer of sweet matcha cream. It's so delicious! I really stuffed my face with this one...
Closeup of the Tohato Mamesupi Chips.
Kyabetsu Taro
These have been around in Japan since 1981 and are sold in a lot of convenience stores. It comes in a brown sauce flavor that tastes a little vinegary, a little like Worcestershire sauce. I'm on the fence about the taste.
Special Pizza Flavored Texas Corn
These are fluffy corn puffs that actually taste like pizza! This is a great snack to munch on when I'm craving something savory.
Lemon-Chan Candy
This is a bag of individually-wrapped lemon hard candy. They're sweet and a little sour and 100% tasty. I'm a little scared by how quickly I can eat these if I'm not paying attention!
Sankaku Vegetable Crackers
Worry not! These don't taste like vegetables, but they are savory and delicious. "Sankaku" means triangle and refers to the shape of the crackers.
Mitarashi Fumi Kibi Dango
Dango is similar to mochi and are usually put on skewers and covered with glaze. This is a rectangular, more portable version that's wrapped in edible rice paper to keep the snack from sticking to everything. It is mildly sweet and majorly tasty.
Yaokin Fugashi
I'm not sure how I feel about this one. The snack is hard to explain-- it consists mostly of airy, flaky but spongey cake with a crunchy black sugar coating. The inside almost tastes like nothing. There is an underlying flavor that I can't quite put my finger on and that is what's bothering me.
Natsukashi Ramune
These candy pellets come in a plastic bottle shaped like Ramune drinks. They are powdery and melt as soon as you put it on your tongue. I'm not a huge fan-- my mouth always feels dry afterwards.
Sour Cola Paper Candy
Here's the monthly obligatory cola-flavored snack! It's basically a long piece of sour belt candy sprinkled with sugar. It's all right. I think I'm warming up to cola-flavored things.
Moguchuu Chewing Candy
These strawberry candies are individually wrapped like Starbursts and taste exactly like Hi-Chew. I'm a Hi-Chew lover so this was right up my alley. They are chewy like gum at first, but after warming up they dissolve like taffy.
Usuyaki Cookie
This packet contains three heavenly cookies. Each has creamy chocolate filling covered by two thin, crispy, sweet biscuits.
Puchi Konpeito
Konpeito is colored sugar rock candy. They look like little stars and are iconic in various movies and anime. I shared these with friends and they all loved it.
Wakayama Mikan Soda
Mikan is a seedless citrus fruit and Wakayama is a Japanese prefecture that's known for their mikan. This carbonated soda is super refreshing and captures the bright, citrusy flavor really well. I love it!
Crayon Shin-Chan Experimental Drink DIY Kit
This DIY kit lets you experiment with different powders in a flask to create a-- you guessed it-- cola-flavored beverage! The instructions are simple: just add the two packets with water and mix. It's fun to see the mixture fizz but I cannot recommend drinking this. It's not as tasty as it looks.
Verdict: I always have fun with Japan Crate and this month is no different. My favorite in this box is the Sittori Matcha! That matcha cream was simply delectable. The cost breakdown this month is $2 per item, which is not a bad deal at all for trying tasty Japanese snacks that I can't find stateside. I'm also completely satisfied with the mix of sweet and savory flavors in every box.
What do you think of Japan Crate?
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