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Japan Crate Premium Box Review January 2024

Japan Crate
4.7 overall rating
224 Ratings | 204 Reviews

Japan Crate is a Japanese snack subscription box that sends you snacks, candies, and beverages. Each box comes with 15 to 20 full-sized sweets and snacks that are tricky or impossible to find outside Japan.

This review is for the Japan Crate Premium Box, which costs $49.95 monthly.

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.)

First Impressions

 

It's been a while since my last review of Japan Crate, but I finally received another box this month. Long story short, a union between Bokksu and Japan Crate took place several months ago causing a major delay in receiving future boxes due to issues with logistics. And while that issue is finally being sorted out, another issue occurred for the box I received this month. Apparently, someone made an error when finalizing my shipping address as it was supposed to be delivered to Florida, but was instead sent to Australia first. So, for January I got to review the Halloween Crate II box that was shipped out back in November. Nonetheless, I was still excited to try out another box of Japanese candy and treats!

What's Inside: Japan Crate January 2024 Box

This month's box focused a lot on chocolate and grape-flavored treats as well as gum. Let's take a closer look at what I got to try!

Shimichoco Chocolate Corn Snack

 

This was one of my favorite treats in the Halloween-themed box! It was basically a chocolate-flavored, corn puff-like snack. It had the consistency and taste of a breakfast cereal as it wasn't overly crunchy or too sweet. I went through the bag pretty quickly and would definitely repeat this item.

Super Scary Story Gum

 

I wish I could read Japanese, but unfortunately, I don't have any knowledge of the language. So, I skipped the story and went straight to the gum. The gum wasn't terrible, but it didn't last very long. It had a fruity flavor and a bit of a thin texture. I'd definitely pass on this candy in future boxes.

Black Moon Choco Cookies

 

This treat was another hit in this month's box! I paired the cookies with my morning coffee and they were absolutely delicious. They had a similar taste and texture to that of vanilla wafers, but imagine a chocolate version instead that melts in your mouth more easily. I would happily repeat this treat anytime.

Strong Spicy Cod Roe Potato Chips

 

Normally, the seafood-flavored chips featured in Japan Crate boxes can be a bit too much. These chips, however, were a pleasant surprise. The cod roe flavor wasn't overbearing and they honestly tasted like normal potato chips that were slightly spicy. I wouldn't want to repeat these chips in every box, but they were fun to try and I wouldn't mind snacking on them every now and then.

Mugikko Chocolates

 

I wasn't impressed with this treat. While I love pretty much anything chocolate, I didn't like the texture. It looked like it would be slightly crunchy, but the chocolate-covered wheat puffs had an odd texture that almost made them taste like they were stale.

Kajiriccho Grape Soda Soft Candy

 

This was a fun piece of candy to try. I'm usually not a huge fan of grape-flavored candy, but this was the perfect mix of sweet and sour and had a soft and chewy texture.

Mini Vita C Gummies

 

I thought this candy was a bit random for a Halloween-themed box, but the gummies were good. They were a bit small but had a great citrus flavor and a thin film of edible starch on the back.

Grape Whistle Gum

 

This gum had a better consistency than some of the other types of gum featured in this box, but it was just average overall. However, I did like its flavor profile a bit more than other pieces since it was a mix of sour and sweet.

Felix Gum

 

This was basically just a piece of sweet strawberry gum. Not bad, but not out of this world either.

Sour Spray (Grape)

 

My inner child was so happy to see this candy featured in the Halloween box. This was totally the type of treat I loved as a kid growing up in the 90's and appreciated its nostalgic feel. The only feature I found slightly disappointing was that it wasn't very sour, but the flavor was still quite good.

Grape Bubble Gum

 

Why yes, another piece of gum. This gum, however, was the best of all among the different types featured in this box. It lasted the longest and also had the best flavor.

Crunky Big Chocolate

 

I loved this treat! These chocolate-covered rice puff bites had the perfect crunchy texture and I would repeat this item anytime in the future. If they were sold at my local grocery store I'd probably be addicted to them.

Grape Roll Candy

 

This was like a thin grape-flavored Fruit Roll-Up. The taste wasn't bad, but I didn't like the texture very much.

Zon B Original Gum

 

I'm a huge fan of blueberry-flavored treats so I was excited to try this gum out. It had a good bit of flavor to it and the gum lasted longer than some of the other pieces.

My Cos Candy Cigarette

 

Holy menthol!!! At first, I was pumped to try out this gum as it reminded me of the candy cigarettes I tried as a child. Unfortunately, the menthol flavor was so strong that I took the gum out within a matter of seconds.

Ginza Rusk Chocolate

 

Another chocolaty puff treat in this month's box. While I liked the chocolate flavor, the texture was a bit strange as this treat is made from corn grits and bread crumbs, so it's not as smooth or crunchy as rice puffs.

Choco Kinako DIY Mochi

 

Does anyone else love making these DIY treats? All I had to do was add water to the mochi to soften them and then dip them in the chocolate and kinako mix. They tasted like mini smores and were fun to try out.

Yokai Keychain

The final item in this month's box was a cute keychain. I probably won't carry this around but I'm sure my toddler will eventually want to play with it.

The Verdict

I loved some of the treats in the Halloween-themed box, specifically the Shimichoco Chocolate Corn Snack, Black Moon Choco Cookies, and Crunky Big Chocolate. While I had fun trying out some of the smaller candies and gum too, I was a bit let down by the box as a whole. I would have preferred for there to be more spooky treats, but hopefully next time they'll niche down a bit more..and hopefully, future boxes won't have to travel around the world prior to arriving at my doorstep ;).

To Wrap Up

Value Breakdown: This box costs $49.95 monthly (including free shipping), and I received 17 items. That breaks down to a value of $2.94 per item.

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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.

Kathryn Giuffrida
Kathryn Giuffrida

Hi, I'm Kat! I’m a SAHM and lifetime swimmer who shares about brands that keep busy moms afloat and thriving. While I'm usually baby-wrangling or writing, I enjoy training and savoring shaken espressos in my free time.

I've contributed to over 200 articles on My Subscription Addiction including best-of lists, recurring reviews, and informational guides. I also work behind the scenes at SUCCESS.com as Associate Editor contributing to digital publications on personal and professional development.

Want to get in touch? Contact me at [email protected], or connect with me on social media.


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