Whether you’re looking for authentic ramen, gourmet matcha cookies, or those unique Kit-Kat flavors you’ve seen online, Japanese snack boxes are an excellent way to build your palate. These services deliver authentic snacks directly to your door (or office, or wherever else), often for an affordable monthly price.
We found the best Japanese snack services available, then researched them to find out what they offer, how much they cost, and whether they’re worth the price. We tried to include a variety of options to suit different tastes, and where possible, we included coupon codes and promo links to help you keep costs in check.
Ready to dive in? Here are our picks for the best Japanese snack boxes. If we missed one of your favorites, leave us a comment, and if you’ve tried one of these services, be sure to write a quick review.
The Best Japanese Snack Box Subscriptions in 2021
1. Best Japanese Snack Box for Gourmet Treats: Bokksu
The Cost: $49.95, with discounts for long-term orders. Sign up here!
What's In This Japanese Snack Subscription Box: Each Bokksu snack crate includes a variety of authentic Japanese snacks and a tea pairing.
This Japanese snack box follows a monthly theme, and the packaging is absolutely gorgeous. You’ll also receive materials explaining the theme; expect detailed and poetic descriptions of different regions of Japan along with information about each month’s selections.
The snacks have plenty of variety, but we think it’s safe to call this a gourmet subscription. For the Dec. 2020 Bokksu box, our reviewer received plum-flavored potato sticks, citrus-flavored seaweed tempura, pear-infused cookies, and organic genmaicha tea.
Check out our Bokksu reviews and info page to learn more. Ships to the US for free.
2. Best Japanese Snack Box for Unique Flavors: Japan Crate Original
The Cost: Plans start at $33.45 per month. Sign up here!
What Our Readers Say:
“The snacks were all delicious, there wasn’t one thing I didn’t like in it. Amazing items and lovely treats!” – Adwoa H.
What's In This Japanese Snack Subscription Box: The original Japan Crate subscription box is still the best way to explore the strange world of Japanese sweets. Packed with candy bars, drinks, and cookies, it’s curated to provide a satisfying experience for Westerners — but with plenty of unique offerings that will expand your palate.
If you’d love to try Apple-flavored Coca-Cola or matcha-infused Kit-Kats, but you’re not ready to buy a plane ticket to Tokyo, this is the next best thing. Japan Crate’s pricing has increased slightly over the past year (their CrateJoy pages references higher order volume and pandemic-related shipping issues), but it still offers a tremendous value. We’ll discuss the company’s Umai crate later in this article — that’s a better option if you prefer savory snacks.
Check out our Japan Crate reviews and info page to learn more. Ships to the US for free.
3. Best Japanese Snack Box for Local Treats: Snakku
The Cost: $49.85 per month, with discounts available for long-term orders. Sign up here!
ACTIVE DEAL: 5% off
CODE: First box
What Our Readers Say:
“This is such an amazing subscription for anyone interested in unique snacks directly from Japan. My husband and I love getting this box and making it a special snack tasting event. The box is beautiful and so are the selection and quality of snacks that they select.” – Wendy
What's In This Japanese Snack Subscription Box: Snakku Snack Box gets their Japanese treats directly from snack makers — here, you’ll find exclusive foods that you couldn’t find anywhere else (except, of course, in Japan). Expect 10-15 different types of snacks, typically with at least 2 of each type. You’ll also get a high-quality postcard with info about the selections, and your delivery will be wrapped in a reusable furoshiki (a traditional Japanese cloth).
We love that this company works with smaller Japanese businesses. If you’re looking for traditional treats from across the country (as opposed to candy bars and ramen that you could find in any Tokyo grocery store), this is the snack box for you.
Note: Several of our readers had issues getting updates on shipments placed during the pandemic. Last year, Snakku Box temporarily discontinued sign-ups due to logistic issues related to COVID-19, but the company is back up and running.
Check out our Snakku Box reviews and info page to learn more. Ships to the US for free. Ships to the US for free; international shipping is available to over a dozen countries. More info on international shipping available on Snakku’s website.
4. Best Japanese Snack Box for Ramen: Japan Crate's Umai Crate
The Cost: Plans start at $49.95 per month, with discounts available for long-term orders. Sign up here!
ACTIVE DEAL: Save $3 off your first box
CODE: MSADD3
What Our Readers Say:
“Umai box was perfect for the weather. Great selection of noodles and ramens. Perfect!” - Lyana F.
What's In This Japanese Snack Subscription Box: Umai Crate offers the same expertly curated experience as Japan Crate, but focuses on ramen and other Japanese noodles.
You’ll receive 8-10 Japan-exclusive noodles per box along with an exclusive recipe card and a detailed guide with translated instructions. Each crate also includes a bonus item — think traditional noodle toppings, aromatic spices, and other add-ons to elevate the experience.
Umai Crate is our go-to option for savory snacking. If you don’t mind plenty of sodium (these are instant noodles, after all), you’ll love each delivery.
Check out our Umai Crate reviews and info page to learn more. Ships to the US for free.
5. Best International Snack Box (With Japanese Treats): MunchPak
The Cost: $22.95 per month for the standard box. Save with longer deliveries. Sign up here!
What Our Readers Say:
“This is a fantastic way to try snacks from all over the world. It has been a great way for me to try and discover new sweets and snacks I would have never otherwise tried.” - LordShamrock
What's In This Japanese Snack Subscription Box: We’re cheating a bit here; MunchPak features snacks from around the world, and while Japanese treats are featured frequently, you’ll also get unique foods from Turkey, Mexico, and other countries.
The original Munchpak contains 10+ full-size snacks, including both sweet and savory options. The box also includes a “travel guide" with information about each country and its snacks, and by pulling up the Munchpak app, you can scan a barcode on each product to learn more. Find something you love, and you can easily order more.
The company offers several different plans, including Munchpak Mini, which provides 5+ full-size snacks for $13.95 per month. You’ll also find options for stocking the office breakroom. Discounts are available for long-term orders.
Good to Know: Our readers note that while the boxes can be customized, that can increase the total cost of the order significantly. Some early reviews also expressed concerns about customer service, which seem to have been fixed — recent reviews have been largely positive.
Check out our Munchpak details and reviews to learn more. Ships to the US for free.
6. Best Japanese Snack Box for Readers: Manga Spice Cafe
The Cost: $38 per month, plus $5.95 shipping. Subscribe here!
What's In This Snack Box: If you love Japanese culture, Manga Spice Cafe is right up your alley. Each box includes 3 newly released manga and 3-5 Asian snacks. In addition to Japanese treats, you’ll receive items from Korea, China, and other countries.
All of the manga are English translations, and they’re curated to match a monthly theme. You’ll get detailed info about each work, and the selections are a good mix of humor, horror, and everything in between. The snacks are usually inexpensive fare that you’d find in a grocery store or gas station — Pocky sticks, candies, and other basics. The real draw is the manga, so while this is a fantastic subscription, it’s strictly for folks who love Japanese comic art.
Our readers say that this snack service provides plenty of value (and our staff reviewers agree). Because some of the manga includes adult themes, Manga Spice Cafe recommends this box for readers age 15 and up.
Check out our Manga Spice Cafe details to learn more. Ships to the US.
7. Best Non-Subscription Japanese Snack Box: Goldbelly
The Cost: Varies depending on the meal kit selected, but expect prices from $65+. Sign up here!
What's In This Snack Box: Goldbelly offers meal kits from a variety of world-renowned restaurants, including quite a few Japanese options. For sweets, check out Goldbelly’s Best of Tomoko Sweets Box. Exquisitely crafted by pastry chef Tomoko Kato, this box includes assorted mochi, macarons, yuzu cookies, and other delights. It’s an expensive one-off purchase at $85, but it’s worth every penny.
Goldbelly’s site also has options for ramen, sushi, cakes, and just about everything else. Since their kits are sourced from high-end restaurants, you’ll pay a premium for each delivery, but dedicated foodies will find plenty to love here. Note: Some boxes can only deliver to certain regions of the United States, so use Goldbelly’s region page to find out what’s available in your area.
Check out our Goldbelly info page to learn more. Ships to the US for free.
Got the munchies? Check out these other features that will help you discover your new favorite snacks!
- The 15 Best Snack Subscription Boxes - Readers' Choice 2021
- Universal Yums vs. SnackCrate: Which Global Snack Subscription is Right for You?
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