A glance through the rest of my blog is evidence enough that I consider myself a bit of a Japanophile. My first ever visit to Japan was decades ago. As a small child, I spent most of the time lingering behind my parents who were on an around-the-world trip. I remember very little from it, but I have found myself drawn to all things Japanese growing up. From favourite Anime (Akira and Death Note) and Japanese translated books to consuming copious amounts of ramen and sushi, my love for the “Land of the Rising Sun” has no end.
So, after my visit to Japan, as an adult, with my family, it’s safe to say I suffered withdrawal symptoms. The country proved to be everything I had imagined and much, much more. The people, the absolutely amazing Japanese street food, the hospitality, the sights – everything was like living in an alternate universe, one where you couldn’t help but walk wide-eyed the entire time.
To overcome the said parting and longing to revisit Japan, I was happy to receive two specially curated Japanese monthly subscription boxes. While TokyoTreat specialises in snacks, Sakuraco is more about sharing the food and culture of Japan. Both boxes fall under the umbrella of Ayumi Chikamoto, who founded this homegrown business in 2015 from her living room. It has since grown into a truly international Japanese themed subscription box model.
TokyoTreat Subscription Box
The themes for every month’s subscription box is different. But at its heart, TokyoTreat is about sharing Japan’s fascinating snack culture. My box featured treats around Harajuku, one of Tokyo’s most popular and vibrant neighbourhoods.
I still remember the day I spent in Harajuku. It involved buying vintage clothes, getting lost in a maze of gachapon machines, and witnessing eclectic Japanese cosplay fashion. Also, trying viral street snacks—such as rainbow cotton candy, bubble tea, corn dogs, and ice-cream crepes. And simply taking in the sights and sounds of this fascinating part of the city.
TokyoTreat’s box celebrates the electric nature of Harajuku. There are plenty of diverse snacks in the box to satisfy every taste bud. Among the pack were rice crackers, twisty corn bites, cheese puffs, and choco cake. Then there’s super sour chewing candy, and a mega marshmallow stick. The latter, sadly, melted into a pulp on the way, but still tasted yummy!
As for my favourites from the lot, there was the seafood and vegetable dashi ramen, garlic potato chips (I love anything garlicky), salted lemon pretzels, and fruity fizz gummies. The kids, on the other hand, loved mixing the flavours of Kirby’s crazy gum mix. As for the DIY ice cream, it’s a classic example of how quirky Japanese snacks can get.
Sakurako Subscription Box
While these Japanese subscription boxes do not have any age-appropriateness, the contents of Sakurako aim more towards food and drink connoisseurs. Fewer items attracted my kids’ palates, but at the same time, I got to savour some unique specialities.
The overall theme of the box was Mt Fuji, locally known as Fuji-san. Since our trip involved quick travel, we didn’t get to see Mt. Fuji from up close, but we did get a peek at its peak while taking the Shinkansen to and from Tokyo to Osaka.
The Mount Fuji dish, created by Bloom and featuring The Great Wave of Kanagawa, was by far my favourite part of the box. One, it looks splendid, and I have it on my work desk as I type this post. Secondly, unlike perishable food items, this is something that I get to keep for a long time, and do not have to share with anyone.
In terms of food, goodies ranged from Mt Fuji jelly to chocolate crunch and tea bags made with Hokkaido brown rice to muscat konjac jelly. Then there were chocolate and melon wafers, as well as strawberry dorayaki. The artisanal nature of these mini-delights, from different parts of the country, showcases the talents and creativity of local manufacturers.
I would like to mention that the delivery times of the boxes can vary depending on several factors. Faster options are available at an extra cost. Of the two boxes, Sakurako took longer because it ended up held at Indian customs for an extended period. However, both boxes eventually arrived unharmed.
What truly made both TokyoTreat and Sakurako exceptional was the little booklets, filled with information, that came inside the boxes. In them, you’ll find details about all products (in English), as well as facts and notes related to the theme of the box. Since Sakurako has a more traditional feel, the booklet delves into the origins of the products, discussing topics such as tea, Mt. Fuji, and Japanese ancient art practices.
A genuinely delightful experience for the entire family, trying TokyoTreat and Sakurako was a fantastic opportunity that we thoroughly enjoyed, as memories from our Japanese trip flooded back.
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