Japan Crate is a snack subscription box that sends our snacks, candies, and beverages from Japan. Each box comes with 5-20 full-size sweets and snacks that are tricky or impossible to find outside Japan.
This reviews the Japan Crate Premium Box, which starts at $49.95 per month. And the theme is Halloween!
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 Impression
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This month's Japan Crate box theme was Halloween with Yokai! The legendary supernatural spirits are spooking people at night. The box is the ultimate combination of sweet and sour snacks that go from gummies and candy to chips and crackers. I liked how each snack tied into the Halloween theme.
Let's get in the mix!
What's Inside: Japan Crate October 2022 Box
Koala's March
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When I first saw the box, I was scared to try these cookies. After all, from the picture, it was supposed to be some sort of white chocolate and butter cookie. But, these salty-sweet (freaking adorable) koala-shaped cookies are so amazing. I don't know how they get the white chocolate to taste like rich, whole milk. Amazing!
ABC Cocoa Cookies
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These decadent cookies are full of flavor. You can try them as a snack by themselves or add them to hot milk to make your own hot cocoa! How cool is that?
Zonb Chewing Gum
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These are grape-flavored gums that will literally turn your whole mouth dark blue. Definitely a fun trick to have around for Halloween. The flavor isn't too strong, but the color takes a bit to go away.
Aerial Puffs
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Spoiler: these are freaking amazing! They're layered, crunchy chips with a sour cream and onion flavor. Think your favorite sour cream and onion chips, but crispier and somewhat lighter?! I couldn't put this bag down; they're highly addictive!
Petit Chocolate Cookie
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At first, I thought these would be crispy cookies, but instead, they're softer chewy cookies with a chocolate filling. They're good, but nothing too exciting. The chocolate flavor isn't as strong as I'd like it to be.
Grape Roll Candy
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This is your average fruit roll-up in grape flavor. The flavor isn't as strong as I'd like, but it's an excellent snack when you want something chewy and sweet.
Rainbow Fruit Monster
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Similar to the roll-up candy, these are just your average gummy. I did like to get that sour aftertaste to fight back the sweetness.
King's Forgotten Thing
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This is another butter and chocolate cookie. The flavor is super balanced, so you can eat the whole thing without feeling guilty. The inside is filled with a rich, gooey chocolate mix.
Cola Chewing Gum
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This is apparently an old-school Japanese chewing gum with cola flavor. My husband says this tastes like cherries. I thought it actually tasted like cola! But, regardless of the flavor, this is one of the juiciest chewing gums I've ever tried.
Sour Plum Bar of Gum
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The sour plum gum was very interesting. At first, I tried just a bit to see how sour it was, and to my surprise, it wasn't as terrible. But, I wanted to challenge my husband, and I asked him to eat the entire bar. That's when things got really funny and really sour! Yes, you'll be crying if you eat the whole thing!
ShimiChoco Corn Stick
Now that I reread the name, I get it. These taste exactly like cocoa puffs! The first bite is crunchy, but you get that chewy chocolate flavor that melts in your mouth. I'll need a box of just these!
Ramune Cola Candy
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If you want to spook someone, give them these candies! At first, they're just like any other candy, but with ramune (a type of soda) flavor. After a few seconds, the candy starts fizzing in your mouth! It takes some time to get used to it, but this was like drinking ramune!
Gateau Chocolate
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I wish you could smell these cookies. The moment you open the packet, the scent of rich chocolate is so unique that it's impossible to resist. These are the most decadent chocolate cake you've ever tried in cookie form.
Horror Tattoos & Gum
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I was happy to see this in the box, given it's Halloween-themed. They come with cola-flavored chewing gum and can be a fun addition to your Halloween look.
Poricky Pretzel Sticks
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I suggest you serve these around Halloween. They're a popular snack. No one would hesitate to get one. But these are German potato flavored! They taste like potato soup or something similar.
Kabocha Potage
Alright, I don't consider this a snack. I mean, it's literally squash soup in a can! I don't see myself opening and drinking it cold while riding the metro. But it's a tasty soup to get in the Fall mood.
Colorful Gummy Experiment
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The experiments are my favorite snacks in the whole box. We really don't have things like this in the US. If you have kids, they will love making their own gummies. In my case, my husband turned into a mad scientist with this gummy lab. The result is five gummies with a fruity flavor. Definitely fun!
Bonus: Japanese Mint-Flavored Mini Kit Kats
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This bag comes with 11 mini Kit Kats. Full disclosure, I hate minted chocolates! I still tried it, thinking maybe Japanese mint-flavored chocolates would be better. However, I stand with my hate for mint-chocolate candies; these are so powerful I felt I was legit eating a mint.
My Verdict
Trying to figure out the flavors and textures of these snacks is such an epic experience; it's always worth it for me. At $35 per box, you get SO MANY candies and snacks. It's definitely valuable. I think anyone who enjoys trying new things or with kids will enjoy this box.
To Wrap Up
Can I still get this box if I sign up today? Yes! Crates are shipped on a rolling schedule with three shipment dates every month.
Value Breakdown: This box costs $49.95 a month (including free shipping), and I received 18 items in this box. That breaks down to a value of $2.77 per item.
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