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 review is for the Japan Crate Premium Box, which starts at $49.95 per month.
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
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This month's Japan Crate box theme was all about Persona 5 Royal. I instantly knew this box was something special. The packaging was handled with so much care and attention to detail, and it shows. The box features snacks inspired by the altered reality of Persona 5 Royal. And these mysterious flavors definitely will take you on a unique exploration of the streets of Tokyo right from home!
What's Inside: Japan Crate November 2022 Box
Ginza Rusk Biscuits
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I instantly recognized this package from a previous Japan Crate box. The one I tried before was milk. This one is rich chocolate. These chocolate treats are crunchy and toasty on the outside but somehow melt into this creamy, rich chocolate deliciousness in your mouth. I need these in the states year-round!
Horn Lemon Fromage
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I'm not particularly fond of lemon snacks. However, these individually wrapped lemon and cheese cookies are a game changer. I think they'll pair amazingly with tea. And to me, they tasted like a mini lemon meringue pie.
Ramune Bottle Gummy
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Do you remember the movie Flubber? I think I gave my age away, but this gummy reminded me of that! It's a ramune gummy, so the flavor is relatively mild. It was good, but nothing memorable.
Grape Gum
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I'm not a huge fan of grape-flavored anything, except wine. This grape gum was like a childhood treat for me. The flavor is there and lasts, but it's just gum.
Puku Puku Tai
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I was so excited when I saw this fish-shaped snack because I thought it would be like cake. However, it's crispy and chewy when you bite into a snack filled with chocolate goodness. This one can be addicting!
Number Chocolate
These are hard-shell sugar-coated chocolates. Pretty much the Japanese version of M&M's.
Yogurt Candy
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The candy says to let your creativity take over, and it will as you try to figure out the flavor of this candy. It takes a little bit to understand it, but you can taste a yummy yogurt flavor after a bit.
Premium Umaibo
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These are old-school Japanese corn puffs. I used to eat something similar to this when I was a kid, bringing back many happy memories.
Long Chew Cola
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The storybook reads: "up for a challenge?" And it definitely was a challenge! This is one of those hard-chewy sticks you must be careful with when eating so you don't lose a tooth!
Sour Paper Candy
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This one was a big disappointment. I was expecting this weird paper-like roll with sour apple flavor. Instead, you get your regular, seen-before sour fruit roll-up.
Gaburichew Cola Candy
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There's something about Japanese candies and cola. I can't wrap my head around it! This was not good initially, but it quickly turned into a delicious cola-flavored chew candy with some effervescent.
Ponsuke Snack
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This was my favorite snack in this box. Incredibly crunchy, a little bit sweet but also salty, all with a popcorn-like texture. Amazing, just amazing!
Pheromone in the Future
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These are another cola-flavored candy I didn't enjoy at all. They fell apart quickly, and the flavor wasn't my favorite. I did like the cute figurine that comes with it, though!
Aerial Cheese Corn Puff
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The previous box included these puffs in the original flavor, and they changed my mind about potato chips. These cheese-flavored chips made it impossible to return to regular American chips. I need these!
Tomato & Onion Soup
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I don't understand the soup-in-a-snacks-box thing. I just can't wrap my head around it. But this tomato soup was absolutely amazing! I think it would go so well with a freshly made grilled-cheese sandwich.
Salty Lemon Mini KitKats
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I had no idea KitKat had so many flavors! Again, I'm not a fan of lemon-flavored treats, and I was skeptical about liking them, but I loved them! The lemon flavor pairs so well with the cookie, and it has a touch of salt that you notice to balance it all out. Another great option to pair with tea.
Chocolate Kinako Mochi
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I really enjoy these DIY snacks. I wish we had some like this here! I'm not sure that I'd call these "mochi," but they're a gummy/rubbery cookie that you get to dip in this amazing hazelnut-spread-like chocolate and kinako powder, which I learned is toasted soybean powder. While they don't look as delicious as the ones in the picture, somehow, these are fantastic!
Bonus: Persona 5 Royal Poker Chips
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My box included a poker chip of one of the characters from Persona 5 Royal. I loved that these are custom-made and exclusive to Japan Crate. That's a nice touch, especially for fans of the show.
Secret Item: Lion Nippon Fruits Throat Candy
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I had no idea these were actually throat gummies. I felt the peach flavor of these and they're quite delicious. Now that I know about the properties to cool down your throat, I like them even more.
My Verdict
This Japan Crate box was specially designed; you could tell it was a special occasion for the brand. The partnership with Persona 5 Royal made the box extra special. For once, I liked almost all of the 18 snacks I received, so that's something! And at $49.95 for the box, you can enjoy a unique experience trying new flavors.
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 monthly (including free shipping), and I received 18 items. That breaks down to a value of $2.77 per item.
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