Japan Crate is a Japanese snack subscription box that sends you snacks, candies, and beverages. Each box comes with 15 to 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 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
When I learned that there was an opening to take on a recurring review of Japan Crate, I jumped on the opportunity as fast as I could! I've worked on writing and updating several of the Readers' Choice reviews and Japan Crate consistently remains in the top 10 of many of the lists, like the best snack subscription boxes and the best Japanese snack boxes.
After checking out what our readers had to say about Japan Crate and taking a look at their site, I had to try it out for myself. You see, I've loved Japanese snacks and candy ever since I was a little girl, but there are pretty much little to no options for Asian markets near me to buy them from. Thus, Japan Crate became the solution to my problem!
The June 2023 Japan Crate box was the first box of my journey with Japan Crate. Below, I'll show you exactly what I got in my box and talk a bit about each snack, candy, or product. I've also included a rating for each snack based on what I thought of it.
And, if you're interested, I've also included a link to my full unboxing video at the very end of this review.
What's Inside: Japan Crate June 2023 Box
Fluffy Kinako Mochi - 4/5
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I really enjoyed this snack! It had a nice crispy texture, was lightly sweetened, and had just a slight nutty flavor. I would definitely repeat fluffy mochi in the future as it was filling and came with several handfuls of puffs. I shared this snack with my husband, but totally wish I hadn't now since I want more!
Shellfish Chips - 4/5
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Ok, hear me out on this one. I literally waited until it was the last snack remaining to try it. Why? I honestly thought it would taste bad...
But, I was totally wrong! Yes, it does have a bit of a fishy aftertaste (hence shellfish chips), but the snack was savory and it pleasantly surprised me. I'm not sure I would repeat this in the future, but it was awesome to try out.
Cotton Candy - 3.5/5
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Who doesn't love cotton candy? I was excited to see that it was included in my snack box and enjoyed every bite.
Why did I only give it 3.5 stars? It lacked appeal...I mean, it was just plain cotton candy with no color or special flavors. I was hoping it would at least be shaped like the cute bunny on the front, but it wasn't.
Still, cotton candy is one of my childhood favorite treats so I definitely wouldn't say it was bad, nor would I refuse to repeat it.
Domyoji Umeko's Love Challenge - 5/5
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This is literally my new favorite candy...ever!!! Imagine Warheads met Laffy Taffy and made a candy child.
This is the ultimate sweet and sour candy as it's not on either extreme and presents the best of both worlds. It takes a second or two for the sour flavor to kick it, but man it hits pretty strong after the initial taste. But, the sourness isn't overwhelming and the Laffy Taffy-like texture sure throws an interesting spin to this treat.
I almost made myself sick because I ate almost every single piece of this candy in one sitting (shoutout to my husband for taking a few pieces and saving me from my demise). I hope that I get this in a future box and will most certainly be purchasing this online ASAP.
Mini Katana's Samurai Sword Pen - 4.5/5
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Ok, so not a snack or candy, but still pretty cool. I really liked this pen and thought it had a cute design. Who doesn't need an extra pen lying around the house for their everyday writing needs?
Strawberry Softcream DIY - 3/5
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Y'all, I clearly botched this snack. I didn't realize that it only required 2 tbsp of water for mixing and just casually poured in some drinking water thinking it wouldn't be a huge deal...big mistake - I totally ruined it. I know, I should've just Googled the directions. And yes, I was just being lazy.
Other than making it way too watered down, the overall taste was pretty good. Another sweet and sour treat that was light and fun. I'd repeat this one just so I could do it right next time and get the full experience.
Red Bean Rice - 2.5/5
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So this one didn't taste bad or anything, but I'm giving it 2.5 stars compared to everything else I got in my box. I mean, I expected like another fun treat, not just basic rice and beans.
Come on Japan Crate, you can do better than that!
Peach Squash Drink - 5/5
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This drink was absolutely refreshing! It was basically a peach soda. I would drink this again in a heartbeat and loved its light sweetness.
Milk Tea Kit Kats - 3.5/5
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Not a bad spin on a regular Kit Kat bar. It was definitely sweeter and creamier than the norm, and I did enjoy it.
However, this treat just didn't have that much pizazz, you know?
Pitted Plum - 1/5
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At first, I thought this would taste just like a regular plum. WRONG - I wasn't a fan. It was very sour and not sweet at all.
Did anyone else have the same experience with this snack?
Hyoroku Mochi - 3/5
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I'm laughing at myself because I totally made the same mistake that other reviewers and subscribers have done when first trying out this candy. I 100% thought that the thin film of edible starch wrapped around each bite was plastic. Shoutout to our readers Marie and Julie B. for pointing out that it's not! In fact, let me quote Marie directly:
"It’s not plastic that you are peeling off to eat on the mochi.😉 Hyōrokumochi (兵六餅) is a candy which is made and sold by Seika Foods in Kagoshima. Similar to a rice cake, it is made of maltose starch syrup, nori, powdered green tea, soybean flour, and white bean paste. It is shaped into a small cube and wrapped in a thin film of edible starch. Hyōrokumochi can be bought at stores throughout Kyushu."
Because of Marie, I ended up not trashing this treat. I literally complained to my husband that I couldn't eat the snacks because they were stuck in the plastic wrap...silly me.
To show that it is indeed a starch film and not plastic, I dampened one of the bites with water on the right. Poof! The film vanished within 2 seconds.
Mini Grape Candy - 3/5
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Not bad at all, just basic. The candies tasted like circular Smart Tarts and were overall good. A bit tart, but mostly sweet.
Grape Juice Gummy - 2.5/5
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Initial flavor? Great! The texture? Impossible to chew, unless you've got a power jaw!
And no, I promise I'm not being overly critical here. To me, the gummies were not soft enough to really savor them.
Banana Chocolate Marshmallow - 3.5/5
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Not bad! It was actually much better than what I thought it would taste like.
This was a cute little treat with an interesting concept. I had never tasted a banana-flavored marshmallow, so I guess there's a first for everything!
Grape as it Should be Candy - 4/5
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This was actually gum, not a piece of candy, and I loved it! Sure, the gum didn't last that long, but it was nostalgic. It reminded me of the gumballs you used to eat as a kid growing up in the 90s and early 2000s. Great grape flavor!
Mochi Truffles - 5/5
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So, so good! I was hoping for a genuine chocolate treat in this month's box, and sure enough, I got one.
I would repeat this treat over and over again. It was the perfect portion of creamy, chocolatey goodness with a great hint of bourbon. No, the bourbon wasn't strong enough to help you kick back, but it made for a good aftertaste.
Treasure Chest and Soccer Scratch-Off Candies - 3/5
The candies weren't bad, they were just super tiny. They were literally consumed in a single bite, but I guess were cute throw-ins for a final touch.
The soccer candy was sweet and slightly tart, whereas the treasure chest candy was pretty much like mini circular pieces that had a hint of peanut butter.
P.S. I apologize for the lack of up-close candy pics for these two, I completely forgot!
The Verdict
What did I think about my first-ever Japan Crate box? It was so much fun! I enjoyed the full experience of trying out each and every treat, even the ones I wasn't a big fan of. I can't wait for next month's box and hope that it contains a great mix of sweet, sour, and savory like this one did.
My June 2023 Japan Crate Unboxing Video
Want to see what it was like unboxing this month's Japan Crate box? Check out my full unboxing video here.
To Wrap Up
Value Breakdown: This box costs $49.95 monthly (including free shipping), and I received 21 items. That breaks down to a value of $2.37 per item.
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