Sakuraco review: because if you can’t get to Japan, get Japan to come to you!
Regular readers of this blog may or may not remember, that in 2020 I was planning on travelling to Japan during one of my breaks from work. Of course, we all know what actually happened that year, and lo and behold the Japan trip of my dreams never actually took place. The closest I have come since then, is ordering a Japanese snack box as a gift for a friend’s birthday and wishing that I’d bought one for myself to sample, too.
But, pals, times have changed and things are looking up! Not only am I finally going to be heading to Japan (in just over a year’s time), but in the meantime the lovely folks at Sakuraco have sent me a box of Japanese treats to sample and spread the word about! Lucky old me, that’s what I say.
* This blog contains affiliate links, where I may earn a small commission, at no cost to the reader. Although I was generously gifted this Sakuraco box in exchange for an honest review, all opinions expressed are my own honest views.
What is Sakuraco?
Sakuraco is a monthly subscription-based Japanese snack box, which ships worldwide from Japan to your own fair doorstep. (Call me basic, but I was impressed already that it really had been sent directly from Tokyo and not a warehouse somewhere in England.)
Each box contains 20 artisanal Japanese sweet and savoury snacks, tea pairings, a piece of homeware (we’re talking crockery here, not furniture), and a beautiful booklet containing detailed information about the snacks, the snack-makers, and elements of Japanese culture.
Autumn Greetings from Kyoto
Having just disembarked from a cruise ship, where I’d spent five months working in the Mediterranean, I honestly wasn’t overly excited about leaving the summer sunshine of Mallorca behind and flying back to England’s autumnal weather. I’m just not a cold-weather kind of a gal, you know?
But as I touched down at Gatwick airport, the sun was shining, the sky was a hazy blue, and the trees were still full of leaves which were only just beginning to tinge with the oranges and reds of autumn. And the theme of this month’s Sakuraco box, which had arrived in England a couple of days before I did, is Colours of Kyoto.
Which colours might they be, I hear you ask?
Oh you know, the Autumnal colours. The scarlets and the golds and the burnt oranges.
Inside the dusky pink box, on top of the haul of treats, was a booklet filled with gorgeous pictures of Kyoto’s historical sites shrouded in colourful fall foliage, and as I read about koyo– the Japanese word to describe the captivating beauty of the leaves changing colour in Autumn- I felt like this was a perfect welcome home and gentle ease into autumn.
I may not be a cold weather gal, but I’m officially sold on the concept of koyo. I couldn’t have felt cosier watching the first leaves flutter from the trees in the garden, whilst sipping a warm cup of sencha green tea and enjoying a plate of crunchy flower-shaped soba boro and matcha cream roll cookies.
Farewell, Mediterranean summer, and hello autumnal dreams of Japan!
Check out the latest Sakuraco box.
My thoughts on the Sakuraco Japanese snack box
First and foremost, even the box itself is an elegant, beautiful design. Before I’d opened it, anybody who saw it commented on how pretty its blossom illustration is; so if you’re a box-hoarder like myself, you’ll most certainly be keeping it for a long time after the food within it has been devoured.
I also loved the postcard perched on top of the items inside, with a note from the founder of Sakuraco. (I’m also a postcard-hoarder, FYI, so I’ll be hanging onto this beautiful picture for sure.) Carefully packaged in an individual cardboard box is a delicate yellow tea cup painted with blue flowers, perfect for enjoying the green tea which is included as well.
My visit to Japan may be over a year away, but thanks to Sakuraco I’m already racking up a collection of souvenirs which are right up my street.
A booklet inside contains detailed descriptions of every item contained in the box, including any allergens and vegetarian-friendly specifics, and also the name of the individual confectionary-makers for each item. There are some lovely articles to read about some of the companies, and different elements of Japanese culture like the art of kimono crafting, and the kitsune– the fox spirits of Japanese folklore.
The most eye-catching snack (which was also delicious down to it’s not-too-sweet flavour) was definitely the kitsune senbei, which is a souvenir for Kyoto’s Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine. You can’t miss it in the pictures, pals, because this is the very cute cracker in the shape of a fox face.
Kitsune senbei aside, the huge variety of things to try was absolutely brilliant, from the sugary momji (maple leaf) and chestnut wagashi sweets, flubber-like matcha pudding and pancakey yuzu dorayaki, to fried ginkgo nuts, soybean okaki (I especially loved these rice crackers), and Kyoto arare.
Part of what I love about travelling is trying different local foods, and I love stepping outside of my comfort zone to taste-test new and unknown flavours. (Sometimes this is to my detriment; for example I do not recommend the homemade grapefruit ice cream at Versailles.) It’s great to try new things, and the lucky-dip element of the Sakuraco Japanese snack box was perfect for me.
Any negatives?
The only real downside that I can see to the Sakuraco box is the fact that you can’t buy a box as a one-off. This is a monthly subscription, however it would of course be possible to pay for a month and then immediately cancel your subscription. (Unless you got completely hooked, which I wouldn’t blame you for one bit.)
If you pay on a monthly rolling renewal (which you can cancel at any time), the box costs USD $37.50 plus shipping via DHL, and I actually think that’s a really great price for the amount and quality of what you receive. The more months you subscribe to, the lower the monthly price, with a twelve month subscription coming in at $32.50 per month.
What makes Sakuraco different from any other Japanese snack box?
Don’t get me wrong, when you’re googling ‘Japanese snack box,’ plenty of companies and options will appear. But Sakuraco is, in my opinion, one of the most elegant options out there. From the beautifully designed box to the sumptuous artisanal-crafted snacks, this is a grown-up subscription box for people who want to learn about Japanese culture as well as eat.
I also love the fact that this is a company which actively supports local artisans; it feels like a very authentic selection of items which have been crafted and curated with care and attention, and the fact that each box includes a tea pairing and a piece of homeware means that enjoying the contents feels less like a gorging of snacks and more like an experience.
I actually wish that I had found Sakuraco when I was searching for a Japanese snack box as a gift for my friends last year. At the time, I settled for a box from a different company, which they loved, but this is a way more sophisticated take on a snack box, which really celebrates Japanese heritage.
Sakuraco Review: Is the Sakuraco Japanese snack box worth it?
This was a brilliant, immersive way of learning about Japan, without even stepping foot outside of my house. I loved experiencing this beautiful box and everything within it; it would make a fantastic gift either to a friend or just to yourself, because we all deserve a treat sometimes don’t we?
Order a Sakuraco Japanese snack box here.
