Review

Mystery boxes are fun until the month your $37 delivers three kinds of senbei you didn’t want. Kokoro Japan is the alternative: an online store that ships Japanese snacks, candy, and instant food worldwide — and you choose every single item. This review covers who it’s actually for, because it solves a completely different problem than TokyoTreat or Sakuraco. What Kokoro Japan Is A Japan-based online shop stocking the things you’d find in a Japanese supermarket snack aisle and konbini: Pocky variations, regional KitKats, Hi-Chew, ramune candy, instant ramen, seasonings, and a deep bench of items that never make it into curated boxes. ...

Sakuraco is the Japanese snack box for people who find other Japanese snack boxes too loud. No anime collabs, no neon packaging, no sour gummies — instead: artisan wagashi, senbei from century-old regional makers, tea, and a piece of Japanese tableware every month. At ~$37/month with shipping included, is it worth it? Short answer: for the right person, it’s the best box on the market. For the wrong person, it’s a monthly delivery of polite disappointment. Here’s how to know which one you are. ...