If you’re exploring the world of Japanese snack boxes, you have probably come across two of the biggest names in the space, Bokksu, and Sakuraco.
We here at authentic Japanese snack box Sakuraco, are very proud of the snacking experience that we curate every month and of the local makers that we can promote. But with other snack boxes out there that are also aiming to provide authentic Japanese snacking experiences, it can be hard to know what to try.
We’re going to take a look at the first box you’ll receive if you sign up for both of these services to help you make your snacking decision.
Pricing
Before you get to snack, the first thing you’ll be met with is the price tag of your snack box. One month of Sakuraco retails at $37.50 plus $12.50 for express shipping – in total USD 50.00. Bokksu retails at USD 49.95 including shipping (although shipping to some countries, including Canada and Australia can cost up to an additional $9.95).
As the boxes come with a similar price tag, how can you differentiate the first box you will receive?
Shipping
Waiting for your box can be part of the fun or an annoyance depending on your opinion. But having your box arrive quickly and safely is ideal. The longer the shipping time, the more it could impact the freshness of your box.
If you bought your Sakuraco box in early April 2022, you can expect your box to arrive within 2-14 business days after shipping to most parts of the world, including the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. And the best part, it comes with a tracking number. Some parts of the world may experience longer wait times, but you can see a full outline here.
Bokksu estimates your box will arrive seven days after shipping to the US. But if you are outside the US, it could take up to six weeks for your box to arrive. In addition, the subtotal cost goes up due to extra shipping fees to certain countries, despite Bokksu’s claim that they offer free shipping.
Keeping You Informed
Once your Box arrives, you might be wondering what all of the items are. Bokksu contains a 16-page information guide, while Sakuraco features a 24-page guide, filled with articles to enrich your experience and product information.
Both also contain common allergen information and if the items are vegetarian-friendly or not. Sakuraco also publishes all of this information online to provide extra clarity. You can see the information for our past boxes on Sakuraco’s homepage.
Original Content
When it comes to original content, Japanese makers put in an immense amount of effort and dedication to give Japanese snack box subscribers a wonderful snacking experience. Your first Bokksu box will provide three original items – their Yuzu Sake Candy, Tsukisamu Anpan, and White Strawberry pack. These items will always appear in your first box as the first box is always the same, Seasons of Japan.
Every month, Sakuraco provides a unique theme and unique snacks, tea, and home goods to match it. We also work directly with makers to provide original items that are only available for an incredibly limited time! Items include the Sakuraco Sakura Glass in our Sakura Afternoon Tea box or Sakura Sencha in our Matcha and Mochi box. These original items are around for a very limited time, so please make sure to enjoy them ASAP!
Made in Japan!
Sakuraco is proud to only feature items and products that are produced in Japan by Japanese makers, allowing us to support local, family-owned businesses and local governments and helping us to give back to the community that we love so dearly. Many of these makers have also never sold outside of Japan, providing truly unique snacking experiences.
As of April 2022, other Japanese snack boxes have not done official partnerships with local governments in the past year. In addition, have plenty more official government partnerships coming up as well. This means we can help promote more small makers from these lesser-visited regions. Will your first box be a regional partnership box?
Dagashi vs Wagashi
There are a wide variety of Japanese snacks and sweets in the world. And perhaps none are so iconic as dagashi. Dagashi are childhood favorite snacks that are usually on the cheaper side. Examples would be Mocchan Mochi Dango and Dondon Yaki, found in Bokksu’s Seasons of Japan box, your first box.
Even though Dagashi can be a culturally unique snacking experience, Sakuraco’s curation is a bit more unique. This involves focusing less on large and popular makers and more on local artisans who make wagashi. Sakuraco aims to promote smaller, local makers and give them a platform. This allows them to shine on the world stage, showing the best of their regions and talents.
Japanese Home Goods
While Bokksu’s service solely focuses on snacks, Sakuraco aims to not only give you an authentic Japanese snacking experience. In addition, we also want to give you a small piece of Japan to hold onto. In every box, there is a piece of Japanese home good to use in your home for a long time.
Japanese craftsmanship is second to none, and we work closely with our homeware makers to ensure it is of the highest quality. Recently we highlighted the craftsmanship of Yamani, a Gifu ceramic maker with over 100 years of experience behind them. We hope that the Sakuraco subscribers can have the feeling that their experience will come away with them and be a part of their daily lives.
Summary
When looking to try a new Japanese snack box, each box comes with a slightly different experience. We hope that we have given you a bit of information that could help inform your snacking decision.
With Sakuraco, we are excited to share a unique snacking experience filled with goods made with love from small and local makers. If you want to see what is coming in the next Sakuraco box, why not check out what is coming up in your next box?
