Japan is well known for its culture and I’m sure by now you’ve heard of, or seen, Japanese snack subscription boxes that promises to offer you a peek into the Japanese culture. Sakuraco and Bokksu are amongst the most well known names in the market, and in this Sakuraco vs Bokksu review, I’ll explore the differences between both brands.

The Concept

Sakuraco offers monthly subscription boxes, each containing 20 Japanese treats based on the month’s theme.

Each Sakuraco box offers a curation selection Japanese snacks, teas and home goods; including:

• Japanese Wagashi, which are treats, including cakes, sweets and snacks with a long history and tradition behind them. Snacks are often inspired by the seasons and the themes, such as sakura and fall momiji (autumn leaves)
• Teas like matcha and hojicha
• Japanese home goods including ceramics, chopsticks, and furoshiki (wrapping cloth). These home goods are also made by local craftsmen.
• 24-page comprehensive snack and culture guide

Similarly, Bokksu also offers around 20 Japanese treats in each themed monthly subscription box and a guide that explains all its contents.

Sakuraco vs Bokksu – The Differences

Pricing

As of the time of writing, Sakuraco is priced lower than Bokksu.

A 1-month subscription starts US $37.50 excluding shipping. They also offer 3, 6, and 12-month subscription plans that get cheaper with the more months subscribed. You can check out their website for a more detailed estimation of the shipping fees.

1 month — US $37.50
3 months – US $35.50/month
6 months – US $33.50/month
12 months – US $32.50/month

In contrast, Bokksu starts at US $49.90 for 1 month, but prices include shipping (Note: you may have to pay additional shipping fees if you live in certain countries outside of the US).

1 month – US $49.90
3 months – US $45.99/month
6 months – US $43.99/month
12 months – US $39.99/month

Shipping fees aside, even if you were to purchase 12 months of Bokksu, you’d still be paying more per box as compared to just purchasing a single month of Sakuraco. So, if you’re in the market to just try out or gift a subscription box, Sakuraco is a good choice.

Homegoods

The biggest difference between Sakuraco and Bokksu is that the Sakuraco boxes include a piece of home good. I really like that you’re still able to keep a piece of item as a memento of sorts.

Your First Box Is A Themed Box

With Sakuraco, your first box will be the month’s themed box, while Bokksu sends everyone the same standard contents for their first box, and not a themed box. What I dislike about this is that if you decide to subscribe to the service because you really like that month’s theme, you’ll likely not be able to get it.

Knowing What You’re Getting

Sakuraco posts the monthly themes and box contents on their website so you will know what to expect for the month. On the other hand, Bokksu only posts the themes and box content when the month is over. There are pros and cons to both, it’s really up to your preference. I like Sakuraco’s style of revealing the month’s theme, as knowing what I’ll be receiving gets me excited, while for others, they might see Bokksu’s style as a receiving a surprise monthly.

In addition, Sakuraco also posts a quick overview of ingredients the snacks are made of; which is really useful if you’re allergic to something, or have a special diet.

Final Thoughts On Sakuraco vs Bokksu

Both Sakuraco and Bokksu are great way to get a taste of Japan. Whichever you prefer would likely depend on your budget and what you hope to get out of your subscription.

Personally, I much preferred Sakuraco because I get to know what I’ll be receiving! I also really like the home good included in the Sakuraco box, plus I am a big fan of anything rabbit-print so getting a rabbit dish in my first ever Sakuraco box was delightful!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Are Japanese snack subscription boxes legit? Is Sakuraco and Bokksu legit?

Yes they are. Both Sakuraco and Bokksu have been in the market for many years. Sakuraco has been in the market since 2021, and also has a sister company — Tokyo Treat that has been around since 2015.

Sakuraco is also founded by a Japanese lady, Ayumi Chikamoto, so it is as legit as it gets.

Are Sakuraco and Bokksu the same?

Although they are both a Japanese snacks subscription box service, they are 2 separate companies. Sakuraco is based in Japan while Bokksu is based in America.

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