Sakuraco and Bokksu are both our favourite monthly subscription services that deliver an array of delightful and flavourful Japanese snacks. Their delicious nibbles offer a wide range of interesting textures and flavours. From sweet and chewy candies to crispy and savoury chips. They will transport your taste buds across the world.
As snack enthusiasts with an undying love for snacks and Japanese candy, we’ve subscribed to both Sakuraco and Bokksu in the past. But if you had to only choose one, which one should it be?
Video Review: Sakuraco vs Bokksu
Just want a quick breakdown? Watch our quick 5 minutes review video of these two Japanese snack box subscriptions.
While it was a close call between the two, Sakuraco is our favourite Japanese snack box compared to Bokksu. Nonetheless, we're here with our up-to-date Japanese snack box review so you can make a decision for yourself on which one you prefer.
Some of these traditional Japanese sweets might be available in your local grocery store outside Japan. However, nothing beats receiving a mystery package and trying new delicacies every month. Even if you can't fly overseas, you can still indulge and experience a taste of Japan.
Jump to:
Sakuraco vs Bokksu (Quick Review)
To us, Sakuraco is better than Bokksu because they provide high-quality treats, a unique variety of locally produced munchies, and a complete Japanese tea time experience. In addition, their packages contain an excellent range of treats and flavours. Their commitment to showcasing Japanese culture through local snack producers is also intimate and heartwarming. Moreover, their snack quality is exceptional at an affordable price. Therefore we believe it is a better overall purchase.
Even better, they give you exquisite tableware with every purchase and there are always Sakuraco discount codes so you can get each package for a lower price. You can use our Sakuraco coupon code HFT for $5 off your first order.
Selection of Japanese Snacks
The key factors we look for in a Japanese snack box are variety, quality, and overall value. As we have made our judgement based on the boxes we received, the snacks you receive do change depending on the month. So these metrics can vary when you order your own, but you can use our Sakuraco vs Bokksu review as a rough guide.
Sakuraco vs Bokksu: Quantity
Every shipment from these excellent services includes a variety of delectable sweet and savoury Japanese snacks and tea selections. Bokksu sends 20-22 items in each package, whereas Sakuraco sends 20. However, the treats from Bokksu do look and feel smaller compared to Sakuraco.
Within both boxes, you will receive tea bags. For the Sakuraco box, we received 2 artisan tea blends which were peach-flavoured and pink in colour when we brewed them. It was unique to what we’ve had in the past. Meanwhile, with Bokksu, we only received 1 tea bag, which was genmaicha flavoured. It did taste nice but it didn’t feel unique.
In addition, Sakuraco also includes small Japanese souvenirs, home goods or traditional items in their boxes. For our box, we received a small glass cup to drink our tea out of. These souvenirs add an extra touch of Japanese culture and make the experience of unboxing their treats even more special.
Every shipment comes with an authentic home product. These Sakuraco gifts range from yunomi cups to elegant ceramic dishes. These one-of-a-kind items are the ideal fusion of form and function. Ultimately, they give you a memory of Japan that will last much longer than the shelf life of your munchies.
The snacks in both boxes usually come in pairs, so you can share this with another person. However, Bokksu’s snacks are a lot smaller, and there is only 1 tea bag. In addition, because of the higher price point, we felt that this wasn’t something we’d want to share with someone else.
Sweet vs Savoury Variety
Sakuraco and Bokksu both have more sweet snacks than savoury. Sakuraco focuses on offering a delightful assortment of traditional Japanese sweets and modern snacks to create a complete Japanese tea time experience that complements their tea well. On the other hand, Bokksu does try to strike a good balance between sweet and savoury snacks. As their sweet treats are often a lot smaller in size than their savoury snacks, it did still feel to that it had a good balance.
Both Bokksu and Sakuraco cater to mention whether their snacks are vegetarian-friendly and state the common allergies. However, they do not state if there are vegan Japanese snacks in both subscriptions. From reading the original packages in Japanese, some were indeed vegan or halal. However, manufacturers would also mention it may contain traces of animal products. So, we understand why both companies have not mentioned it.
Quality of Sakuraco and Bokksu
Both brands go above and beyond to give their customers a great range of items from Japan's leading snack makers. They prioritise authenticity and quality.
Bokksu certainly feels premium with their bitesize delicate snacks as well as custom-made packaging for the majority of their snacks. The custom-made packaging showcases the collaborations they have with different snack makers. However, Sakuraco feels more authentic because of its attention to detail and focus on high-quality, traditional Japanese sweets. Sakuraco also partners with local snack makers and tea masters but keep the original packaging of the snacks, which we think helps to keep their cost low.
Furthermore, both Bokksu and Sakuraco come with a comprehensive product guide. The guide is filled with articles and stories about Japan as well as standard allergen information. Both were interesting to read but the way Sakuraco presents the information in the guide does feel more tied in with their snack selection.
Rareness or Exclusiveness
Both companies provide rare and exclusive Japanese foods that are only sometimes available outside Japan. Where the two packages vary is in their dedication to a more authentic flavour and showcasing Japanese culture.
Sakuraco strives to include more treats from local snack makers in its packages. This is to emphasise the stories and food of local family-owned and operated businesses. Meanwhile, Bokksu’s treats are also fairly rare as they partner with Japanese companies for exclusive collaborations. Nonetheless, both brands still taste delicious and take the leg work out of you to find the snacks by yourself.
Additionally, Sakuraco collaborates with nearby prefectures to emphasise a particular region of Japan. They may highlight even more regional makers by collaborating with local governments. We love that this service emphasises foods made locally by smaller producers. They also work with Japanese-owned family enterprises that have been around for many years. As a result, this package includes a variety of unique and exclusive Japanese foods, ceramics, glassware, and tableware. You won't find these items in any other subscriptions.
For example, Sakuraco partnered with the Kanagawa Prefectural Government in January 2022 to create a special box of snacks and souvenirs from the prefecture. The box included various items, such as gold citrus jelly, yakisoba noodles, and Kamakura ramen. It was a great way to experience Kanagawa's unique flavours and culture.
Sakuraco vs Bokksu: Subscriptions and Price
In 2023, Sakuraco costs $32.5 per package for a 12-month plan and $37.50 per package for a monthly plan. Whereas Bokksu costs between $39.99 and $49.99 each box for a 12-month plan and monthly plan, respectively. Both are available as monthly subscriptions, but you can prepay for 3, 6, or 12 months.
If you plan to stick around and enjoy Japanese snacks for a longer duration, we suggest choosing an annual subscription. Opting for a combined annual subscription to both companies will save you money compared to monthly subscriptions. With Bokksu, paying upfront for a 12-month membership reduces the cost to $40 per month, allowing you to save up to $120. Meanwhile, with Sakuraco, an annual membership costs $32.50 per month, saving about $60.
In addition, both brands allow you to cancel your subscription plans anytime. To prevent being charged for the following package, all you have to do is email or call their customer service department. But you must do this at least 48 hours before the next renewal date.
Shipping and Delivery Time
Both companies offer worldwide shipping, with the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia being the most popular destinations.
Sakuraco and Bokksu both arrived within a week of ordering from them. Both companies also provide tracking information. So you can keep an eye on your package as it makes its way to you.
With Sakuraco, our package required a signature on delivery in the UK which we really liked as we don’t live in an area where packages can be dropped off safely. Especially with food items, we prefer it not to be left unattended for too long. Meanwhile, our Bokksu package was left on the porch. While we were able to pick it up quickly, we were a little worried that the heat would ruin the snacks inside. It could just be our experience, so we can’t vouch for other regions or countries.
Packaging
Both services use high-quality packaging to ensure their parcels arrive in good condition. However, there are some key differences in their packaging.
Sakuraco uses a cardboard box that is wrapped in bubble wrap. The snacks are then individually wrapped in plastic. This packaging provides excellent protection for the snacks and helps to prevent them from breaking or getting crushed. Every month is like receiving a beautiful Sakuraco gift.
Bokksu also uses a sturdy cardboard box that feels a lot thicker. For their snacks, they’re also individually wrapped, but we can’t help but notice there’s a lot of packaging to keep their snacks fresh, sealed and separate from each other. This isn’t a bad thing as it does keep the snacks in good condition. However, we were surprised by how much there was compared to the size of the snacks themselves.
In terms of whether the snacks themselves arrive in good condition, both have a good track record. For us, most of our snacks have arrived in good condition, with the occasional biscuit breaking in half. But otherwise, no complaints from our end for either.
We’ve not had to use either of their customer services, but we have heard good things about them. If you are concerned about the condition of your snacks, you can contact customer service for assistance.
Monthly Theme
The treat selection for both brands is usually based on a changing monthly theme. Both businesses offer many Japanese themes that best depict their culture. Nonetheless, the two adopt slightly different tactics, undoubtedly influencing your experience of trying out the treats.
If you order from Bokksu for the first time, the first package you'll receive as default is the "Seasons of Japan" box. Meanwhile, one of the best parts of your first Sakuraco purchase is that you will get any of the current themes.
Sakuraco began in the spring, and its initial themes were focused on flavour. Today, this brand's themes are still focused on flavour, but they also incorporate Japanese culture, history, and prefecture-specific themes. This company gives each location the attention it deserves by selecting treats inspired by distinct, individual prefectures. Through this, they can share local stories that can enrich the items in your packages. They also deliver themed boxes to commemorate special occasions such as Valentine's Day, the New Year, and the Sakura season.
On the other hand, Bokksu only focuses on flavour-focused themes, with a heavy emphasis on seasonality. However, they didn’t feel as authentic as the other service's boxes. We think it’s probably just down to the packaging having a more sophisticated, curated feel.
But, they do offer some festival-themed boxes based on Sakura, Natsu Matsuri, and the Moon Viewing Festival. These boxes are more distinctive to Japan and offer a unique opportunity to experience Japanese culture. Occasionally, they also have a few prefecture-based boxes.
Overall, both companies provide distinct themes. However, comparing both services, the former brand provides more engaging monthly themes due to cultural relevance and authenticity.
Sakuraco vs Bokksu Company Overview
From the beginning, the business goals for both services were to make Asian treats and culture more widely known. Sakuraco was founded by Ayumi in 2015. The brand was born out of her passion for Japanese culture. She also desired to bring unique and seasonal Japanese snacks to an international audience. Therefore, Ayumi and her team aim to provide an immersive experience by curating Japanese delicacies into one delight bundle.
Moreover, the brand prides itself on supporting local artisans and producers. They highlight their craftsmanship and stories through the snacks they curate.
This Japanese-owned firm has its headquarters in Tokyo. Furthermore, customer reviews are generally positive, with many users praising the quality of the snacks and the informative cultural guides. While we’ve not had to use their customer service, most people have mentioned that the company’s customer service is quick to respond and helpful in resolving consumer issues. You can contact their friendly employees via their customer portal for any queries.
On the other hand, Bokksu was founded by Danny Taing in 2016. Inspired by his travels to Japan, Taing created this service. His goal was to share the authentic flavours of Japan with people around the world. Bokksu showcases a wide range of traditional and regional snacks from various parts of Japan. Although this brand has an office in Japan, its headquarters are in New York. They provide text-based support for customers in the United States. In addition, they answer general FAQs and questions on their website. For issues such as cancellations, refunds, orders, or account adjustments, subscribers must submit a support ticket via your account portal.
Bokksu or Sakuraco: Our Verdict
Ultimately, both brands are excellent services for people interested in trying Japanese candy and delicacies. Bokksu offers a wholesome experience that combines traditional flavours with popular goodies. Meanwhile, Sakuraco is firmly entrenched in Japanese culture. They also include a piece of Japanese home goods in every box to give you a small piece of Japan to hold onto.
Compared to Bokksu, Sakuraco has our heart for providing a wholesome Japanese tea time experience. Each shipment includes a selection of delectable Japanese sweets. There is also a complete booklet that describes the treats and tells the story of the selected location or topic. Everything in this package, including the brochure, the flavour of each item, and the addition of houseware, feels authentic and high-quality. It doesn't just feel like a package of munchies. It feels like a meaningful learning experience, and that you feel connected to the people and events happening in Japan.
Their packages last up to three months because they are created fresh and individually wrapped. Their goods are also neatly wrapped so that they arrive in pristine condition even after travelling across the world. Moreover, they help small businesses by bridging the gap between local creators and the rest of the globe. Ultimately, they foster cultural exchange by spreading Japan's distinct and original flavours.
Each Sakuraco box contains a variety of seasonal snacks and treats curated by a team of Japanese experts. So, whether you're missing Japan or suffering from post-holiday Japanese blues, this snack box subscription is a great way to experience Japanese culture. We also like that it can be a unique yet affordable gift for a friend or to share with our loved ones.
Is Sakuraco the same as Bokksu?
Sakuraco and Bokksu are two different Japanese snack box subscription services. Sakuraco focuses on creating an authentic Japanese tea experience while Bokksu includes premium bitesize snacks through exclusive collaborations.
Where is Sakuraco based?
Sakuraco is based in Tokyo and is a Japanese company founded by Ayumi Chikamoto in 2015.
Is Sakuraco the same as Tokyo Treat?
Sakuraco is the sister company to Tokyo Treat, another Japanese snack box subscription service. Check out our article on Bokksu vs Tokyo Treat.
Still hungry for Asian munchies, or perhaps you're looking for some halal Japanese snacks? Then, subscribe to our YouTube channel for more reviews on the best Asian nibbles.
Leave a Reply