Japan Crate vs Bokksu: Comparison Chart
| Japan Crate | Bokksu | |
|---|---|---|
| Types of Sweets | Focus on contemporary Japanese snacks | Focus on Japanese wagashi and traditional confections |
| Quantity | – | 750g |
| Price (3-month subscription) | $45.99/month | $45.99/month |
| Shipping | Free (except some countries) | Free (except some countries) |
| Safety | No allergen information | Allergen and ingredient information available. |
| Reviews | Number of reviews: 12,088Average review rating：4.7 | Number of reviews：12,961Average review rating：4.8 |
| Company | Bokksu Corporation (U.S.A.) | Bokksu Corporation (U.S.A.) |
| Official Site | Check | Check |
Japan Crate and Bokksu are both Japanese snack subscription boxes. In recent years, Japan Crate has become part of Bokksu K.K. and is operated by the same company.
Both are popular subscription boxes, but a quick look at them reveals that the types of snacks they contain seem to be different. So what other differences are there? Here are some of the differences.
Japan Crate vs Bokksu: Detailed Comparison of Features
Japan Crate and Bokksu are both assorted boxes of Japanese snacks, but there seems to be a difference between Japan Crate, which focuses on modern snacks, and Bokksu, which focuses on Japanese sweets.
However, I am wondering what kind of modern snacks they are, and whether the items in Bokksu are really all Japanese sweets. Here is a detailed comparison of the box design and the contents of the snacks.
Box Design
First, let’s take a look at the Japan Crate box design, one of the main features of Japan Crate is that one of the themes that changes every month is an interesting theme such as Japanese anime and manga characters or Japanese subculture.
The design of the box will therefore vary greatly according to the theme. Some boxes are collaborations with anime characters with the characters on the front of the box, while others are simple one-color boxes with the Japan Crate logo, making for an interesting difference each month. If you like the character or design, you may want to display the box as well.
The design of the Bokksu box is very simple. The box has the word “box” written in large letters and the Bokksu logo. The colors and design may differ when the theme is cherry blossoms, but basically the design is very simple, easy to understand, and shows a lot of attention to detail.
The type/content of the snacks included in the box
| Japan Crate | Bokksu | |
|---|---|---|
| Types of Sweets | ・Candy ・Chocolate candy ・Potato chips ・Candy ・Drinks, etc. | ・Traditional sweets such as rice cakes and rice crackers ・Japanese tea ・Sweet snacks such as candy and cookies ・Chips and other salty snacks |
The Japan Crate is basically a modern snack package that includes candy, chocolate, potato chips, etc. The contents of the Japan Crate change monthly, of course. Of course, the contents change every month.
Among the modern snacks, there are also a few Japanese snacks and drinks, such as rice snacks and “oshiruko” made from azuki beans, which are interesting and unique to Japan, and there is the advantage of being able to try snacks that are modern but still unknown to the rest of the world.
There is always a drink in the box, but the interesting thing about Japan Crate is that it is not always cider or juice. Looking at past boxes, there are not only cider and juice, but also soup in a can, which is also surprising.
Bokksu, on the other hand, has a different theme each month, and that theme is the four seasons, culture, and prefectures of Japan. The charm of Bokksu is that it contains snacks that match the theme.
The snacks in the box are mainly Japanese sweets, but for example, the Yokohama-themed box contains Western sweets such as cookies and tarts, as well as chocolate sweets, all of which are famous products of Yokohama.
Also, within the category of Japanese sweets, there is a wide variety of mochi, rice crackers, manjuu (steamed buns), candies, and more, so you will never get tired of enjoying them.
The biggest attraction of Bokksu is that it sometimes contains snacks made exclusively for Bokksu by local confectionery makers. This is a very attractive aspect of Bokksu, as it allows Japan connoisseurs and even Japanese people who purchase Bokksu to receive snacks that they have never heard of.
The drinks include tea made at home with hot water. There are many kinds of tea, so it is fun to find the tea that matches the snacks and your own taste.
The amount of sweets included in the package
| Japan Crate | Bokksu | |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity | 15-17pieces | 20 or more (750g) |
Looking at the amount of snacks, Japan Crate scores 15-17 points, while Bokksu scores more than 20 points. The Japan Crate seems to be smaller than the Japan Crate, but it is filled with a large bag of snacks such as potato chips and chocolate candy.
Bokksu, on the other hand, is mainly Japanese snacks, so each one is not so large. However, it is very attractive that you can get rare and valuable snacks made only for Bokksu and enjoy about 20 kinds of sweets from Western to Japanese made in Japan.
Prices
| Japan Crate | Bokksu | |
|---|---|---|
| 12 months | ＄39.99/mo | ＄39.99/mo |
| 6 months | ＄43.99/mo | ＄43.99/mo |
| 3 months | ＄45.99/mo | ＄45.99/mo |
| 1 month | ＄49.99/mo | ＄49.99/mo |
When comparing rates, the same company operates the same monthly payment rates, whether it is a one-time buyout or a 3-, 6-, or 12-month payment contract. The longer the contract, the more you save on the one-time payment.
Delivery Method
Both shipping methods are delivered by USPS in the United States. Japan Crate is shipped from Japan within 7-10 business days. For other countries, Japan Crate will be sent by Airmail, which is affiliated with Japan Post, and takes about 1-3 weeks.
For Bokksu, it takes 1-3 days from order to shipping, and 1-2 weeks once shipped. The official website states that they cannot promise an arrival date, so if you have not received your order after 4 weeks from the time you receive the email notifying you of shipment, you should contact customer support.
Both boxes are generally free of shipping charges, but shipping to some countries will incur an additional shipping charge, so we recommend that you check in advance whether your country is eligible for free shipping.
Allergen information and other safety information
| Japan Crate | Bokksu | |
|---|---|---|
| アレルゲン | No allergen information | Listed both on the official website and in the guide included in the box. |
| ベジタリアン | No vegetarian information | Information available on whether it is vegetarian or not. |
Next, we looked at whether or not allergen information or vegetarian information is listed, and found that Japan Crate does not list allergen information for its products. The official website states that Japan Crate is not recommended for those with specific allergies, as it does not provide individualized services for those who are allergic to certain foods.
Bokksu, on the other hand, has a list on its official website of the contents of the next box that will be delivered, which includes allergen information. It also states whether the snacks are vegetarian or not, which is very reassuring.
After you receive the box, you will also find a list of the snacks you received and a booklet introducing Japanese culture. The booklet also includes allergen information and vegetarian information, so you can enjoy the snacks with peace of mind.
Number of reviews
| Japan Crate | Bokksu | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of reviews | 12,088 reviews | 12,961 reviews |
| Average review rating | 4.7 | 4.8 |
Looking at the number of reviews, we see that both have about the same number of reviews and both are highly rated. Looking at the actual reviews written, many people said that they liked all of the snacks that were included in both.
Looking at the details, some people said that both Japan Crate and Bokksu took a long time for their products to arrive. We ship from Japan, so it may take longer depending on the shipping conditions and the country you live in. If it takes longer than expected, we recommend contacting customer support.
Operating Company
Bokksu K.K. is a company based in New York, U.S.A., but also has an office in Japan. Both companies are based in New York, USA, but they also have an office in Japan, so you can be sure that you will receive authentic Japanese snacks.
Japan Crate vs. Bokksu｜Which is better in the end?
We have compared Japan Crate and Bokksu and found that both are attractive. However, we have also found that there are differences in the ideas that each wants to convey and the good qualities of Japan that each wants to spread.
Japan Crate focuses on contemporary Japanese culture, anime, and subculture, and is recommended for those who like the Japanese style often seen on social networking sites.
The snacks included in the book are the latest items that I have seen in videos of people buying and eating products at convenience stores that I have seen recently. I feel that this is a good choice for those who would like to visit Japan in the future.
Next is Bokksu, which is recommended for those who love Japan more and those who have been to Japan before but would like to see a side of Japan that is still unknown to them.
The theme of the book is the prefectures of Japan, and you can learn more about Japan through the many famous snacks in each prefecture and the booklet that introduces the region.
It is as if you are reading a travel guide while eating snacks, and it makes you want to think about where to go on your next trip to Japan.
