The ever-present whirring of cicadas outside as I write this reminds me that summer is in full swing, which means it’s the best season to enjoy matsuri, Japanese festivals! Thanks to TokyoTreat, you can recreate the atmosphere of a summer matsuri at home with this month’s Summer Matsuri Snackfest snack box.
TokyoTreat is a subscription snack box that includes 15-20 carefully curated seasonal and Japan-exclusive snacks shipped to your door monthly. Each box features bold, bright Japanese pop-culture-inspired designs that are sure to excite lovers of anime and manga. This snack box is packed with savory Japanese snacks and sweet Japanese candy, ranging from spicy ramen and chewy mochi to salty potato chips, so there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Inside the box is a thoughtfully written brochure that includes details about each product, allergy information, and interesting and informative cultural notes related to the monthly theme. This month’s brochure features tips on how to stay cool during the Japanese summer, types of foods to enjoy at matsuri, as well as information about summertime traditions.
As someone who combs the news for information about new and seasonal product releases, I was looking forward to seeing what surprises were included in this month’s box. Despite frequently browsing the snack aisle in supermarkets and conbini, some of the treats were new even to me. Others were more common and likely familiar to anyone who has visited or lived in Japan.
My favorite item was undoubtedly the ramune gummies. Truth be told, I often purchase these when I’m looking for a quick pick-me-up, so it’s not too surprising that they were my favorite. While the gummies weren’t new to me, I was delighted to see them included in this month’s package. These types of snacks can be found at dagashiya, which are retro candy stores that sell inexpensive small candies. Ramune is an iconic summertime staple, and the fizzy sweetness of the drink is captured perfectly in these tiny gummies. I cannot recommend them enough; their subtle sweetness is irresistible!
Surely one of the most anticipated and popular items featured in the snack box is the Japan-exclusive KitKat. Japan is notorious for its unique and often downright wild KitKat flavors. This month’s box included a rather tame flavor combination, chocolate orange, but it was still delicious nonetheless. More surprising than the flavor was that one whole full-sized bag with seven mini KitKats was included!
This summer, the heat in Japan has been record-breaking, with some days climbing to above 40 degrees Celsius. As a result, the KitKats in my box arrived a bit melted. If you live in a hot climate, I recommend putting any products that may have softened during transit in the fridge as soon as your box arrives. Some KitKats are even meant to be eaten chilled (or heated in a toaster oven during the winter months!). These chilled chocolates make for a refreshing and cool afternoon snack to enjoy alongside your iced coffee or tea.
The snack I was most intrigued by was the kakigori jellies. Five flavors were included: Blue Hawaii, melon, lemon, mango, and strawberry, all popular flavors of kakigori syrup. The jelly can be eaten as is or placed in the freezer and enjoyed as an icy treat, which the brochure helpfully noted! My favorites were Blue Hawaii, a popular Japanese summertime flavor sometimes described as tasting similar to ramune, and melon, which reminded me of a melon cream soda. I appreciated the nostalgic flavors and that the jellies weren’t overly sweet. I recommend enjoying them frozen!
The DIY Candy Apple was so much fun to put together. The mini candies included were very similar in taste and consistency to Hi-Chew candies. These kinds of DIY kits are generally marketed towards children in Japan, but I think people of all ages would enjoy this creative and cute snack. This kit is certainly much easier than making candied apples at home, with no cleanup required! The syrup included was cloyingly sweet, just like a real candy apple, but it may be too sweet for some. If that’s the case, the mini candies can be enjoyed on their own.
Another standout in this month’s box was the eggplant miso soup. Eggplant is packed with nutrients that are said to help combat summertime fatigue, making it a staple of Japanese summer meals. The soup was full of large chunks of eggplant, and the flavor was rich and salty: just right to pair with a light summertime lunch! If you enjoyed this soup, I recommend trying agebitashi, a dish made from deep-fried summer vegetables soaked in dashi and soy sauce.
Lastly, the Don Don Yaki Cracker was my favorite out of all the savory snacks. Despite the package stating the snack was “sauce” flavored, I was still shocked by how authentic it tasted. While yakisoba noodles are soft and chewy, this snack provided the same flavor with a super satisfying crunch. I will be sure to look for it next time I am craving a crispy, salty snack.
If you are a fan of Japanese pop culture and want to try an assortment of Japanese snacks, this is the snack box for you. TokyoTreat offers four subscription-based plans, ranging from monthly to yearly. Each box is packed to the brim with treats, so you can enjoy sharing with a group of friends or a partner who also wants to experience a taste of Japan. This box would also make a great gift for friends and family who can’t get enough of Japan and need something to hold them over until their next visit.
Add a little color and umami to your life, and gift yourself a subscription to TokyoTreat to enjoy a variety of authentic and unique flavors from Japan every month!
ICHIGO Inc., the parent company of TokyoTreat, kindly sent us this snack box so we could try it out and share our honest thoughts with you. This page also has affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you decide to purchase a box through our website (at no extra cost to you, of course). Thank you so much for supporting Deep Japan!