Despite the lingering late-summer heat, September 1st marks the beginning of fall in Japan. Fall flavors, such as satsumaimo (Japanese sweet potato), kuri (chestnut), and kabocha (Japanese pumpkin), replace summertime flavors like mint and ramune on supermarket shelves. Rice fields slowly turn golden in the early autumn sunlight, while susuki (pampas grass) sways in the gentle, warm breeze. As summer transitions to fall, Japan celebrates the changing of the seasons with tsukimi, a centuries-old autumn holiday.
Tsukimi, or “moon viewing,” marks the arrival of fall and is a time to quietly show appreciation for nature and the full harvest moon. Traditionally, the holiday was celebrated with events such as the recital of seasonal poetry and performances of music on folk instruments like the koto. Members of the court would admire the moon from boats drifting slowly on rivers and ponds, and this tradition has persisted to the present day, with many temples and Japanese gardens hosting moon-viewing events.
Much like hanami in spring, the holiday encourages us to slow down and savor the fleeting beauty of each season. Observed on the 15th day of the eighth month in the traditional lunar calendar, tsukimi typically falls in September or October. This year, it is on October 6th.
This month’s Sakuraco subscription box, Autumn Moon Festival, features a variety of tsukimi-themed snacks ranging from sweet cookies to salty senbei (Japanese rice crackers). Sakuraco delivers authentic Japanese snacks from small local suppliers across the country.
As founder Ayumi Chikamoto noted in her message, which came with the box, this is a season filled with wonder. Everything from the beautiful navy and golden packaging to the folk tales and traditions detailed in the brochure conveyed this feeling. Reading ethereal stories about the history of the holiday while enjoying autumnal snacks, transported me to a quiet night, listening to the chirping of crickets under the soft glow of the moon.
Although thought to have originated from the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, Japan made the holiday its own with unique traditions and events. One of the most well-known foods of the season is tsukimi dango (rice dumplings). Traditionally, 15 dango are placed on top of a small wooden tray as an offering to the moon. The tray is displayed as part of a larger tsukimi altar, alongside seasonal foods and decorations such as susuki. This month’s box included koshian daifuku, which resemble tsukimi dango, but are filled with a sweet red bean paste.
Usagi (rabbits) are another common motif during the season and can be found on many decorations and foods. Many cultures see the face of a man in the moon; however, in Japan, the craters are said to resemble a rabbit pounding mochi. This month’s box featured many adorable usagi-themed sweets that were almost too cute to eat! I am a sucker for adorable foods and, while all of the usagi-themed sweets caught my eye, the tsukimi cookie stood out in both flavor and appearance. I was expecting to bite into an average cookie; however, the texture was surprisingly soft and melty, with just the right amount of sweetness.
Included in this month’s pamphlet was an in-depth look at the company that produces these adorable cookies, Fujita Confectionery. The company’s history extends back to 1939 and is now run by the third generation of the same family. The beautiful colors in their cookies are all created using non-synthetic colorants, as the company places an emphasis on food safety in addition to flavor and appearance. I appreciate that Sakuraco strives to support small local suppliers, and learning more about the people behind the products made the snack time experience even more enjoyable.
While I have yet to see pumpkin beer being sold in Japan, I think the salt truffle & cheese arare is a perfect snack to enjoy alongside a hearty fall beer. Despite using a variety of strong flavors like black truffle and pepper, I was delighted by how much the Hokkaido cheese powder still shone through. Hokkaido really lives up to its reputation when it comes to delicious dairy products!
In addition to a wide variety of savory and sweet snacks, each Sakuraco box includes one piece of Japanese tableware. I am thrilled to add the yunomi (Japanese teacup) to my tsukimi collection. The deep blue base is covered in a pearlescent coating, making the teacup appear as though it is bathed in moonlight. The inclusion of a non-food-related item is both unique and practical, as every Sakuraco box also contains two packets of tea.
The subtle flavors of the snacks paired perfectly with this month’s tea—tsukimi gokokucha. I enjoyed the tea even more knowing that it was made in neighboring Tottori Prefecture! Gokokucha is rich and nutty, and is one of my favorite teas to enjoy during the cooler fall months. It’s also caffeine-free, which makes it a perfect accompaniment for late-night moon-viewing festivities.
Last month, I had the chance to review a snack box from TokyoTreat, the sister brand of Sakuraco. While the TokyoTreat snack box appealed to the little girl who loved watching Sailor Moon and dreamed of living in a bustling Japanese metropolis, the Sakuraco box appealed more to my tastes now as a 30-something living in the Japanese countryside.
Each subscription box showcases a different side of Japan, and which one you will enjoy entirely depends on what aspects of Japan you want to experience. TokyoTreat focuses on eye-catching and trendy snack foods with wild and unique flavors, while Sakuraco focuses on traditional and authentic Japanese sweets meant to be enjoyed slowly alongside a cup of hot tea.
Past Sakuraco boxes have often focused on specific regions, such as New Year’s in Hiroshima and Heart of Ishikawa. People who want to delve deeper into Japanese traditions will appreciate the thoughtfulness and attention to detail of Sakuraco’s subscription boxes. Sakuraco highlights many areas of the country that international tourists often don’t get to experience, making the snack boxes a great way to explore Japan’s far corners without additional travel expenses!
ICHIGO Inc., the parent company of Sakuraco, 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!