Japan is a country that has long been on my bucket list. The incredible history, some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world and the sheer uniqueness of this country has always appealed to me. So, in October 2025 we will be heading off to the Land of the Rising Sun as one of two epic adventures (stay tuned for the other one!). However, before we go, we wanted to get to know a bit more about this country. To do that, we’re collaborating with Sakuraco and reviewing their gorgeous Valentine’s Day Box. It is filled with seasonal Japenese snacks and sweets that are all traditionally associated with the 14th of February. Here is what we found in this beautiful limited-edition box of surprises.
Sakuraco Valentine’s Day Box Review | Featuring Exciting Travel Plans!
First Impressions: A Box Full of Love & Tradition
The Sakuraco Valentine’s Day Box is so much more than a collection of snack; it really is an experience. When it arrived, I was genuinely blown away by how beautiful the box was. The rich red colour for the background, complimented by the soft blue floral design is mesmerising. It felt like a small piece of Japan had been sent to our home.
Like all Sakuraco products, the presentation inside is stunning and immaculately neat. All the products are delicately arranged inside and each one adds to a warm and romantic colour palette. On top of all the snacks was a beautiful booklet guide with a traditional Japanese scene. Inside of this booklet is a guide to all of the different snacks (which really does help as all the packaging is Japanese!). It also walks you through some key cultural aspects of Valentine’s Day and weddings in Japan, alongside how these delicious snacks are made.
My favourite aspect of the box was the fact they included a beautiful Furoshiki in a light plum colour. This is a traditional wrapping cloth, usually associated with gift giving.
The box felt so much more than something you would order; it felt like a real gift from Japan and I could not wait to open it.
What’s Inside the Sakuraco Valentine’s Day Box
I was really surprised with how much variety there was in the box. I was not sure what to expect If I am honest, but I really loved the journey I went on trying everything. There were some snacks which were similar to some that we have at home (such as the Pudding Baumkuchen – a vanilla sponge cake) and others which were entirely different.
Here are some of my favourites from the box. I can’t get over how different / amazing some of these were and it really has got me excited for Japanese food later in the year.
A Taste of Japan: Our Favourite Treats from the Box
🍓 Strawberry Monako
The Monako is apparently a tradition Japanese confectionary. It consists of a smooth white bean paste which has been infused by the flavours of Japanese strawberries. This is then sandwiched between two exceptionally thin wafers. The sweetness of the strawberries has a real kick to it and it was super delicious. I actually can’t wait to eat more of these in Japan!
🍫 Chocolate Sable
This one was particularly tasty. The chocolate sable is almost like a mega-cookie. You get the soft and chewy exterior as you usually would, but inside is a generous smooth layer of chocolate spread. The smoothness and chewiness of this cookie was spot-on.
🍓 Strawberry Peanuts
Who would have thought that strawberries and peanuts made such a tasty combination? The strawberry is a really popular flavour in Japan, especially the Amaou variety. These were incredibly moorish and we loved eating these crunchy sweet, yet savoury, snacks.
🌸 Seto Salt Arare
One of my favourite savoury additions to the Sakuraco Valentine’s Day box had to be the Seto Salt Arare. These are a hybrid between rice cakes and prawn crackers, but take the best of both worlds. The texture is very much a rice cake, but with a snap that you would have in a prawn cracker. As you also may have guessed, the flavour is a combination of salt and prawn, but it is quite delicate and subtle. Overall, a top-tier snack that I would happily eat more of!
🍵 Daruma Senbei
This was another moorish savoury snack that was similar, yet different, to what we get at home. The Drama Senbei was again like a rice cracker, but a super-spicy one! It is infused with shichimi pepper which gives it a real heat-kick. It is described as an ‘addictive snack’ in the booklet and, to be honest, I can totally see why!
The box also included:
- Tanba Kuromame Arare
- Ume Shiso Senbei
- Orange Chocolate Cookie
- Chocolate Kuzumochi
- Chocolate Yokan
- Pudding Baumkuchen
- Strawberry Chocolate Crunch
- Chocolate Karinto
- Caramel Hojicha
Why We Love Sakuraco
There’s something incredibly special about Sakuraco’s approach to Japanese snack boxes. Unlike many other subscription services that focus on mass-market treats, Sakuraco prioritizes authenticity, craftsmanship, and cultural experience. Each box not only introduces regional and seasonal flavors, but also celebrates the artisans and small businesses that have all contributed to this box.
Why We Loved This Box
This was easily one of the best international snack boxes we’ve ever ordered. It was filled with so many incredibly thoughtful things and has made us both even more excited to travel to Japan. However, here are some other reasons why I love it:
💖 Perfect for Valentine’s Day – As a keen traveller, I would personally love this box for Valentine’s Day. It is completely unique and is packed with delicious treats that you wouldn’t be able to get easily.
🎌 A True Taste of Japan – For people who are growing ever-more excited to go to Japan, this box was perfect. I feel like I have a better understanding of what snacks to expect when we’re travelling around there. Even if you are not going to Japan anytime soon, the flavours of Japanese confectionary are really different to western ones. You might just surprise yourself with how much you enjoy them.
We’re Visiting Japan in October! 🇯🇵
I am so happy that we’re finally announcing our Japan Adventure for October 2025. We’ll be seeing all of the main sights, such as Tokyo, Mount Fuji, Kyoto, Hiroshima and more!
We do actually have another big trip planned before then, but we’ll be slowly announcing more updates as we get closer and closer to the Autumn. If you’ve been to Japan before, we’d love to hear your must-visit places and food recommendations—let us know in the comments!
Final Thoughts
The Sakuraco Valentine’s Day Box was the perfect way to celebrate the diverse range of Japanese flavours. Not only that but I felt like I gained some knowledge about the traditions and flavours which help make Japan one of the most incredible countries. If you are a fan, or a curious about, Japanese flavours definitely check out Sakuraco. I know that we’ll be ordering a lot more as we build up to our adventure..
Have you tried Sakuraco before? Let us know your favorite treats in the comments! 🍓🍵🍫
*cover image source: HandLuggageOnly.co.uk
