Do you love snacking on Japanese candies, trying new instant ramen flavors, or collecting cute stationery items? Then you may be interested in subscribing to a Japanese subscription box service. This article will compare two popular Japanese subscription box services - Tokyo Treat and ZenPop. We will take a closer look at the types of subscription boxes they offer, the contents of their packages, and the pricing structure. We will also compare their similarities and differences to help you decide which one to choose. First, let’s get to know a little more about these boxes.
Tokyo Treat started in the living room of a gift giver, like many other companies. In 2015, Ayumi used to pack snacks she handpicked alone to send to her friends. Then she gathered a team and created a company to help her make a monthly subscription service that delivers a box of Japanese snacks and treats straight to people’s doorstep. TokyoTreat claims to have served millions and is dedicated to has since grown to become one of the most popular Japanese snack subscription services.
ZenPop is a Japanese subscription box service founded in 2016 by ZenMarket. Inc (now ZenGroup Inc.). ZenMarket is a shopping service from ZenGroup where people from all over the world get to shop from real-life Japanese stores at cheap rates that deliver a variety of Japanese goods straight to your doorstep. The success of ZenMarket led to the creation of ZenPop, where people from all over the world get to partake in authentic Japanese snacks, ramen and stationery to discover the country from their homes slowly.
Tokyo Treat offers just one type of subscription box - the TokyoTreat Snack box; however, the company that Ayumi started has sister brands like Sakuraco and YumeTwins that offer entirely different packages at similar prices.
ZenPop, on the other hand, offers four different types of subscription boxes -
Each Tokyo Treat subscription box includes a variety of 15-20 Japanese snacks, candies, and beverages.
Each ZenPop subscription box includes a variety of at least 20 Japanese goods, depending on the type of box. But for this review, we’ll focus on the Snack Box.
Let’s get to the money talk; here’s how much it’s going to cost you to get these snack boxes from Japan.
TokyoTreat Snack Box:
ZenPop Snack Box:
Let's face it, and it's common for people to get turned off when it comes to shipping prices. Sure, you may be able to afford the good, but if the shipping costs as much as it or even more, it’s probably not worth it. Let’s examine how much it’ll cost to get these awesome boxes delivered.
Shipping to around 120 countries, TokyoTreat has categorized its shipping options into two tiers, labeled as one and two. The initial group consists of countries primarily located in Asia, the Pacific islands, and some parts of Africa and the United States of America. The shipping method for this tier is Express Shipping with Tracking, which takes approximately 2 to 14 business days after shipping and has a shipping fee of $10.50. The second tier comprises European countries, the United Kingdom, and South America. The shipping method for this tier is Express Shipping with Tracking, which takes approximately 2 to 14 business days after shipping and has a shipping fee of $12.50.
ZenPop currently ships to over 70 countries. Chances are yours is one of them. For people living in the USA, the shipping is free, but for other countries, it may reach up to $20. There are also several shipping methods that can affect the shipping time and cost. You can choose to use ZenExpress, DHL, UPS, FedEx and Airmail.
Tokyo Treat offers just one subscription box, which includes a mix of snacks, candies, and drinks. On the other hand, ZenPop provides four subscription boxes, including the unique Stationery Pack and Anime Pack and the Ramen Pack and SnackPack.
Both services are reasonably priced, but Tokyo Treat is slightly more affordable than ZenPop. However, this is only in comparison with Zenpop snack boxes, boxes like the stationery ones are cheaper.
Both services offer high-quality Japanese products, but ZenPop offers a more specialized service with its other boxes. Tokyo Treat is more focused on snacks and candies.
If you are looking for a Japanese subscription box that offers a wide variety of snacks and candies, these two options may be the best choice for you. However, if you are interested in Japanese ramen or specialized products like stationery or anime products, ZenPop may be a better option. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference and what you are looking for in a subscription box service.
Both Tokyo Treat and ZenPop offer a unique and enjoyable experience for those who love Japanese products. From snacks and candies to stationery and ramen products, these two subscription services have a lot to offer.
If you find yourself craving Japanese munchies, why don’t you order a ZenPop snack pack where you get loads of candies and snacks from Japan? Click here to order yours!
This article was originally written by our freelance writer Umm-Kulthum Abdulkareem and edited by us.