Buying Japanese Snacks Online: A Beginner’s Guide

If you’re a fan of Japanese snacks, then you know just how difficult it can be to get them overseas! If you want to get them in-store, you’ll have to find an Asian supermarket near you, or one where you can purchase imported Japanese goods. But not everyone lives near one, and even if you do, you may not want to take the risk of visiting more stores than necessary, considering the current global situation.

Fortunately, you can purchase plenty of the best Japanese candy without even leaving your home! Wondering where to start? Follow our step-by-step guide to find great websites where you can buy the snacks you love.

Choose Between Buying Single Snacks or Monthly Subscriptions

First, you’ll need to decide if you want to buy Japanese candy online individually or as part of a subscription box. Each method has its pros and cons, so let’s have a look at that first.

Why Buy Individually?

If there are specific snacks you know and love, then buying bulk packs of them online may be the best option for you. For one thing, buying in bulk saves trips to a physical store. Also, online stores usually offer more variety, including exclusive snacks, like Japanese Kit Kats, which are rarely sold outside of Japan! 

Where can I buy Japanese Candy online?

Sadly, you often can’t buy Japanese candy on the Japanese version of Amazon, or Rakuten, so you’ll need to find sites that specialize in Japanese candy instead. Plus, you need to watch out for scams.

Tired of searching for Japanese snacks and sweets on your own? Check out TokyoTreat! TokyoTreat sends curated boxes of Japanese snacks right to your door!

Our online recommendation: JapanHaul!

JapanHaul is a trustworthy site, perfect for picking out your favorite snacks online. They have hundreds of Japanese snacks, candy, drinks, and dried noodles. The site stocks tried and true favorites, with over 30 flavors of Kit Kat. They also keep up with the snacks currently trending in Tokyo. 

They even stock Japanese candy with season-exclusive flavors or themed around the hottest anime (right now, it’s Jujutsu Kaisen!). Plus, you can get candy for free with the point system! Every purchase you make gets you points that you can use towards a future purchase, in fact, just signing up for an account will score you points too!

Why Get a Subscription Box?

Sites like Japan Haul have hundreds of options that are constantly being updated. With all that choice, it can be a struggle to decide which candy to get. If you are curious about trying many different types of Japanese sweets, then consider a subscription box instead! 

Subscription boxes are full of all different kinds of Japanese sweets. It also saves time, since you don’t have to sort through all the options. Plus, their monthly cost is lower than buying everything you would get individually. 

Not only is a subscription box cost-effective, but each box contains a carefully curated snack selection, based on season and popularity —  so you’re sure to get the best snacks available. Even better, with a subscription box, it feels like every month is your birthday, as you unbox a package full of goodies!

Where Can I Get a Subscription Box?

TokyoTreat  —  The Latest Japanese Candy Sent Straight to Your Door

Want to try a little bit of everything? Let us do the selecting for you! This box is perfect if you can’t decide which candies you want to try, or if you want to get your hands on the latest seasonal flavors. Every month, you will get a themed box packed full of tons of sweets and snacks —  including the newest Japanese Kit Kat flavors.

Sakuraco — Traditional Japanese Sweets and Teas

Travel across Japan and back in time with the Sakuraco subscription box. The box contains a selection of traditional teas and seasonal sweets sourced from local businesses across Japan.  The accompanying guide explains the origins and history of each sweet and tea so that you can travel in your mind as you taste them. 

This monthly subscription box contains everything you need to enjoy Japanese-style afternoon tea time at home. As such, the box doesn’t just contain teas and sweets, it also includes home goods, like Japanese-style teapots, bowls, and plates, to create an even more immersive experience.

Fill Out Your Shipping Address and Payment Details

Sometimes online purchasing gets tricky. Some sites don’t accept international payment, others don’t ship to your country. Fortunately, these sites make it easy! 

They offer worldwide shipping, so no matter where you live you can get your Japanese candy delivered! The sites automatically calculate the shipping costs for you at check out, so there are no surprises. You can be sure of how much the total will be before you are done.

Wait For Your Snacks To Arrive

This is the hardest part—waiting for your snacks to get to your door! The three sites offer different shipping options depending on how quickly you want them to arrive. 

They also make sure to package all their snacks and items with care. 

Despite all these precautions, shipping can sometimes go awry. With these sites you can rest assured; if there are any problems, their responsive customer service will help you right away.

Enjoy Your Japanese Candy

Your doorbell finally rings and a package full of snacks has arrived at your door! Now that you’ve got your sweets, all that’s left is to eat them. Pour yourself a cup of green tea, press play on your favorite anime, and enjoy!