Sakuraco is a monthly Japanese snack box, with a new theme every month. The latest theme is Holidays in Japan, and the box is packed with treats that help you experience Japan in the comfort of your own home.

Sakuraco is an artisan snack box that supports local makers across Japan. Each box is carefully curated with traditional and seasonal snacks rarely available outside of Japan like mochi, dorayaki, senbei, and more. Plus, it includes a signature Japanese tea to compliment your snacks, and a unique homeware item.

Each box also includes a colorful cultural booklet featuring snack descriptions, allergen information, and interesting insights about Japanese culture.

Use Code “SEWGEEKMAMA” for $5 OFF with your first box at https://team.sakura.co/sewgeekmama 

Sakuraco December Box: Holidays in Japan

The holidays are the perfect time to indulge in traditional wintertime treats like Matcha Mochi, Milk Chocolate Strawberries, Pistachio Bamkuchen, Hokkaido Baked Strawberry Chocolate, and Aonori Senbei.

This month’s tea is Matcha Infused Sencha and the tableware item is the Mino Ware Indigo Plate

Sencha is a popular Japanese green tea known for its bright color, grassy-sweet flavor, and refreshing finish. It’s made from young tea leaves that are steamed, rolled, and dried—a process that keeps the natural antioxidants and fresh green notes intact. Because it’s harvested from the top of the tea plant where the leaves are most tender, sencha has a cleaner, lighter taste compared to deeper, roasted teas.

Preparing it well is about balancing temperature and time so you bring out its gentle sweetness without tipping into bitterness. Start with fresh, filtered water and heat it to about 160–175°F—hotter water can scorch the delicate leaves. Add your tea bag, pour the warm water, and let it steep for one to two minutes. A short steep keeps the flavor smooth and avoids a sharp aftertaste.

You can re-steep good sencha two or three times: use slightly hotter water each round and shorten the steep time. The second infusion is often the most flavorful, with a sweeter, rounder profile that many tea drinkers love. Enjoy it plain so the natural brightness comes through.

Christmas in Japan

Christmas in Japan is charming, quirky, and completely its own thing. It isn’t a religious holiday for most people, so instead of church services and family gatherings, it’s treated more like a festive winter celebration with sparkly lights, romantic vibes, and very specific traditions that feel wonderfully unique.

The mood is all about atmosphere. Cities glow with massive winter illuminations—tunnels of lights, glittering trees, and full-on light shows that draw crowds every night. Stores play holiday music, bakeries showcase elaborate shortcakes topped with strawberries and whipped cream, and everything feels cheerfully over the top.

One of the most famous traditions is Christmas Eve, which functions almost like Valentine’s Day. Couples book dinner reservations weeks in advance, exchange small gifts, and enjoy the lights together. It’s considered one of the most romantic nights of the year.

Then there’s Japan’s most unexpected Christmas icon: KFC. Thanks to a wildly successful marketing campaign in the 1970s, a “Kentucky Christmas” became the go-to meal. Families place orders far ahead to secure their fried chicken feast, and lines stretch out the door.

For kids, Christmas still brings gifts, usually just one thoughtful present rather than a pile. Santa is part of the fun, but the holiday doesn’t carry the same cultural weight as it does in the West. Schools and workplaces don’t close for Christmas Day, so it’s typically celebrated in the evening.

The real family holiday follows a week later with New Year’s—Japan’s most meaningful celebration. But Christmas holds its own place: lighthearted, cozy, romantic, and filled with whimsy. It’s less about tradition and more about creating a bit of seasonal magic in the middle of winter.

However you choose to celebrate this holiday season, Sakuraco makes a great gift for loved ones, or even for yourself!

Use Code “SEWGEEKMAMA” for $5 OFF with your first box at https://team.sakura.co/sewgeekmama