These Japanese Advent Calendars Are Filled With Cakes, Cookies, and Candies — Grab Yours Before They Sell Out

I have a weak spot for sweet treats and dainty ceramics, so I was excited to try a few of this year’s Japanese Advent calendars from snack brands like Bokksu and Tokyo Treat. We already trust kitchen tools and super sharp knives from Japan, so it was only natural to see what these Advent calendars had to offer, especially as we enter the peak of the Advent calendar season. I was pleased to find fluffy castella cakes, flavorful teas, well-designed dishware, and more as I spent the month exploring these calendars that celebrate Japanese culture. If you or someone you know is an admirer of Japanese goods and treats, one of these is sure to bring them joy.

The Best Japan-Inspired Advent Calendars

• Sugoi Mart 30 Days of Japan Calendar, $165
• Tokyo Treat Ryokan Retreat: 14 Days of Traditional Japan Advent Calendar, $150
• Bokksu Golden Japan: 24 Days of Japanese Delights Advent Calendar, $200
• Bokksu Radiant Japan: 12 Days of Japanese Wonders Advent Calendar, $500
• Tokyo Treat Slice of Japan: 24 Days of Adventure Advent Calendar, $150

Sugoi Mart 30 Days of Japan Calendar

This playful Advent calendar has an impressive 30 days of treats — the most out of the calendars I tested. I slid open a drawer every day to find a fun toy, candy, or houseware. While I don’t want to give too much away, I will say that the chopstick rests were a standout, and I was impressed with the variety of treats that even included stationary and tea.

Tokyo Treat Ryokan Retreat: 14 Days of Traditional Japan Advent Calendar

For a more meditative experience, this Ryokan Retreat Advent calendar comes with little cardboard figurines that can be set up on a little stage within the box, making this calendar feel very interactive. In addition to being loaded with flavorful candies and fun cookies, this calendar contains artisan homewares like little ceramic dishes and cute figurines.

Bokksu Golden Japan: 24 Days of Japanese Delights Advent Calendar

This beautifully designed Advent calendar contains 24 drawers of treats and collectibles inspired by the Japanese art of kintsugi, a method used to repair imperfections in pottery. The delightful goods are far from imperfect and include a minimalist sake cup, a dainty ceramic dish, plus plenty of cookies and candies. I especially liked the strawberry mochi in this box.

Bokksu Radiant Japan: 12 Days of Japanese Wonders Advent Calendar

This one is the epitome of luxury. The box itself is well-designed and sturdy. In fact, I plan on holding onto it to refill next year with my own treats. The spacious drawers open to reveal finely crafted ceramics, premium rice crackers, aromatic teas, and even gourmet cotton candy from Kyoto. While it only has 12 drawers, this is as fancy as an Advent calendar could get.

Tokyo Treat Slice of Japan: 24 Days of Adventure Advent Calendar

While I didn’t try this one, it reminds me of the Sugoi Mart 30 Days of Japan calendar. Similarly pulling from Japanese pop culture, this calendar offers collectibles and figurines of well-loved television and video game characters, plus specialty-flavored KitKats, like peach or matcha.