fukunomo

What's in the box: One 720ml bottle of Fukushima sake from the featured brewery, four to five local Fukushima snacks chosen to pair with it, and a booklet about the brewery and the food.

fukunomo is a monthly sake subscription run by F Life Co., Ltd., based in Koriyama, Fukushima. Each month it features one Fukushima brewery, and that brewery picks both the sake and the local snacks to go with it. The pairing is the main appeal. The brewer has tasted and approved the food, so the box works as a ready-made evening for two rather than just a bottle. One recent month paired Ippo Ko junmai from Toyokuni Shuzo with handmade Aizu chashu, dried mehikari fish from Iwaki, and other Fukushima foods. A premium plan adds a second special bottle from the brewery's own stock.

Each box comes with a booklet covering the brewer's approach and tasting notes on the snacks. On the weekend after delivery there is an online sake event with a virtual brewery tour, an introduction to the local area and a talk from the brewer. It is a nice extra if you like knowing who makes your sake, but expect it to be in Japanese.

You can't buy a single box without subscribing. The site does say you can cancel in the same month if you are unhappy, except when you are using certain discounts that require you to keep subscribing. You can cancel by email, contact form or phone. Payment options are credit card, cash on delivery and Amazon Pay. Prices are not shown on the main page, and the service is aimed at buyers in Japan.