See, Shop, Love!

I reviewed Freedom Japanese Market back in 2016 (you can read those reviews here), and they’ve recently relaunched their subscription service and are still bringing authentic, delicious snacks straight from Japan to your door!

*Disclaimer: This box was sent to See, Shop, Love! in exchange for an honest review.

Freedom Japanese Market is a small, family-owned business in rural Japan that sends a selection of savory and sweet snacks each month.

They have two subscription tiers, one at $37.99 per month for a monthly billing, and $34.99 per month billed every three months (for a total of $104.97 billed every three months). They ship to a number of countries, but even if your country isn’t on their shipping list, you can email them to discuss possible shipping options.

The December 2025 box was themed around “bonenkai,” or “Forget the Year” parties that celebrate the year’s end. Friends and coworkers gather to celebrate and toast the upcoming new year. There were 15 snacks total, with a good variety represented.

The box includes a colorful insert that describes each of the snacks, which I always appreciate because I’m often not familiar with the different flavors. It also lists allergens in each product, which is really thoughtful and helpful.

The December box included a special gift of Hanayaka Sheets, which can be seen in the photo above. I received a fan design (center of the photo). I had to look it up, but “hanayaka (華やか)” means something that is beautiful, splendid, or showy. These decorative papers are certainly beautiful and a nice addition to the box.

Here’s everything else that was included (clockwise from top left):

• Otaku no Mayo Calbee Potato Chips: Chips are my favorite snack, and I love trying the unique flavors from other countries. These are described as having a mayonnaise flavor created with food creator Ryuji and voice actor Hiroki Yasumoto. To me, they tasted more like a beef barbecue flavor than mayo (either way, they were delicious)!
• Karamucho Hot Chili Potato Sticks: These remind me of the hot fries-style snacks in the U.S. They have a spicy, savory chili heat with meaty umami, which is called “umakara” in Japanese.
• Black Pepper Calbee Kataage Potato Chips: These chips were my favorite snack in the box! They have a thick, kettle-cut crunch and are slow fried and have a sharp black pepper taste.
• Umaibo Tonkatsu Sauce Stick: I’ve seen these Umaibo puffs before and I love them. The packaging is so cute, and inside is basically a big puffed snack, kind of like a cheese puff snack in the U.S. This one had a very strong tonkatsu (a sweet and tangy sauce) flavor.
• Bandai “Dress Pop!” Chocolate: This is so cute, a little themed chocolate on a stick.

• Yuraku Black Thunder Mini Bar: This bag has a bunch of mini candy bars inside that are chocolate-covered crunchy cocoa cookie biscuits. They reminded me of the crunchy cookie part of an ice cream cake!
• Yaokin Kinako Stick: This is a nostalgic and classic Japanese chewy snack coated in roasted soybean flour. I love the cute packaging, and the taste and texture was like a “not too sweet” nutty taffy.
• Umaibo Mentaiko Stick: I should have included this in the first photo with the Tonkatsu Sauce flavor, oops. Anyway, this one has a mentaiko (spicy cod roe) flavor, which I know is a popular sushi variety, too.
• UHA Mikakuto Suppai Sakeru Gummy in Sour Lemon: I love sour gummies, and these are a peelable strip with a bright lemon flavor. Something about pulling apart the little pieces makes it so much more fun to eat!
• Coris Awa Bubble Candy in Cola: Cola candies are pretty popular in East Asia, and this one is a fizzy candy that feels like you’re drinking a tiny carbonated soda in candy form!

• Pocky Winter Sparkle Golden Butter Flavor: I think most people know Pocky, right? They’re a wafer stick covered in a variety of different types of flavors, but this flavor was completely new to me. It’s made during the winter only and has salted caramel with golden burnt butter flavors. It was SO good, and now I want more.
• Wasabi Nori Taro: This is the “Challenge Snack,” which I think means it’s a bit more unique to the western palate than some of the other snacks. It is a traditional dagashi snack (inexpensive small treats) with a bold wasabi-soy punch made with fish and squid powder. Unfortunately I will not be taking up this challenge because I don’t enjoy fish or squid flavor, but I will pass it along to someone who will!
• Orion Mini Vita C Ramune Candy: Ramune candies are the type of soda flavor I was thinking of before with the Coris Awa Bubble Cola Candy. Ramune is a popular flavor that, to me, is like a lemon-lime fizzy sweet combo. These candies are modeled after tiny Japanese drink cans and even has a pull-top design.
• Orihiro Konjac Jelly: I’m familiar with konjac jelly through my Korean heritage, as it’s also a popular snack in Korea. The jelly is a light treat and I received the grape flavor (my favorite!).
• Ibaraki Melon Baked Chocolat: This is a local specialty from the Freedom Japanese Market home region and has a melony, chocolately flavor.
• Melon Sand Pie: This is the snack pictured in the center of the photo above and it’s not listed on the info sheet, but it’s a little wafer cookie sandwich with sugar on top and melon filling. It was light and crispy and very good!

Bottom Line: Freedom Japanese Market is rebuilding after the pandemic, and I’m glad they’re back! The boxes have a good mix of savory and sweet snacks, including many items that were completely new to me. It’s an easy and fun way to experience snacks from Japan while also supporting a small, family-owned business! Visit Freedom Japanese Market to subscribe.