Freedom Japanese Market is a family-run subscription box that sends a selection of Japanese snacks and sweets — straight from Japan — to your door every month.
Each box is filled with a hand-picked assortment of Japanese snacks and treats, many of which are available exclusively in Japan. Items can include fun DIY candy kits, ramen, salty snacks, chocolate, cookies, gum, character-themed snacks, traditional Wagashi, Dagashi, limited edition/regional snacks, and more. You’ll also receive a non-edible bonus gift every month — such as cute bento goods, stationery, or Japan-specific decorations.
Every box comes with a full-color itemized list complete with photos, descriptions, and allergen info so you’ll know exactly what you’ll be eating!
Subscriptions are $37.99/month (plus shipping), or less with 3-month prepaid plans. (Includes full international tracking on every box, with updates straight from Japan Post.) — You can save $5 on your first box with coupon code “2LR“!
Let’s see what’s in the December 2025 Freedom Japanese Market box!
Everything was shipped in a white box with the Freedom Japanese Market logo on top.
A peek inside!
Jam-packed with snacks. 🙂
A note from the family included a word of thanks to their subscribers and details about December’s bonus gift.
(I should point out that this box was received during the month of December, but I had/am having a long recovery from heart surgery that delayed my review.)
A 2-sided, full-color information sheet provided photos, short descriptions, and allergen information for every item. December’s theme was “Bonenkai” (Forget the Year) Party!
Yuraku Black Thunder Mini Bars
Of all the items in December’s box, I think this is the one I’d be most likely to enjoy (if I weren’t vegan). The multi-serving bag above contains 12 mini Black Thunder Bars — a combination of cocoa cookies and biscuits wrapped in smooth milk chocolate.
Calbee Kataage Potato – Black Pepper
These “extra crunchy” potato chips (comparable to kettle chips) are flavored with black pepper and a variety of other spices. I was hoping to try them myself, but unfortunately they contain pork of all things. Weird.
Coris Awa Bubble Candy – Cola
I think you could compare these candies to Pop Rocks, but in large tablet form. They work the same, by “activating” in your mouth and making fizzy bubbles while releasing a sweet cola flavor. I used Google Lens to help me translate some of the items and was amused by the line “You may experience bloating, but don’t worry.”. Ha! Thanks for reassuring me, label. 😉
Calbee Otaku no Mayo Potato Chips
The package above contains a generous serving (multiple servings?) of Otaku mayonnaise flavored potato chips. I believe the two guys pictured (Ryuji and Hiroki Yasumoto) partnered to create its unique, savory flavor. That, or they just really enjoy it. 😉 Sadly, nobody in our house likes mayo, so we’ll be saving this for guests.
Umaibo Mentaiko & Tonkatsu
Umaibo is a popular cylindrical snack made with corn and various spices/flavorings. Sort of like the Japanese version of Cheeto, but larger and less bumpy. The flavor on the left (Mentaiko/Spicy Cod Roe) is described as savory with a little bit of spice. Tonkatsu (Pork Cutlet) on the left has a more sweet & tangy vibe.
Bandai “Dress Pop!” Chocolate
Google Lens is trying to tell me that this adorable dress-shaped sucker features three different flavors: Strawberry horse mackerel, chocolate, and white. While I know a lot of Japanese snacks contain some form of fish product, I truly think this is just a silly translation fail. (Hopefully.) Either way, I love the fun dress shape and super cute Kawaii vibes.
Karamucho Hot Chili Potato Sticks
I love how this package speaks to you: “Hey! What’s up? Another long day? Just try our yummy spicy karamucho and say Hiiii!”. You never see American snacks doing that. Also, I didn’t snap a photo of it, but the back has a line that reads (in English) “Karamucho makes you excited”. And I was excited to try these spicy potato sticks… until I saw that they contain chicken & pork. Booo. At least I got to enjoy the packaging!
Gold Pak Hokkaido Melon Sand Pie
This is a small snack bar with a melon flavored filling. It’s made with real melon juice harvested in Hokkaido, Japan and is often sold as a souvenir or specialty food item.
Glico Pocky Winter Sparkle – Golden Butter
My kids love Pocky! — I recently bought them a box of strawberry flavor for Valentine’s Day. 🙂 The limited edition package above is a winter-only flavor consisting of buttery pretzel sticks dipped in salted caramel flavored chocolate.
UHA Mikakuto Suppai Sakeru Gummy – Sour Lemon
These chewy, sour lemon flavored strips are “peelable” to easily share with friends. I feel like there’s an American snack to compare it with, but I’m not recalling what it is/was…
Yaokin Kinako Stick
Kinako sticks are a traditional Japanese candy made from roasted soybean flour, starch syrup, and sugar. — Finally, a vegan-friendly snack for meeeee! While the outer layer of flour was a little off-putting at first, I did enjoy its subtle-y sweet flavor and satisfying chew. 🙂
Wasabi Nori Taro (Challenge Snack!)
The “challenge snack” for December is a traditional Dagashi — nostalgic & unconventional — Japanese snack called Wasabi Nori Taro. It’s a flat dried(?) strip containing a mixture of fish/squid, nori (seaweed), and wasabi.
Orion Mini Vita C Ramune Candy
Now I definitely remember a similar soda-themed product like this from my youth. I was — and still am! — a fan of candy in fun/cute little containers. The can has a pull-top design and is filled with tiny ramune-flavored hard candies.
Ibaraki Melon Baked Chocolate
Similar to the Hokkaido Melon Sand Pie shown earlier, this snack also contains Japanese melon — but from the Ibaraki region. It features smooth, melon-infused chocolate along with a crispy, buttery cookie texture.
Orihiro Konjac Jelly
Orihiro Konjac Jelly is a popular, low-calorie and fat-free Japanese snack made from konjac root. It comes in a variety of fruit flavors, with Kyoho Grape being the one we received. It’s known for its chewy texture and easy-tear squeeze pouches, making it a healthy & refreshing on-the-go treat.
Hanayaka Sheets (Bonus Gift!)
These pretty fan-shaped, sakura-themed paper sheets were December’s Bonus Gift. The package contains 10 individual sheets that can be used to display your snacks on social media, or utilized in any way that you please.
The December 2025 Freedom Japanese Market box was jam-packed with authentic snacks shipped straight from Japan. There was a nice selection of sweet candies, chocolate treats, fruit-flavored gummies, savory snacks, and more. A great subscription box for sampling fun Japanese goodies while supporting a small family owned business! — Remember to use coupon code “2LR” when you place your order to save $5 on your first box!
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