Japanese snacks are cute, unique and delicious. If you love Japanese food and culture, then these Japanese snack subscription boxes are perfect for you! You can have these exciting Japanese snacks, both classic and current, delivered every month right to your door! It’s like Christmas every month!
Have you ever tried Japanese dagashi before? Dagashi means cheap candy or snacks and are similar to American penny candy. Kashi or o-kashi also means candy and snacks in Japanese. So what is the difference between kashi and dagashi? Kashi or o-kashi are more higher end confectionaries, dagashi is the penny candy for kids. Dagashi to many Japanese adults are associated with their fond memories of their childhood. Back in the days, many of these dagashi candy and snacks cost about a penny. They are not a penny anymore but about a hundred yen, so less than a dollar. The colorful packaging and the excitement of opening these candies are still the same.
The history of dagashi starts in the 1600s during the Edo period in Japan. People ate dagashi snacks made of grain and millet jelly which is a sweetener that converts starch to sugar. This is something like grain snack bars we have today and was called ichi-mon gashi, meaning penny candy. After the World War 2, to attract kids the packaging became very colorful using popular cartoon characters or famous athletes. There were many dagashi-ya, mom-and-pop candy stores, in every corner of the town but today these dagashi-ya have closed down and most of the dagashi candy and snacks are sold in convenience stores.
Japanese dagashi snacks are very diverse and unique. Some of the dagashi snacks are similar to western snacks but some may not be the regular western flavors you are used to. But if you are adventurous, curious and like Japanese pop culture, these are super fun to try. What’s great about these Japanese snacks is that they are often individually packed so they are always fresh and you don’t need to worry about eating a huge amount. Indulge yourself in the wonderful world of Japanese dagashi candy and snacks!
10 Best Japanese Snacks
Here are the very best Japanese snacks that we chose and that you can get here in the US. These snacks will be your new go-to snacks for your kids or for you while watching your favorite TV show! Let’s take a look at the top 10 of best Japanese dagashi snacks!
1. Kameda Kakinotane Rice Cracker with Peanuts
Kaki-no-tane means persimmon seeds in Japanese but this popular snack is actually made from a rice cracker that looks like a persimmon seed. It’s a crunchy and the tasty rice cracker is flavored with soy sauce that has a mild spicy kick to it. The packets contain the rice crackers with a good amount of roasted peanuts to balance spiciness of the rice cracker. If you like spicy snacks, try the wasabi flavor.
2. Meiji Hello Panda
Meiji Hello Panda is a bite-size cookie/cracker with a chocolate filling inside. Meiji is a major dairy and food manufacturing company in Japan and this has been one of Japan’s favorite snacks since the late 1970s. In addition to the chocolate flavor, these snacks also come in strawberry and vanilla milk flavor. If you want to change up your snack routine, try the Meji Hello Panda! It’s so yummy and very addicting!
3. Nestle Kit Kat
Every body knows Kit Kat and their slogan “Have a break, have a Kit Kat!” This wafer bar confection is made all over the globe, and Japan takes it to a whole new level. There are more than 16 seasonal flavors in Japan, and matcha green tea flavor is one of the poplar flavors that you should definitely try. The 16 seasonal flavor packs are also great conversation starters at parties!
4. Pocky Biscuit Stick
Pocky is another all-time favorite Japanese snack made by Glico, one of the leading snack companies in Japan. The name Pocky came from the word pok-kinm the sound made when biting off cracker stick in half. Pocky is a cracker stick covered with a chocolate coating. There are multiple other flavors such as almond crunch, strawberry, green tea, vanilla milk and more.
5. Umaibo
Umaibo means yummy stick in Japanese. Umaibo is a Japanese traditional puffed corn meal snack that comes in a variety of flavors. The economical pack comes in unique Asian inspired flavors such as Shrimp Mayonnaise, Takoyaki, Chicken Curry, Pork Kimchi, Teriyaki Burger, Tonkatsu Sauce, Mentaiko and more. These snacks are super fun and the flavors are something you will definitely not find in American or European snacks.
6. Calbee Shrimp Flavored Chips
If you like seafood you will love Calbee Shrimp Flavored Chips. These chips have been one of the most popular snacks in Japan since they came out in 1964. These tasty shrimp chips are not too salty or shrimpy, which is great for everyone. If you want to try something new and different, then this is the chip for you! But be careful, these are quite addicting!
7. Shirakiku Ramune
Ramune, pronounced rah-mu-nay, is a Japanese soda that comes in an unique Codd-neck bottle that has a marble in the neck. There are several stories of how ramune was introduced in Japan. One story is that the US Navy Commodore Matthew Perry bought it with him when he came to Japan in 1853. Another is that a Scottish pharmacist named Alexander Cameron Sim who lived in Japan made this lemonade based carbonated beverage in 1884. Later the word lemonade turned into ramune. There is a trick to open the bottle and push the marble down from the neck. Enjoy trying different flavors such as strawberry, orange, melon, and blueberry!
8. Shimi Chocolate Corn Puff Snack
Shimi Chocolate Corn Puff Snack is a star shaped corn puff dipped in chocolate. Shimi means to soak in Japanese. It’s fluffy, light and delicious. Who would of thought of dipping a corn puff in chocolate?! Enjoy the delicate Japanese corn puff that melts in your mouth!
9. Meiji Curl Corn Cheese Puff
Meiji Curl Corn Cheese Puff is another Japanese best seller snack since being introduced 1968. If you like cheese puffs then you will definitely like this snack. It’s airy, light and melts in your mouth, but is not too cheesy or salty. You will be addicted these cheesy corn puffs! Look for the fun farmer guy character, Uncle Karl who has a beard, on the package!
10. Calpico
Calpis or Calpico is a delicious and healthy drink popular in Japan since 1919. The founder of Calpis visited Mongolia in 1904 and was inspired by the beverage people were drinking made from cultured milk fermented with lactobacilli. Calpis comes in many flavors such as strawberry, melon, grape, peach, laichi, and even mango.
Fun Assorted Japanese Snack Box
We covered many popular Japanese snacks, but are still not so sure where to start from? Here is a perfect option for you! Try these assorted Japanese snack boxes. Japanese snacks are anything from sweet to sour to savory. It’s fun to try new snacks and also the packagings are fun to look at. If you are adventurous and curious to try new things, then an assorted Japanese snack box is a great option for you. These snack boxes are great as gifts or even as a fun conversation starter at a party!
・Japanese Candy Dagashi Box by Tonosama Candy
The Japanese Candy Dagashi Box comes with 20 pieces of assorted Japanese penny candies and dagashi for just under $10. The snacks are all individually packaged making them easy to eat and serve to guests. >> Check “Japanese Candy Dagashi Box” on Amazon.com
・Tonosama Candy by Tonosama Candy
Tonosama candy comes with 22 assorted Japanese snacks and dagashi including the yummy corn puff snack Umaibo. Tonosama means king in Japanese and the concept of this item is that the King of Candy has chosen these Japanese snacks. >> “TONOSAMA CANDY” on Amazon.com
・Japanese Snack Assortment “Ohimesama Selection” by Ohimesama Sanck Selection
A This one is a Ohimasama snack selection, a princess selection of Japanese dagashi. You get 35 pieces of sweet and savory Japanese snacks for $14.99. It’s supposed to be a princess, aka a girl’s selection but it is a great gift for anybody! >> “Japanese Snack Assortment Ohimesama Selection” on Amazon.com
・Assorted Japanese Junk Food Snack “Dagashi” by Dagashi
Do you love all things about Japan, the culture, cuisine and even the snacks? Here are the 10 best Japanese monthly snack subscription boxes, several services are shipped directly to your door from Japan. You can choose your subscription from month-to-month or get a discount by subscribing for 3 months, 6 months, or annually. The great part is, most will ship world wide with no additional shipping fee. You no longer have to fly to Japan to get these delicious treats! It’s also nice that many of these subscription boxes comes with a sheet that explains what treats you are getting.
1) WOWBOX
Photo Credit: https://wowbox.jp/
WOWBOX is a gift box and snack subscription company that ships to over 70 countries. They have four themes; Fun & Tasty for all snack lovers, Kawaii & Beauty for girls who likes cute packages, New & Limited with the latest and seasonal items, and dagashi with the good old penny candies. The boxes come in two sizes; regular ($24.99) and large ($34.99) per month. You can choose from a one to six month subscription.
2) Japan Candy Box
Photo Credit: https://www.japancandybox.com/
Japan Candy Box specializes in cute and quirky Japanese sweets and snacks. With $19.90 a month you receive 10 Japanese candies and snacks with no additional shipping cost. There are 6 months and 12 months subscription plans to save more. You also get automatic entry to Japan Candy Megabox raffle every month which is valued at over $100.
3) Tokyo Treat
Premium Box Photo Credit: https://tokyotreat.com/
Tokyo Treats are a Tokyo based company that works directly with local suppliers. For this reason, they are able to bring down the cost and ship these yummy Japanese snacks world wide with no shipping cost. They have 3 subscription plans; a small box that comes with 8 snacks, a medium box with 13 snacks and a wagashi sweets, and the premium box which comes with 18 snacks, a DIY candy kit, one drink, and a wagashi sweet. All three boxes include the most popular dagashi snacks, Umaibo inside.
4) Japan Crate
September 2017 Photo Credi: https://www.japancrate.com/
With Japan Crate you get 15 Japanese candies, snacks, and a drink for $30 a month, free of shipping cost. This Tokyo based company will send you the latest trendy choice of goodies every month. Look for the Japan crate for the Japanese snacks. They also have subscription boxes for Japanese noodles, cute collectibles and Japanese beauty products.
5) Oyatsu Box
Oyatsu Box September 2017 Photo Credit: https://oyatsubox.oyatsucafe.com/
Oyatsu Box literally means snack box in Japanese. They have 3 subscription selections; the Chibi box is $9 per month with 3-4 Japanese snacks, the Dagashi box is $14 per month with 8-10 snacks and a DIY candy kit, and the Oyatsu box is $25 per month with snacks from both the Chibi box and the Dagashi box, soda drinks you can only get in Japan, and a Gachapon capsule toy. All of the boxes come with Japanese language flash cards and a leaflet for the snacks you received. Learn Japanese words while you munch on the Japanese snacks!
6) SNAKKU
TASTING BOX Photo Credit: https://www.snakku.com/
SNAKKU is a Japanese snack subscription service that ships you traditional Japanese snacks sourced directly from the local snack makers that have been around for more than 100 years. The boxes are carefully crated by theme or by specific area of Japan. The box comes with 20-25 seasonal snacks wrapped in a beautiful washi—paper furoshiki, which is also perfect for a gift. Each box comes with a description of the region and the story behind the curated snacks.
7) Skoshbox
Photo Credit: https://otakumode.com/
Skoshbox is a subscription box service by Tokyo Otaku Mode that sells Japanese Otaku goods to the world. The Skoshbox starter box starts at $10 with 6-8 snacks, the large box is $20 with 10-12 snacks including one mystery item, and the extra large box is $35 with 13-15 snacks and two mystery items. All plans includes worldwide shipping.
Sushi Candy is a Tokyo based company with a mission to spread the “okashi” Japanese snacks around the world. Their Japanese Dagashi Box comes in three sizes that includes 20 snacks ($15.99), 30 snacks ($19.99) and 40 snacks (S26.99). You will be surprised by how much snacks you get with this price. It’s like Christmas every month!
Bokksu is the only Japanese snacks subscription service that includes a tea paring to compliment their artisanal Japanese snacks. The box also comes with a tasting guide that explains the flavor and story of each item in the box. The Classic Bokksu, $39, is curated with 20-25 gourmet sweets from different regions of Japan with the perfect tea paring. The Tasting Bokksu, $19, 8-10 sweets found throughout Japan with the tea paring as well.
Freedom Japanese Market is a family owned company in Japan that offers Japanese snacks directly from Japan. Their boxes comes with variety of sweet, sour, and savory snack selections. The Puchi Pack with 5-8 snacks for $14.99 per month, the Original Pack with 12-16 snacks for $24.99 per month, and the Family Pack with 24-32 snacks for $45.99 per month. All come with handmade origami art and a snack list that explains the items in English.
Others) Japan Center (Europe)
Pop Culture Snack Box Photo Credit: https://www.japancentre.com/
Japan Center is an institution based in London that delivers a wide variety of Japanese food, drinks, and kitchen items. Their Pop Culture Snack Box has three box types; Mini £15.00, standard £25.00, and Premium £40.00. Premium also includes Japanese drinks and instant noodles. It’s free delivery to England, Wales and parts of Scotland.
Highly Recommended Japanese Cookware and Kitchenware
Please check the best traditional and modern Japanese manufactured cookware, kitchenware approved by picky Japanese customers!
Kaki-no-tane means persimmon seeds in Japanese but this popular snack is actually made from a rice cracker that looks like a persimmon seed. It’s a crunchy and the tasty rice cracker is flavored with soy sauce that has a mild spicy kick to it. The packets contain the rice crackers with a good amount of roasted peanuts to balance spiciness of the rice cracker. If you like spicy snacks, try the wasabi flavor.
Meiji Hello Panda is a bite-size cookie/cracker with a chocolate filling inside. Meiji is a major dairy and food manufacturing company in Japan and this has been one of Japan’s favorite snacks since the late 1970s. In addition to the chocolate flavor, these snacks also come in strawberry and vanilla milk flavor. If you want to change up your snack routine, try the Meji Hello Panda! It’s so yummy and very addicting!
Every body knows Kit Kat and their slogan “Have a break, have a Kit Kat!” This wafer bar confection is made all over the globe, and Japan takes it to a whole new level. There are more than 16 seasonal flavors in Japan, and matcha green tea flavor is one of the poplar flavors that you should definitely try. The 16 seasonal flavor packs are also great conversation starters at parties!
Pocky is another all-time favorite Japanese snack made by Glico, one of the leading snack companies in Japan. The name Pocky came from the word pok-kinm the sound made when biting off cracker stick in half. Pocky is a cracker stick covered with a chocolate coating. There are multiple other flavors such as almond crunch, strawberry, green tea, vanilla milk and more.
Umaibo means yummy stick in Japanese. Umaibo is a Japanese traditional puffed corn meal snack that comes in a variety of flavors. The economical pack comes in unique Asian inspired flavors such as Shrimp Mayonnaise, Takoyaki, Chicken Curry, Pork Kimchi, Teriyaki Burger, Tonkatsu Sauce, Mentaiko and more. These snacks are super fun and the flavors are something you will definitely not find in American or European snacks.
If you like seafood you will love Calbee Shrimp Flavored Chips. These chips have been one of the most popular snacks in Japan since they came out in 1964. These tasty shrimp chips are not too salty or shrimpy, which is great for everyone. If you want to try something new and different, then this is the chip for you! But be careful, these are quite addicting!
Ramune, pronounced rah-mu-nay, is a Japanese soda that comes in an unique Codd-neck bottle that has a marble in the neck. There are several stories of how ramune was introduced in Japan. One story is that the US Navy Commodore Matthew Perry bought it with him when he came to Japan in 1853. Another is that a Scottish pharmacist named Alexander Cameron Sim who lived in Japan made this lemonade based carbonated beverage in 1884. Later the word lemonade turned into ramune. There is a trick to open the bottle and push the marble down from the neck. Enjoy trying different flavors such as strawberry, orange, melon, and blueberry!
Shimi Chocolate Corn Puff Snack is a star shaped corn puff dipped in chocolate. Shimi means to soak in Japanese. It’s fluffy, light and delicious. Who would of thought of dipping a corn puff in chocolate?! Enjoy the delicate Japanese corn puff that melts in your mouth!
Meiji Curl Corn Cheese Puff is another Japanese best seller snack since being introduced 1968. If you like cheese puffs then you will definitely like this snack. It’s airy, light and melts in your mouth, but is not too cheesy or salty. You will be addicted these cheesy corn puffs! Look for the fun farmer guy character, Uncle Karl who has a beard, on the package!
Calpis or Calpico is a delicious and healthy drink popular in Japan since 1919. The founder of Calpis visited Mongolia in 1904 and was inspired by the beverage people were drinking made from cultured milk fermented with lactobacilli. Calpis comes in many flavors such as strawberry, melon, grape, peach, laichi, and even mango.
The Japanese Candy Dagashi Box comes with 20 pieces of assorted Japanese penny candies and dagashi for just under $10. The snacks are all individually packaged making them easy to eat and serve to guests.
Tonosama candy comes with 22 assorted Japanese snacks and dagashi including the yummy corn puff snack Umaibo. Tonosama means king in Japanese and the concept of this item is that the King of Candy has chosen these Japanese snacks.
A This one is a Ohimasama snack selection, a princess selection of Japanese dagashi. You get 35 pieces of sweet and savory Japanese snacks for $14.99. It’s supposed to be a princess, aka a girl’s selection but it is a great gift for anybody!
You get 34 assorted Japanese dagashi snacks for $14.99. A great value for the quantity. This will be a unique Christmas gift or even a fun stocking stuffer.
This comes with 20 assorted Japanese dagashi snacks along with konpeito, which is a Japanese traditional rock sugar candy. These include the Umaibo and the Shimi Chocolate Corn Puff Snack.
If you are not ready to try a whole lot of new things this small assortment pack of 6 Japanese snacks and dagashi would be a good choice. This is also a perfect size for a party favor. They also offer free shipping which is a huge plus.
