Tokachi Cheese Route

Factory Tour

Meiji Naruhodo Factory Tokachi in Memuro shows how Meiji makes natural cheese from Tokachi milk, with a tasting at the end. Tours are free, Monday to Friday at 10:00, 13:30 and 15:00, and must be booked.

West: Shintoku and Shimizu

Kyodogakusha Shintoku Farm sells its award-winning cheeses at the Mintal shop, open 10:00 to 17:00 from April to November. Also in Shintoku, Hirouchi Ezorisu no Tani Cheese makes Coban, a mild white-mould cheese. In Shimizu, Kisara Farm keeps about 70 Saanen goats at Tokachi Millennium Forest and sells its goat cheese at the forest shop (10:00 to 16:00), with a cheese plate in the café. Asunaro Farming in Shimizu opens its shop 8:30 to 17:30.

South: Nakasatsunai

Tokachino Fromage, at Nishi 2-jo Minami 7-chome in Nakasatsunai village, opens 10:00 to 17:00 and closes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Also in Nakasatsunai, Hanabatake Bokujo is a tourist farm known for its raclette, which won a ministerial prize at the All Japan Natural Cheese Contest, and for its caramels. It opens 10:00 to 16:00, has parking for about 200 cars, and closes in winter. It is about 20 minutes by car from Tokachi-Obihiro Airport.

East: Makubetsu and Ikeda

Cheese Kobo NEEDS in Makubetsu uses milk from a farm more than a century old; its shop closes on Sundays and from December to February. Happiness Dairy in Ikeda, on a farm the same family has worked for about 95 years, sells cheese and ice cream from 9:00 to 17:00, closed Tuesdays and from November to March.

In Obihiro

If you run out of time, Toteppo Kobo at 3-1 Nishi 6-jo Minami 17-chome stocks about 50 cheeses, mostly from Tokachi, with a café. The shop opens 10:00 to 18:00 and the café 10:00 to 17:00, with irregular closing days.

Practical Tips

Distances are long and public transport is thin, so hire a car in Obihiro or at the airport. Obihiro is on the limited express line from Sapporo. Several makers have no shop at all, or sell only by arrangement, so stick to the places above. Bring a cool bag.