Festival · Roppongi, Tokyo
WA! CHEESE FES and the Japan Cheese Awards
WA! CHEESE FES is a tasting of Japanese-made cheese held with the Japan Cheese Awards, Japan's biggest cheese contest. The 2026 edition ran on 10 and 11 October at Roppongi Hills Arena, with timed tickets of ¥2,500 (90 minutes) and ¥3,500 (120 minutes) and a free market area. The next date has not been announced.
- 2026
- 10 to 11 October
- Where
- Roppongi Hills Arena
- Tickets
- ¥2,500 or ¥3,500; market area free
- Organiser
- Cheese Professional Association
Dates
The next dates have not been announced yet. It last ran 10 Oct 2026 to 11 Oct 2026.
What Happens
The festival combines the tasting event Nihon no Mei-Cheese Hyakusen (the tenth in 2026) with the Japan Cheese Awards. Makers from across Japan bring cheeses entered in the contest, and you taste them while talking to the people who made them. Ticket holders choose a box of bite-size cheeses and then taste at the makers' counters; there is also a fresh cheese corner, advice from certified cheese professionals and a gallery on Japanese cheese. Wine, craft beer and sake are sold separately.
The free area has a cheese market, sponsor stands and cheese food trucks, so you can shop without a ticket.
2026 Tickets
Each day had three timed sessions. The ¥2,500 ticket gave 90 minutes and a choice of two cheese boxes; the ¥3,500 ticket gave 120 minutes and a choice of four. Children of primary school age and up needed a ticket; preschoolers entered free. Numbers were limited and tickets were sold in advance.
Japan Cheese Awards
Started in 2014 and held every two years, the awards are Japan's largest contest for domestic natural cheese. In 2026, 131 workshops from 37 prefectures entered more than 400 cheeses in 26 categories, and the grand prix went to Sakura from Kyodogakusha Shintoku Farm in Hokkaido. Judging is closed to the public, but the awards ceremony takes place on the festival stage.
Getting There
Roppongi Hills Arena is reached from exit 1C of Roppongi Station on the Hibiya line or exit 3 on the Oedo line.
Where to Stay near Roppongi
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Questions People Ask
When is the next WA! CHEESE FES?
Not announced yet. The 2026 festival was held on 10 and 11 October at Roppongi Hills Arena, alongside the Japan Cheese Awards, which run every two years.
Do you need a ticket for WA! CHEESE FES?
For the tasting area, yes; in 2026 tickets cost ¥2,500 or ¥3,500. The market area with cheese for sale was free to enter.
Who won the Japan Cheese Awards 2026?
Sakura, a soft cheese from Kyodogakusha Shintoku Farm in Hokkaido, won the grand prix.
Official site: cheese-fun.jp/wcf2026/. Dates, hours and prices checked 22 October 2026; confirm on the official site before you travel. See all cheese festivals.