Japan lacks in its variety of cheese, but the newly opened Cheese no Koe (The Cheese’s Voice) is here to change that. At this store in the Kiyosumi neighbourhood of Tokyo, you can find over 200 different kinds of cheese from Hokkaido – everything from a smooth classic French Brie to a Japanese miso-marinated Camembert. Better yet, you'll get to meet the 'cheese whisperer', Toru Imano, the shop's resident cheese concierge.
The 'cheese whisperer'
Toru personally selects every cheese on offer, and not only does he know everything there is to know about each flavour and purpose, he also knows the stories behind them. Even if you're not that curious about how and by whom the cheese was made, Toru's passion is contagious and you'll likely find yourself fully absorbed in his tales. He let us sample one cheese called Sachi, which was unbelievably rich, creamy and full-bodied and amazingly made only from milk and salt.
Considering the diversity of cheese on sale – soft, hard, sharp, mild – we can almost guarantee you’ll find one you love. Also, don’t forget to check out the limited seasonal flavours. And note the soft-serve ice cream machine in one corner of the shop. The ice cream is made from Hokkaido-sourced milk and only comes in one flavour. Made with only milk and sugar, this is ice cream in its purest form.
Cheese no Koe was founded with the backing of Hokkaido farmers, with the intention of bringing high quality cheese from Hokkaido to Tokyo, and into the public eye. For map and contact details, click here.
