I just noticed you’re looking for Japanese cheese snacks - this is amazing! Japan’s snack culture is world-famous, especially when it comes to creatively incorporating Western elements like cheese into their treats. They’re absolutely incredible and incredibly diverse! As a food enthusiast and seasoned traveler, I’ve personally curated a list of 18 must-try Japanese cheese snacks that cover everything from queue-worthy premium items to everyday convenience store favorites.
Check out my carefully compiled list of “18 Japanese Cheese Snacks You Must Buy in Japan” - you’re gonna love this! These treats will definitely satisfy your craving for something delicious and unique.
18 Japanese Cheese Snacks You Must Buy
1. NewYork Perfect Cheese (ニューヨークパーフェクトチーズ)
This is an absolutely incredible treat! The NewYork Perfect Cheese is a cream cheese cracker developed by three international cheese masters. It’s a Tokyo queue-worthy specialty! The crackers are shaped like bow ties (cat tongue cookies) filled with a rich mixture of cream, white chocolate, and cheddar cheese. The texture is incredibly crispy with a rich filling that melts in your mouth - the layers of flavor are absolutely incredible! When I first tried this, I was amazed at how the sweet and savory flavors combined perfectly.
Ideal For
- Cheese lovers and enthusiasts
- People looking for premium gifts and high-end souvenirs
- Dessert connoisseurs who appreciate unique textures
Where to Buy
- Primary Locations: Tokyo Station, Tobu Department Store Ikebukuro
- Other Locations: Narita Airport/Haneda Airport duty-free shops
Price Range
- Category: Premium
- Cost: ¥1,080 - ¥3,000 JPY (about $65-180 USD) depending on package size (8-piece, 12-piece sets)
2. Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory Salt & Camembert Cookie
This is one of my personal favorites! The Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory Salt & Camembert Cookie is made with Hokkaido milk and French Guérande salt, creating a camembert cheese sandwich cookie that’s absolutely divine. It’s a classic example of sweet and salty balance. The crispy cat tongue cookies have a subtle saltiness and rich milk flavor, with sweet camembert cheese chocolate filling in the middle. It’s very unique and not腻 at all - I was impressed by how well the flavors worked together!
Ideal For
- Lovers of the combination of milk and cheese
- People looking for elegant afternoon tea treats
- Those who appreciate unique flavor combinations
Where to Buy
- Primary Locations: Major stations in Tokyo, airports
- Other Locations: Department store basement food courts (like Daimaru)
Price Range
- Category: Mid-range
- Cost: ¥1,296 JPY per 10-piece pack (about $78 USD)
3. Morinaga Bake Creamy Cheese
Let me tell you about the Morinaga Bake Creamy Cheese - it’s a small square baked cheese treat with a texture between cookies and cake that I absolutely love! It’s like “a handheld half-baked cheese cake”. The outside is slightly crispy while the inside is creamy and melts in your mouth, leaving a rich cheese aroma. It has the richness of a cheese cake but is convenient to carry and share. Trust me on this - you’ll be amazed by how good it is!
Ideal For
- People who love rich cheese flavors
- Those looking for convenient, ready-to-eat snacks
- Travelers seeking portable treats
Where to Buy
- Primary Locations: Convenience stores nationwide (7-11, Family Mart, Lawson)
- Other Locations: Supermarkets (AEON, Ito-Yokado)
Price Range
- Category: Budget-friendly
- Cost: ¥150 - ¥200 JPY per box (about $9-12 USD)
4. Hokkaido LeTAO Double Fromage Cheese Cake
The Hokkaido LeTAO Double Fromage is a signature double-layer cheese cake from Otaru, Hokkaido, and it’s absolutely incredible! It’s the “Hermès of cheese cakes”. It consists of two layers of cheese: the top layer is Italian mascarpone cream cheese mousse, while the bottom layer is rich baked cheese cake. The texture is light as snow and melts in your mouth, with the milk and cheese aromas perfectly blended. When I tried this in Hokkaido, I was blown away by how delicate and sophisticated it was!
Ideal For
- People with high standards for cheese cake quality
- Those pursuing ultimate taste experiences
- Food lovers who appreciate premium desserts
Where to Buy
- Primary Locations: Otaru main store, Shin-Chitose Airport
- Other Locations: Pop-up stores or special counters in department stores in major cities
Price Range
- Category: Premium
- Cost: ¥1,800 - ¥2,500 JPY per piece (about $110-150 USD)
5. Morihana Marusei Butter Sand Cookies
Although the Morihana Marusei Butter Sand doesn’t have “cheese” in the name, its rich butter flavor is similar to cheese, making it a benchmark for Hokkaido sweets. It’s Hokkaido’s most representative gift item - thick butter sandwich cookies. The thick mixture of butter and white chocolate contains highly fragrant raisins, all wrapped in soft cookies. The flavor is rich and it’s a representative of traditional Japanese sweets. When I visited Hokkaido, I couldn’t get enough of these!
Ideal For
- Lovers of traditional butter and raisin flavors
- People looking for historic brand names
- Those who appreciate classic Japanese confections
Where to Buy
- Primary Locations: Hokkaido areas (Sapporo, Otaru)
- Other Locations: Shin-Chitose Airport, major city department stores
Price Range
- Category: Mid-range
- Cost: ¥1,300 JPY per 10-piece pack (about $78 USD)
6. Fujiya Meister’s New York Cheese Cake Soft Cookies
Fujiya’s Country Ma’am Meister’s NY Cheese Cake is an affordable and delicious cheese snack that I highly recommend! It’s an affordable yet delicious cheese snack. The soft cookies have a moist and soft texture with a rich New York cheese flavor, balanced with a hint of refreshing lemon acidity. It’s perfect as a daily snack or for sharing in the office. When I was looking for a budget-friendly treat, these were perfect!
Ideal For
- People looking for high cost-performance
- Those who enjoy American-style soft cookie textures
- Budget-conscious cheese lovers
Where to Buy
- Primary Locations: Supermarkets nationwide
- Other Locations: Convenience stores
Price Range
- Category: Budget-friendly
- Cost: ¥250 - ¥350 JPY per bag (about $15-21 USD)
7. Kameda Shokuhin Kaki-no-tane Cheese Flavor
The Kameda Shokuhin Kaki-no-tane Cheese Flavor is the cheese version of Japan’s national snack “Kaki-no-tane” - and it’s perfect for drinking and watching shows! It’s the go-to snack for drinking and watching shows! The traditional soy sauce-flavored rice crackers combine with rich cheese powder. The texture is crispy with a unique flavor - it’s salty with the richness of cheese. When I was in Japan, I always grabbed these for evening relaxation!
Ideal For
- Lovers of salty snacks
- People looking for Japanese drinking snacks
- Those who want non-sweet cheese snacks
Where to Buy
- Primary Locations: Convenience stores nationwide
- Other Locations: Supermarkets
Price Range
- Category: Budget-friendly
- Cost: ¥200 - ¥400 JPY per large bag (about $12-24 USD)
8. Calbee Cheese Chips
Calbee’s Cheese Potato Chips are produced by Japan’s “potato chip king” with very rich and diversified cheese flavors like rich cheese and four-cheese pizza flavors. The texture is light and crispy with bold seasoning that can satisfy lovers of strong flavors. When I tried these in Japan, the rich cheese taste was incredible!
Ideal For
- Potato chip lovers
- People who pursue rich cheese and salty snacks
- Those who enjoy bold flavors
Where to Buy
- Primary Locations: Convenience stores nationwide
- Other Locations: Supermarkets
Price Range
- Category: Budget-friendly
- Cost: ¥130 - ¥180 JPY per bag (about $8-1 USD)
9. Cheese Kamaboko/Hotate
Cheese Kamaboko/Hotate are Japanese izakaya-style snacks that combine cheese with fish paste products or scallops. They’re representative of Japanese izakaya flavors - cheese blocks embedded in fish strips or dried scallops. The milk aroma of cheese perfectly combines with the saltiness of seafood. The texture is chewy and makes for an excellent drinking snack that’s also a protein source. When I was exploring Japanese izakayas, these were a favorite!
Ideal For
- People who love seafood and izakaya flavors
- Those looking for non-sweet cheese snacks
- Lovers of unique Japanese flavors
Where to Buy
- Primary Locations: Convenience stores
- Other Locations: Supermarkets in the snack or refrigerated sections
Price Range
- Category: Mid-range
- Cost: ¥250 - ¥500 JPY per pack (about $15-30 USD)
10. BAKE CHEESE TART
BAKE CHEESE TART uses double-baking technology to create cheese tarts that have exploded across Asia as Japanese desserts. The tart shell is baked twice for a crispy, layered texture, while the filling is Hokkaido cheese mixed with three types of cheese with a mousse-like smooth texture. You can enjoy three ways: at room temperature, refrigerated (mousse texture), or frozen (ice cream texture). When I visited Japan, I made sure to try them all three ways!
Ideal For
- Cheese tart lovers
- People who pursue fresh and delicious experiences
- Those who appreciate Japanese pastries
Where to Buy
- Primary Locations: Shopping centers and station malls in major cities (Tokyo, Osaka, Sapporo)
- Other Locations: BAKE specialty stores
Price Range
- Category: Mid-range
- Cost: ¥300 JPY per tart (about $18 USD)
11. Press Butter Sand Uji Matcha & Cheese
Press Butter Sand is a seasonal limited flavor with double crispy cookies sandwiching cream and caramel sauce, often featuring cheese and matcha flavors. It’s a seasonal limited edition that incorporates cheese elements, such as the Uji Matcha & Cheese flavor. The cookies are perfectly baked, with fillings usually consisting of cream, cheese, and caramel. The texture is flaky, the filling is moist, and the collision between cheese and matcha or classic caramel brings a premium taste experience. When I visited during the right season, these were absolutely amazing!
Ideal For
- People who pursue trendy vibes
- Those who like trying limited flavors
- Lovers of elegant packaging and premium treats
Where to Buy
- Primary Locations: Major stations like Tokyo Station and Ginza
- Other Locations: Department stores like Daimaru, various pop-up stores
Price Range
- Category: Mid-range to premium
- Cost: ¥1,080 JPY per 5-piece pack (about $65 USD)
12. Tokaiho Ogura Toast Langue de Chat - Cheese Version
The Ogura Toast Langue de Chat - Cheese Version is inspired by Nagoya’s classic dish “Ogura Toast” with a special cheese flavor. It’s a regionally limited creative cheese snack. Originally a red bean and cream flavor, the special cheese version adds Edam and Parmesan cheeses, elevating the dessert cookies to richer sweet-salty layers. The crispy “cat tongue cookies” have a unique shape and make an excellent Nagoya gift. When I was in Nagoya, I made sure to get these as souvenirs!
Ideal For
- People exploring regional specialty snacks
- Those who love sweet-salty flavor combinations
- Travelers seeking location-specific treats
Where to Buy
- Primary Locations: Nagoya areas like Nagoya Station, Chubu International Airport
- Other Locations: Highway service areas in the Nagoya region
Price Range
- Category: Mid-range
- Cost: ¥1,150 JPY per 10-piece pack (about $69 USD)
13. Glico Cheeza
Glico Cheeza is baked intense cheese flavor snacks from Glico that I highly recommend for cheese lovers! It’s a high cheese content salty daily snack. It reportedly uses 53% (or higher) fresh cheese, which is concentrated into cheese aroma after baking. It comes in various flavors like Cheddar, Camembert, and Gouda. The texture is crispy, the cheese flavor is explosive, and it’s a perfect companion for drinking or watching movies. When I was looking for a savory snack in Japan, these were perfect!
Ideal For
- Salty snack lovers
- People who pursue intense cheese flavors
- Those looking for high cost-performance snacks
Where to Buy
- Primary Locations: Convenience stores nationwide
- Other Locations: Supermarkets
Price Range
- Category: Budget-friendly
- Cost: ¥150 - ¥200 JPY per box (about $9-12 USD)
14. Hokkaido KINOTOYA Gokujou Cheese Tart
The Hokkaido KINOTOYA Gokujou Cheese Tart comes from Sapporo’s veteran dessert shop, famous for fresh and high-quality Hokkaido milk cheese. It’s representative of Hokkaido local cheese tarts. Unlike BAKE, KINOTOYA emphasizes the pure flavors of Hokkaido milk and cheese. The cheese filling has a lighter texture with stronger milk fragrance. This is an excellent way to experience Hokkaido’s top dairy products. When I tasted this in Sapporo, I could really appreciate the pure Hokkaido dairy flavors!
Ideal For
- Deep travelers who pursue the pure flavor of Hokkaido milk
- Lovers of light and delicate cheese tarts
- Those who appreciate Hokkaido’s dairy products
Where to Buy
- Primary Locations: Sapporo Station, Shin-Chitose Airport
- Other Locations: Major department stores in Hokkaido
Price Range
- Category: Mid-range
- Cost: ¥280 JPY per tart (about $17 USD)
15. TOKYO Rusk Cheese
TOKYO Rusk Cheese is made from French baguette slices baked into crispy rusk with multiple flavors. It’s representative of Japanese refined baking. The cheese flavor rusk perfectly combines the crispness of bread with the richness of cheese. Usually, cheese sauce is spread on bread slices or Parmesan cheese is sprinkled before baking. The texture is hard and crispy, with rich but non-greasy cheese flavor, and the elegant packaging makes it suitable for gifts. When I was looking for a unique bread-based snack, this was perfect!
Ideal For
- People who love rusk and bread-based snacks
- Those who pursue crispy textures
- People looking for elegant packaging suitable for gifts
Where to Buy
- Primary Locations: Major department stores in Tokyo
- Other Locations: Station malls (like Daimaru, Mitsukoshi)
Price Range
- Category: Mid-range to premium
- Cost: ¥800 - ¥1,500 JPY per bag or box (about $48-90 USD)
16. Yoku Moku Cheese Cigar
Yoku Moku Cheese Cigar is a classic cigar-shaped cookie that often releases limited cheese versions. Yoku Moku’s original cigar cookies are a constant in gifts, and the limited cheese versions (like Parmesan cheese) combine the rich butter flavor of the cookies with the saltiness of cheese. The cookie texture is light and fluffy, melting in your mouth, and the addition of cheese makes the flavor more complex and superior. When I tried these in Japan, I was impressed by the sophisticated taste!
Ideal For
- People who prefer high-quality butter flavors
- Those looking for creative flavors from classic brands
- Lovers of sophisticated, elegant snacks
Where to Buy
- Primary Locations: Specialty counters of major department stores nationwide
- Other Locations: Airport duty-free shops
Price Range
- Category: Premium
- Cost: ¥1,80 - ¥3,500 JPY per box (about $110-210 USD)
17. Calbee Jagarico Cheese
Calbee Jagarico Cheese is a cup-style potato snack from Calbee’s line, famous for its unique crispy texture and rich flavors. It’s a super popular snack among college students and young people. Jagarico’s unique “crunchy” crispy texture is its biggest feature. The cheese flavor is rich and authentic, making you eat one after another - it’s very “moreish”. The cup design is convenient for carrying and eating, making it an ideal choice for replenishing energy and satisfying cravings during travel. When I was traveling, these were perfect for on-the-go snacking!
Ideal For
- People who love crispy, salty, convenient cup-style snacks
- Students and young people
- Travelers looking for portable snacks
Where to Buy
- Primary Locations: Convenience stores nationwide
- Other Locations: Supermarkets
Price Range
- Category: Budget-friendly
- Cost: ¥150 - ¥180 JPY per cup (about $9-11 USD)
18. Sapporo Nogakko Milk Cheese Ice Cream
Sapporo Nogakko Milk Cheese Ice Cream comes from Hokkaido’s well-known brand, featuring ice cream made with Hokkaido milk and cheese. It’s a high-quality cheese dessert experience that’s absolutely worth trying. The ice cream combines the rich Hokkaido milk with rich cheese flavor, with a delicate and smooth texture. The milk and cheese sweet-salty balance is just right. Although not technically a “snack,” it’s a premium treat that shouldn’t be missed. When I was in Hokkaido, this was a refreshing treat!
Ideal For
- Ice cream lovers
- People who pursue high-quality dairy products
- Those who enjoy refreshing flavors and unique combinations
Where to Buy
- Primary Locations: Sapporo Nogakko specialty stores
- Other Locations: Shin-Chitose Airport, Hokkaido local product shops
Price Range
- Category: Mid-range
- Cost: ¥350 - ¥500 JPY per cup (about $21-30 USD)
Final Thoughts
If you’re interested in Japanese snacks, you should definitely check related posts! I’ve shared many more recommendations based on my extensive experience exploring Japanese cuisine. These cheese snacks represent just a small portion of the amazing treats Japan has to offer - you’re gonna love exploring more!