Kyodo Gakusha is a Japanese cooperative and social organization founded in the 1970s, bringing together agriculture, artisanal production, and social inclusion through shared living and working. It operates in several locations across Japan, with its most well-known site being the Shintoku farm on the island of Hokkaido, where cheeses and other dairy products are made in accordance with principles of sustainability and respect for nature. The core idea of Kyodo Gakusha is to create a community in which people from diverse life circumstances, including those who need additional support, work, learn, and grow together through everyday activities. Food production is not seen merely as an economic activity, but as part of a broader life philosophy based on cooperation, responsibility, and balance between humans and their environment. Cheese from Shintoku is produced in small batches with great attention to milk quality and the aging process, which has earned it recognition beyond Japan. Today, Kyodo Gakusha is regarded as a unique example of how social mission, rural development, and high-quality artisanal food production can be meaningfully integrated.
Awards
World Cheese Awards - Gold
(2021)
Japan Cheese Awards - Gold
(2025, 2024, 2018, 2016, 2015)
Niseko Cheese Factory, located in Hokkaido, Japan, produces a variety of artisan cheeses using locally sourced milk. This factory is known for incorporating unique local ingredients into its cheese-making process, such as wasabi and yuzu, creating distinctive flavors that reflect the regional cuisine. The facility also offers tours and cheese-making workshops for visitors.
Awards
Culture Cheese Magazine Best Cheeses issue - Best
(2023)
Mirasaka Fromage is a cheese producer located in Hiroshima, Japan. The company specializes in creating artisanal cheeses using locally sourced milk. They emphasize traditional cheese-making techniques and focus on offering a variety of flavors and textures.
Cheese Stand is a cheese producer based in Tokyo, Japan. It was founded in 2012 and focuses on creating fresh cheese using locally sourced milk. The company's products include varieties such as mozzarella and ricotta. Cheese Stand operates a retail shop in Tokyo and supplies cheese to various restaurants and cafes in the area.
Atelier de Fromage Co., Ltd. is a cheese producer located in Nagano, Japan. The company is known for its artisanal approach to cheese-making, utilizing traditional techniques and local ingredients. They offer a range of cheese varieties, including both hard and soft cheeses, catering to diverse tastes. The company also operates a shop and cafe, where visitors can purchase their cheeses and enjoy dishes made with their products.
TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot,
nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable.
For the “Top 13 Japanese Cheeses” list until June 02, 2026, 4 ratings were recorded, of which 2 were recognized by the system as legitimate.
TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods,
instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.
The initial list of top producers was compiled based on available reviews, awards, local recommendations, media and blog coverage, and consumer reviews.
The list will be updated with ratings from TasteAtlas local ambassadors and TasteAtlas users.
