Atelier de Fromage Kyu-Karuizawa Shop

Established in 1982, Atelier de Fromage is a cheese factory renowned for its dedication to producing high-quality dairy products using carefully selected ingredients and traditional cheese-making methods. It was the first in Japan to produce fresh cheese (nama-cheese), employing techniques learned in France, which have been uniquely adapted to create distinctive, original cheeses.
The milk used in their cheeses is a carefully adjusted blend of Jersey cow milk from their own Fromage Farm and Holstein milk sourced from neighboring farms, with ratios tailored specifically for each cheese type.

Currently, the factory produces around 20 varieties of cheese, including their first-ever product, nama-cheese, their award-winning Camembert (once served in airline first-class cabins), and the Camen-Blue, a gold medal winner at Monde Selection.

In addition to the main store located in Tomi City, Nagano Prefecture, the company operates several retail shops and restaurants, including this Kyu-Karuizawa shop. Here, customers can find an extensive range of products, from artisan cheeses and yogurts to cakes and cheese-loaded pizzas. Their takeaway treats, particularly the fresh cheese soft-serve ice cream, are also popular among visitors.