Now on cheese♪ “Smoked Cheese & Camembert” and the Rhythm of the City

When people hear “Shibuya,” many may picture busy crossings and dazzling lights. But this part of Tokyo has another face too—one that is not simply flashy.

Light reflected through glass. Carefully arranged displays.

A moment of quiet elegance slipping into the fast-moving rhythm of passing footsteps.

In the middle of my Tokyo, Connected journey, what I found in Shibuya was a sweet that suited exactly that kind of atmosphere.

Now on cheese♪’s Classic Cheese Sandwich “Smoked Cheese & Camembert.”

Even within the youthful energy of Shibuya, it feels just a little calmer, just a little more grown-up. Its flavor was not so much like neon at night, but more like a city taste with a quiet, refined outline.

Place where I traveled: Shibuya, sophistication within the energy

Shibuya is a place where something is always moving. People pass through, trends shift, and even the scenery you thought you knew seems to update itself little by little.

But the charm of this neighborhood is not only its momentum.

If you stand somewhere like Shibuya Scramble Square, you can see how Tokyo in the present moment is arranged in a surprisingly polished way. It is new, but not messy. It is glamorous, but somehow edited.

Shibuya holds both freedom and sophistication at once. Youth culture collides here, but it does not end in mere noise. Sensibilities are sharpened, selected, and shaped into the expression of the city itself.

And in that kind of Shibuya, I felt there was room for a different kind of sweetness from the jewel-like sparkle of Kohakutō— something with a clearer outline, something distinctly urban.

Snacks I found in the journey: Now on cheese♪’s Classic Cheese Sandwich

That day, along the way, what I came across was a creation from Now on cheese♪, a sweets specialty brand with cheese at its center. According to the brand, Now on cheese♪ is a “cheese sweets specialty shop,” one that carefully explores the charm and individuality of cheese while creating sweets that pair authentic flavor with a subtle sense of playfulness.

That idea feels a little like Shibuya too. Not simply chasing trends, but bringing out the character of the ingredients and shaping them into something that fits the mood of the present.

The one I picked up was the Classic Cheese Sandwich “Smoked Cheese & Camembert.”

Officially, this product is described as having an appealing smoky flavor.

With the first bite comes the light, delicate texture of the langue de chat cookie. Then a gentle smoky aroma rises. And after that, the mellow richness of camembert spreads as if wrapping that aroma in softness.

It is not sweet in a simple way. And yet it is never too heavy. Though it is a sweet, it carries with it something of a more grown-up kind of time.

Shibuya, too, looks glamorous on the surface. But shift your gaze just slightly, and beneath it you begin to notice sophistication, tension, and a carefully chosen sense of beauty.

This cheese sandwich seemed to hold that same dual expression.

What Now on cheese♪ is aiming for

A small glimpse inside the box — where the night’s dessert begins.

The appeal of Now on cheese♪ is not simply that it makes “cheese-flavored sweets.” Its real strength lies in how it examines the character of cheese itself, and how its aroma, flavor, and texture can be brought to life through confectionery.

And then, on top of that authenticity, it adds a small touch of playfulness.

That attitude feels very Tokyo to me. To make things seriously. But not too stiffly. To be refined, without making people feel distant from it.

At the Shibuya shop, the brand’s charming design is also said to be customized in a “Shibuya style.” That softness—the ability to shift how it presents itself according to the expression of each place—also felt naturally connected to the flow of Tokyo, Connected.

How to enjoy: If you want to taste it in a Shibuya way

Two small sandwiches, where sweetness meets salt.

This cheese sandwich becomes even more defined when paired with a drink served slightly chilled.

For example, unsweetened iced tea. The aromas do not clash, and the smokiness and soft camembert finish linger quietly.

For a more grown-up pairing, black coffee works beautifully too. Its bitterness sharpens the balance of sweetness and saltiness, making the urban character of the sweet stand out more clearly.

It also pairs well with alcohol such as whisky, which is another part of its charm—it can almost be enjoyed like a snack to go with a drink. There is a real individuality beneath its sweetness, making it feel unmistakably grown-up.

Next station

With the outline of Shibuya still lingering on my tongue, I make my way toward the next part of the city.

The journey of Tokyo, Connected is still continuing. 

Next station: Shinjuku. A deeper night, and another gateway ahead.

FAQ

What is Now on Cheese♪?

It is a dessert shop built around the flavor and aroma of cheese. The sandwich cookies feature combinations such as smoked cheese with camembert or caramel with gorgonzola, creating a sweet yet savory experience closer to a dish than a typical sweet.

Can it be enjoyed with alcohol? 

Yes. The rich cheese flavors pair especially well with wine or spirits. The saltiness and smoky notes complement red wine, whisky, or other full-bodied drinks.