According to one embodiment, a memory device is connectable to a host, and includes a nonvolatile memory, a volatile memory which is used as a cache of the nonvolatile memory and has a higher access speed than the nonvolatile memory, and a controller which controls access to the nonvolatile memory and the volatile memory. The controller increments, when the controller receives a refresh command for the volatile memory from the host, a value of a refresh counter, and executes, when the value of the refresh counter exceeds a threshold, no refresh operation corresponding to the refresh command.