The pot of gold at the the end of that monorail line is the wonderful little gelateria known (somewhat cryptically) as The Market SE1 — as introduced in my column in The Japan Times last Friday.
Set up just over a year ago, it's a modest little place but well worth checking out if you're in the area — in fact some people think it's worth a special trip (we met someone who'd come down from Ibaraki last time we were there).
Owner Yasuo Atarashi is more than just a gelato artisan though. He's a trained chef with a fascinating background (ask him about his involvement with F1 racing) and he's a stickler for quality ingredients.
He makes all his gelati himself — ten varieties each day — using premium unhomogenised milk that he sources from the Oku-Izumo region of Shimane Prefecture. It's from Brown Swiss cows and is marketed under the Yama no Ochichi brand — which translates as either 'Mountain Milk' or 'Mountain Teat' (take your pick).
The flavours vary week by week, according to his whim and whatever fresh fruit is in season that he sources locally. Check his blog to find out what to expect. Currently he has blueberries from orchards in Shin-Yurigaoka, at the other end of Kanagawa Pref.
As I said, it's a tiny little shop, with just room for a small counter and 4 chairs if it's too hot/rainy to sit outside... Besides the gelati, Atarashi-san also serves espressos, beer (Yonayona in cans), and a small range of panini at lunchtime. Not to mention the aforementioned Pimm's.
This (above) was one of the chorizo panini; he also makes a mean vegetarian version with Mediterranean veggies and proper hummus.
Besides serving up all the ice creams and snacks, Atarashi-san is a cheerful welcoming guy, and his enthusiasm permeates the place...
Atarashi lived in England for seven years and is a major anglophile. You can tell from the name he's chosen for his business — named after the post code for Borough Market, the prime source in London for farm fresh produce, farmhouse cheese, meat from traditional livestock breeds, home-baked bread, and lots more artisanal foods from all over the UK and the Continent too.
It's also evident from the little objets he's chosen to decorate the interior of the shop...
Here's the link to The Market SE1's home page... and for Atarashi-san's blog...
And here is a map link...
How to get there: From Shonan Enoshima Station (endpoint of the Shonan Monorail), walk down to the lights, cross over and turn left up the main street. Follow the shops to the end and turn right, crossing the Enoden tracks. You will now be directly opposite The Market SE1.
Just look out for the benches, the milk churn and the sign advertising the very reasonable prices: ¥300 for a single (1 flavour); ¥450 for a double (2 scoops).
You can see how close it is to the Enoden tracks: there's plenty to watch as you slurp your ice cream...
