MICIO (ミーチョ), a new gelato shop created through a collaboration between the renowned gelato brand L'ibisco and the Sotetsu Group, is set to open in Kamakura on Saturday, June 27, 2026.
The shop's name comes from the Italian word for "kitty," evoking the free-spirited cats that wander Kamakura's alleyways — and an aspiration for MICIO to become a beloved neighborhood stop that both locals and visitors will want to return to again and again.
A Commitment to Kanagawa Ingredients
While L'ibisco is widely known for using "Obuse Milk" from Obuse Town in Nagano Prefecture, MICIO takes a different approach. At this Kamakura location, the focus is entirely on Kanagawa-sourced ingredients. The milk flavor uses 100% locally produced Kanagawa milk, and all other flavors also incorporate at least one ingredient grown in the region. Starting from opening day, the lineup will include flavors made with locally grown pumpkin and tea leaves, with more Kanagawa-sourced ingredients to be added over time.
Every batch of gelato is handmade fresh each morning in quantities sufficient only for that day's sales, without any freezing or preservatives. This "raw gelato" approach preserves the natural aroma and freshness of each ingredient at its peak.
Flavor Highlights
Shonan Chigasaki MILK — Rich yet clean-finishing milk from cows raised at a farm in Chigasaki, nurtured by sea breezes and lush greenery. The flavor is crafted to draw out the milk's full potential.
Yokosuka Pumpkin — Made with fully ripened Kanagawa pumpkins grown under generous sunshine. With minimal added sugar, the natural sweetness and hearty texture of the vegetable take center stage.
Hadano Hojicha / Sencha — Tea leaves from Hadano, a region known for its pristine water and the deep mist that fills Kanagawa's only inland basin. The tea is carefully steeped at the temperature where its aroma peaks, then blended with milk to create a harmonious balance of deep fragrance and subtle astringency.
All L'ibisco gelato is made without eggs and with minimal sugar, staying true to the brand's philosophy of letting ingredients speak for themselves.
Store Information
Store Name: MICIO
Grand Opening: Saturday, June 27, 2026
Address: Uoura Building 1A, 2-10-20 Komachi, Kamakura, Kanagawa
Access: 5-minute walk from Kamakura Station
Hours: 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gelato_micio_kamakura
