Genova – a gelato shop located at the entrance of Sorupaseo Ginza shoten-gai that stays open until midnight. At night this shop is crowded with students coming back from the bars and office workers headed home after work. The bright and colorful, eye catching flavors of gelato lined up behind the glass display all look delicious.

“They’re all good! I have so many ideas for gelato, I can make more than 100 flavors,” said the manager with pride.

At any one time the shop generally has around 26 flavors. I asked the manager how he decides every day which flavors to put on the menu. He smiled wryly and said “I decide by whatever mood I’m in!” I ordered a strawberry gelato, and the manager made it with an extra generous scoop. I took a bite and a let a frozen strawberry melt on my tongue as the taste of fresh milk covered my palette. I decided to take my gelato with me for a night stroll in Beppu.