If you head towards the Olive Garden from Ushimado you'll pass a small cluster of shops near the top of the hill. One of those shops is Copio, a gelato parlour that's a very popular stopover for those hiking up to the top. The store is open from midday to 5pm, and it's very popular on the weekends. It offers some tasty gelato and a nice rest to rejuvenate you for the rest of the hill.
Copio has a decent selection of gelato, selling for ¥350 for a cup, ¥400 for a single flavoured wafer cone, and ¥450 for a double flavoured cone. The flavours include blueberry, olive, chocolate cake, takesumi (bamboo charcoal), cocoa, mango, tea, and more. They're not strong or sweet, but they have a unique delicate flavour that tastes like authentic gelato should.
It's a bit of a curiousity finding proper gelato half the way up a mountain in a Japanese summer resort town but it's entirely welcome. Depending on the season and his fancy the chef varies the array of curious flavours, so you may well find some unique options. You can buy bulk sets for parties and the like, though it's best if you call ahead to order.
The takesumi is undoubtedly the most curious option amongst these – who would think bamboo charcoal could be a gelato flavour? Well apparently Copio did – and it certainly has a following due to its experimentations. Takesumi is more commonly a general purpose substance that has dehumidifying, alkalizing, and health supplementing properties; it's good for detoxification and apparently even absorbs excess radiation in your system. As far as a gelato flavour I found that it was a sweet musky flavour I couldn't really identify. Worth trying for sure – but perhaps get a second flavour in a double cone setup for some more traditional satisfaction.
The courtyard has plenty of seating in a dry Mediterranean atmosphere. There's a few friendly goats just behind the courtyard that offer entertainment whilst eating. If you sit for a while you'll see the tourist buses heading up to the Olive Gardens and little old ladies staring enviously at the gelato you're holding. Fortunately for them there's ice cream on offer at the Olive Gardens too (although it's not as good).
On the weekend the old Yamamoto couple that live next door to Copio bring out their goods to host a small farmer's market. They stock potatoes, melons, garlic, onions and various vegetables depending on the yields. They're open for the same hours as Copio (midday-5PM) and have some super fresh goods if you want to stock up your pantry.
Also close by is the Ushimado Watertrail kayaking office if you're keen for kayaking trips to Maejima and other local islands, as well as a complete day trip where you paddle from Ushimado to Shikoku island and then party on the ferry back that night. Next to the road there's also a ramen restaurant I haven't seen open.
