Address - 744-7, Horiuchi, Hayama, Kanagawa-ken Opening hours - 09:00 - 19:0, closed on Wednesdays Map - Yes (from Mapfan) Telephone - 03-3449-0901 Menu - In Japanese CC - No

Tanto Tempo is an exceptionally well stocked Italian grocery store with annexed small restaurant managed by a young Japanese couple. He is the very proud owner of a "Certified Parma Ham Cutter" diploma he got in Italy. I didn't even know such a skill existed. The name itself, which means "Lots of time", speaks volumes about their attitude towards life, and visiting them during the summer is sheer joy, surrounded by green as they are.
The restaurant is really just a couple of chairs where you can eat what you just purchased, but taste and atmosphere well compensate the lack of sophistication.

As a shop, they have rarities from all over Italy, for example true finocchiona salami from Siena, something you wouldn’t be able to buy even in my home town. The finocchiona cost an arm and a leg, but was absolutely worth it.

And the rarities aren't all: they make excellent sandwiches with the ingredients you want, they sell excellent spreads made fresh every day and they have a daily menu of excellent pastas and other stuff. If you are in Hayama, eat there on the porch while enjoying all that green. By the way, both the owner and his wife are good, friendly people used to us Gaijin.

Tanto Tempo has a site. It would be very nice, but the text always gets garbled up unless you use a Japanese browser. You can still look at the pictures.