At the entrance of the merchants’ town

It is 8:00 in the morning, just as the light shines through the arcades of the Fuse Honmachi shopping arcade.
At Ikedaya Coffee, a man who looks like a regular is already opening a newspaper. The steam from the coffee is a little bit shaky, and that’s the signal that it’s time to start the morning.

Fuse has always been a town of merchants.
Retailers, manufacturers, and wholesalers. For these early risers, a coffee shop is more than just a place to eat and drink. It is like a small base where they can get their bodies and minds in order in the 30 minutes between stocking up and opening the store.

Ikedaya Coffee is a store that has been taking care of such “in-between” moments.

The air of the town is caught in the “mix.

First, let’s start with the famous mixed sandwiches.
A thick omelet is sandwiched between the fluffy white bread. The crunchiness of the cucumber and the richness of the margarine are just the right balance, and when you put it in your mouth, you feel as if your body is slowly waking up in the morning.

The thickly-boiled egg sandwiches are a staple at coffee shops in the Kansai region.
The fact that the eggs are not boiled with mayonnaise as in the Kanto region, but instead are baked, shows the Kansai region’s willingness to go to the trouble.

In addition, a small salad was served free of charge. It’s nothing fancy, but it makes me a little happy.
These casual “extras” remind me of the human touch of the town.

A view that has remained unchanged from the past

When you enter the store, your eyes are greeted by the age-old

The spiral staircase, the retro-patterned floor, magazines piled up on the wall, and above all, the tabletop game machines.
Above all, there is a table-type game machine. The only one left now is a remnant of its former use as a game arcade.

More than a coffee shop, it is a space that has been there for a long time.
Even though its role has changed little by little with the passage of time, a place that has become familiar with the town will remain “scenery” as it is.

I thought I heard someone whisper, “It’s the same as it always was.

Home Roasting and Another Cup of Margin

Another face of Ikedaya Coffee. It is as a supplier of home-roasted beans.
Freshly baked bread and home-brewed beans are all produced by the company itself. That is why they are proud of their aroma and texture.
Hot coffee refills are free.
It is a little too luxurious for my hurried morning, but the second cup of coffee is the real treat.

The man with the newspaper closed is straightening his posture for a second cup. His back is kind of nice.

It is also “morning” at SEKAI HOTEL Fuse.

Ikedaya Coffee is also the breakfast place of SEKAI HOTEL Fuse.
Guests can enjoy this breakfast for free by simply showing their SEKAI PASS. (*Only for guests who have booked a plan that includes breakfast)

Spend the morning of your trip in a coffee shop in a strange land, rubbing shoulders with people you don’t know.
It is not “sightseeing,” but for some reason it becomes a “travel scene” that remains strongly in your memory.

Morning belongs to everyone

Even though the number of merchants has decreased, Ikedaya Coffee is still lively in the morning.
The madams talk about their recent activities, and the old men eat their sandwiches in silence.
Guests blend in with this scene.

This is not a tourist town. But it is certainly a morning in this town.
It is not flashy. But perhaps this is how everyday life gradually seeps into your body.
I am sure that I will remember the morning when the sandwich bread was soft and fluffy, even years from now.