Getting to know Sembayashi-omiya a bit more today in between writing and talking to clients. We had to stay close to home for the majority of today as Moni had a few client calls and needed to do some writing. But even so, we did manage to break up the day somewhat.

Day 36 – April 8th, 2014.

Sembayashi is a great town, and has one of four shopping arcades in the Osaka area, you would have seen some of the photos from them on this blog. Anyway today we had lunch in our favourite place.

lunch at a noodle place which is only 5 minutes away

“Coffee in another small coffee shop in Sembayashi”

As we walk towards the main road there is a coffee place that we are yet to try so in we went. The place is small and cosy, and the walls are decorated with all handmade items. The coffee was made with care but fell short of being great, and again unfortunately not a smoke free environment.

Cafe Roman in Sembayashi-omiya

“A shrine in Sembayashi-omiya just around the corner from our apartment”

We wanted to have coffee at ‘coffee shop love’ the other day but it was closed and today after already having had a coffee we find it open, oh well another time. Our walk takes us past a shrine which is just at the end of a road in between all the other shops and places.

A shrine in Sembayashi-omiya just around the corner from our apartment

The cherry blossoms are past their full bloom but still look and smell nice. The shrine is popular with the locals and in places it has been repaired, it runs along the side road and backs onto a children’s playing area

“Images from walking around in Sembayashi-omiya”

Our walk takes us under the highway and back towards home past more small shops all selling items of need, nothing touristy here.

Images from walking around in Sembayashi-omiya

“On the way back we past the sushi shop and are treated to an ice cream”

green tea & vanilla flavour combo, this little machine presses it out and the portions are frozen in packs so no waste. You just put in your tub of ice cream and the machine does the rest, all you have to do is hold the cone (not easy first time) and twirl it around, my attempt was very wonky.

Green tea and vanilla ice cream from the sushi shop