Bokushi Street in Shiozawa is one of my favorite places in all of Minamiuonuma. The street was part of the Mikunikaido, an ancient highway that once connected Takasaki in Gunma Prefecture to the Nagaoka area of Niigata Prefecture. The street still has much of that step back in time feeling courtesy of buildings that have been lovingly restored, but one place that fuses this tradition with a healthy dose of modernity is Ohgiya Cafe.
The cafe itself is light, bright and airy, and feels so comfortable that you could practically be sitting in a friend's living room. Alongside the regular table seating there are some couches with low tables, giving off a very relaxed vibe - it's part of the appeal of visiting here.
The menu at Ohgiya Cafe isn't enormous, but everything we've tried there has been great. They have curry rice (served on none other than our local Uonuma koshihikari rice variant), a tomato sauce based pasta, a hearty vegetable soup, and a savory waffle set along with a few other lunch dishes. They also have a range of sweet waffles on offer, with toppings including banana and chocolate, vanilla and honey, and blueberry with cream cheese. They're perfect for the times that you don't need a full meal but could handle something sweet alongside a coffee or tea.
The cafe is open from 10.30 am until 5.30 pm daily, but do note that the cafe is closed each Wednesday if you're planning on making a special trip.
