Nagai Shinai
Sketch Coffee
(セカイスケッチコーヒー)
Locally owned cafe with espresso drinks, homemade deserts, only open on the weekends (Saturday-Monday) from 10:30 until 4 pm.
Many’s Cafe
A cafe set at the site of the old Nagai-city elementary school building. The beautiful, traditional wooden building has been thoroughly refurbished and now serves delicious coffees and food from 10 am- 6 pm Monday-Sunday
Dotour Public Library
The newly-opened Nagaishi public library has an excellent cafe inside of it from the cafe chain Dotour. It is open until about 6-7 pm most days of the wek.
Yamanoshita
(ヤマノシタ)
A tiny cafe-restaurant located next to the city-hall building. This place is great! Don’t let the small size fool you. Serves drinks, deserts and food. Open 11 am - 6 pm Monday-Sunday (but often randomly closed)
Potager
(ぽたじぇ)
This place is very popular, so it can be difficult to get a seat without a reservation. It is also only open on the weekends 11 am - 5 pm, Friday and Saturday. Serves coffee, tea, and deserts - especially shaved ice!
Furindou Confectioner
(フウリンドウカシテン)
This place is extra sweet (pun intended!). A privately owned confectionary shop with hand-made desserts. You can also order matcha tea and sweets sets and enjoy a sit down, diet-cheat session. Open 9 am - 6:30 pm every day.
Jiem Cafe
A small, privately owned cafe and restaurant with a few tables, a tiny bakery, and some handmade goods for sale.
Saito Fuya
This is a really fascinating cafe - everything here is Fu related. Fu is a type of dried wheat gluten that produces a spongy dough. The cafe also doubles as a restaurant with set meals. A bit expensive at 2,000+ yen per set, the quality is nonetheless very worth the price. Reservations encouraged through their instagram page or by phone.
Outside (and Near) Nagai:
Nanyo
Gelato En
Located in Nanyo, this place is a really great ice cream shop. Even better - they have sweet potato ice cream! Sounds delicious right?
Next door, on the right hand side, is a small fried donuts shop. In case the ice cream doesn't do enough damage to your diet.
Icho Cafe
Located in Nanyo, also next to Gelato En and the Kumano Taisha shrine, is Icho Cafe. This lovely small cafe has glass walls and bunny-themed deserts (following the story of the three rabbits connected to the shrine - see the bunny whip cream in the picture?). Has a lovely atmosphere reminiscent of fancier towns like Kamakura.
Ciel's Green Lounge
Located in Nanyo on the far side of town, in a shopping plaza with a grocery store, several restaurants, and other nice things. Without doubt the best place to study in the entire region. You pay by the hour, up to three hours (after that the price remains fixed), and get unlimited free drinks and snacks included with your visit. Wifi is strong, the atmosphere is quiet.
books and cafe ひめしゃら文庫
Only open on certain days ( a calendar near the entrance shows the schedule for that month). A lovely privately owned cafe with a nice ambiance, good coffee, and some nice sweets like French-toast.
Kinari Cafe
Open most days until the early afternoon. A very lovely privately owned cafe, with tasty coffee and an expansive sweets menu. A bit on the small side.
Baumkuchen
A really nice cafe devoted to handmade pastry rolls. The cafe is small, but the atmosphere is luxurious and feels very new. Near to Ciel's Green Lounge.
Outside (and Near) Nagai:
Yonazawa
Starbucks
The only Starbucks within driving distance of Nagai (about 35 minutes). It is also the only cafe open late in the area - until 11 pm almost every day.
Laboratory
A privately owned Cafe/Flower Shop that is open until 11 pm almost every day. The Iced Chai is particularly good. There is also an upstairs area. The owner speaks good English (and always wears a fedora)
カフェ蓮櫻
A privately owned Cafe located just outside the mote of the old Uesugi clan shrine at the center of the city. This cafe is simply lovely. The owner plays a nice soundtrack of calm, older music in the background, the view of the park is very scenic, and the atmosphere is perfect for either work or socializing. The coffee (and sweets) options are also very good. Highly recommended.