With some great day trip options available in the surrounding area, having your own car makes good sense. Without one, it’d be much harder to experience all that Yonezawa, 20 miles away, has to offer. Uesugi Jinja Shrine ought to be at the top of your list here. Keji Maeda’s Tomb and Matsugasaki Park are interesting attractions too. Don’t skip Shimogo either! Just 25 miles away, Ouchi-juku View Point, Yunokami Onsen and Ouchi-juku are essential stops here.