With some awesome day trip options available in the surrounding area, renting a car makes good sense. Without one, it’d be much harder to soak up all that Yonezawa, 18 miles away, has to offer. Uesugi Jinja Shrine, Keji Maeda’s Tomb and Matsugasaki Park alone make the drive out here worthwhile. Located 19 miles away, Inawashiro is another place to aim for. If you visit, be sure to check out Mount Bandai, Akimoto Lake and Urabandai Ski Area.