With some terrific day trip options in the surrounding area, having your own car makes good sense. Without one, it’d be much more difficult to experience everything that Shiroishi, 30 miles away, has to offer. Zao Fox Village, Shiroishi Castle and Sumaru House alone justify the drive. Locals will also probably point you in the direction of Fukushima, 30 miles away. If you can only find time for one attraction here, let it be Iizaka Onsen. (But we’d also recommend Fukushima Azuma Baseball Stadium and Fukushima Prefectural Museum of Art.)