With some awesome road trip options available in the surrounding area, having your own car makes good sense. Without one, it’d be much more difficult to experience everything that Nishiiwai-gun, 35 miles away, has to offer. Among your first stops here ought to be Chuson-ji Temple, Motsu-Ji Temple and Golden Hall. The locals will also probably point you in the direction of Tsuruoka, 35 miles away. If you only have time for one thing here, let it be Shonai Shrine. (But we’re also big fans of Tsuruoka Park and Dainichibo Temple.)