Initial D is a legendary manga series created by Shuichi Shigeno, serialized in Weekly Young Magazine from 1995 to 2013. The story was also adapted into a popular anime, earning fans across the globe.
The story begins in Gunma Prefecture, on a mountain called Akina. While Akina itself is fictional, it is widely believed to be modeled after Mount Haruna—one of the “Jōmō Sanzan” (Three Famous Mountains of Jōmō), a nickname for the three iconic peaks in Gunma. The prefecture is known for its winding mountain roads, making it the perfect setting for the street racing scenes that define Initial D.
The protagonist, Takumi Fujiwara, is a high school student who delivers tofu for his family’s shop, the Fujiwara Tofu Shop. He drives his father Bunta’s beloved Toyota Sprinter Trueno (AE86), famously known as the “Hachiroku.” What starts as a daily delivery routine soon turns into thrilling downhill races through mountain passes, showcasing Takumi’s raw driving talent and passion for drifting.
Initial D has gained worldwide recognition—not just in Japan, but also across Europe and North America. Fans overseas have recreated scenes from the series, including drifting in AE86s decked out in Fujiwara Tofu Shop livery. Others have even attempted Takumi’s unique training method—placing a cup of water in the car and driving without spilling a drop—to test their own driving skills.
Many of the locations featured in Initial D are based on real places in Gunma Prefecture, which is part of what makes the series so compelling for fans. Driving enthusiasts and anime lovers alike are drawn to the region to explore the same mountain passes seen in the manga.
In this guide, we’ll take you on a driving tour of the real-life mountain passes that inspired Initial D, along with must-visit spots and local tips to help you make the most of your journey through the heart of Gunma.
- The Sacred Ground of Initial D: Akina (Mount Haruna)
- The Home of the Akagi RedSuns: Mount Akagi
- The Legendary Battle with the Sil-Eighty: Usui Pass (USUI)
- The Myogi NightKids’ Home Turf: Mount Myogi (MYOGI)
- Shibukawa City in Gunma Prefecture Fully Supports the Initial D Legacy
- The Irohazaka Touge: Home of the MR2-Driving Kobayashi Duo – IROHA
- Conclusion
The Sacred Ground of Initial D: Akina (Mount Haruna)
Mount Akina is the most iconic location in Initial D, serving as the home course for protagonist Takumi Fujiwara and the Akina Speed Stars. It’s where Takumi honed his skills while delivering tofu, and where many of the series’ most legendary battles took place.
While Akina is a fictional name, it’s widely known that it was inspired by the real-life Mount Haruna in Gunma Prefecture. The mountain pass that serves as the model for Akina can be found along Prefectural Route 33 in the city of Shibukawa, Gunma.
How to Get There
To access the area, take the Kan-Etsu Expressway and exit at the Shibukawa-Ikaho Interchange. From there, follow Prefectural Route 33 in the direction of Ikaho Onsen. Once you pass the hot spring town, you’ll find yourself on the legendary mountain pass that served as the stage for many of the high-speed downhill races in Initial D.
Start Point & Goal Point
While the manga and anime don’t provide exact coordinates, fans visiting Mount Haruna often begin their drive near the Ikaho area and follow the winding roads down toward Lake Haruna. This route closely mirrors the start and finish points seen in the series, making it a must-visit pilgrimage for Initial D enthusiasts.
The Home of the Akagi RedSuns: Mount Akagi
Mount Akagi serves as the home turf of the Akagi RedSuns, one of the most dominant teams in Initial D, led by the cool and calculating Ryosuke Takahashi. Known for his mastery of the Mazda Savanna RX-7 (FC3S), Ryosuke and his team are a force to be reckoned with on the mountain passes.
Unlike some fictional locations in the series, Mount Akagi is a real mountain in Gunma Prefecture and was used directly as the model for the team’s home course. It’s located to the east of Mount Haruna, making it a natural next stop for fans exploring the Initial D driving routes.
How to Get There
To visit Mount Akagi, take the Kan-Etsu Expressway and exit at the Shibukawa-Ikaho Interchange. From there, set your GPS for the Akagi Mountain Tourist Information Center (赤城山総合観光案内所):
1-14 Akagiyama, Fujimi-machi, Maebashi-shi, Gunma 371-0101, Japan.
This spot serves as a great starting point to explore the winding mountain roads made famous by the Akagi RedSuns, and it’s a must-visit for Initial D fans looking to trace the paths of their favorite racers.
Start Point
Goal Point
The Legendary Battle with the Sil-Eighty: Usui Pass (USUI)
Usui Pass is one of the most iconic and technical mountain roads in Japan. This old section of National Route 18 winds from Annaka City in Gunma Prefecture to the resort town of Karuizawa in Nagano Prefecture. Spanning roughly 11 kilometers and packed with a staggering 184 curves, Usui Pass is a dream for touge (mountain pass) driving enthusiasts.
In Initial D, Usui serves as the battleground for the intense race between Takumi Fujiwara and the all-female duo, Mako Sato and Sayuki, who drive the formidable Nissan Sil-Eighty. This dramatic showdown became one of the most memorable battles in the series and brought global attention to the pass.
Start Point
The Myogi NightKids’ Home Turf: Mount Myogi (MYOGI)
Mount Myogi is another real-world location featured in Initial D, and it’s the home course of the Myogi NightKids—a street racing team led by Takeshi Nakazato, who drives a Nissan Skyline GT-R (R32). Known for their aggressive racing style, the NightKids serve as powerful rivals to both Takumi Fujiwara and Keisuke Takahashi in the early parts of the story.
The starting point for the Mount Myogi hill climb is located just in front of the parking lot at the roadside station “Michi-no-Eki Myogi.” The second parking area here is especially famous—it appears in the anime as the gathering spot for Nakazato, Shingo Shoji, and other Myogi NightKids. Today, it’s a popular pilgrimage site for fans of the series who want to relive the scenes and atmosphere of these unforgettable races.
Start Point
Goal Point
Shibukawa City in Gunma Prefecture Fully Supports the Initial D Legacy
参照：渋川市観光課HP:https://initiald-shibukawa.com/eg/
Shibukawa City in Gunma Prefecture is one of the key real-world locations that inspired the setting of Initial D. In the anime, the iconic “Mount Akina” is prominently featured—but in reality, this mountain is modeled after the real Mount Haruna, a symbol of Shibukawa.
What sets Shibukawa apart is that it doesn’t treat Initial D as just another anime. Instead, the city embraces the series as part of a broader regional revitalization effort. Local tourism organizations have even gone so far as to host guided tours that take fans to various filming locations and key landmarks featured in the anime. These tours include stops at scenic viewpoints, famous drift corners, and actual mountain roads that were used as models for the show’s intense race scenes.
Shibukawa’s passionate support for Initial D is more than just fan service—it’s a smart and unique strategy to promote local tourism and boost the economy. The city has integrated the world of Initial D into its cultural identity, transforming a beloved anime into a valuable tool for community engagement and economic growth.
For fans of Initial D, Shibukawa is more than a travel destination—it’s an immersive experience where you can step into the world of the anime while discovering the charm and beauty of rural Japan. With its growing popularity among car enthusiasts and anime lovers alike, Shibukawa is sure to remain a must-visit pilgrimage spot for years to come.
The Irohazaka Touge: Home of the MR2-Driving Kobayashi Duo – IROHA
Located in Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture—just next to Gunma—Irohazaka is one of Japan’s most famous mountain roads, known for its steep gradients and hairpin turns. It’s also the home course of the MR2-driving father-son duo, the Kobayashis, in Initial D. In the series, the First Irohazaka is also featured as the base of operations for the Emperor team, led by the aggressive Kyōichi Sudō, who drives a Lancer Evolution.
Irohazaka connects central Nikko with Lake Chūzenji and consists of two separate roads: the First Irohazaka (used for descending) and the Second Irohazaka (used for ascending). Together, they feature a total of 48 hairpin corners—24 in each direction—making this route one of the most intense and technically demanding drives in the country. What makes it even more unique is its rare one-way system, where the roads merge at both the base and summit.
Start Point
Goal Point
The powerful corners
For fans of Initial D and driving enthusiasts alike, Irohazaka is more than just a scenic route—it’s a thrilling touge experience. The powerful corners, sharp turns, and breathtaking views make it an unforgettable destination, both in the anime and real life. Whether you’re retracing the footsteps of iconic Initial D characters or just seeking an exhilarating drive through the mountains, Irohazaka is a must-visit road that embodies the spirit of Japanese street racing culture.
Conclusion
The “Initial D mountain” roads are not merely the setting for high-octane races—they are the symbols of a subculture that celebrates speed, precision, and the thrill of racing. These iconic mountain passes represent the essence of street racing in Japan, a place where the natural beauty of the landscape meets the technical skill required to conquer its challenges. As Initial D continues to inspire new generations of racing fans, the legacy of these mountains, and the techniques they helped popularize, will remain an integral part of Japanese car culture for years to come.
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