Akina Mountain & Initial D: The Real Location Behind the Anime

Akina Mountain Is Real: Mount Haruna in Gunma

If you have watched or read Initial D, you know Akina Mountain (秋名山) as the home turf of Takumi Fujiwara and his legendary tofu delivery runs in an AE86 Toyota Sprinter Trueno. What the anime does not tell you outright is that Akina Mountain is a fictional name for a very real place: Mount Haruna (榛名山, Haruna-san), a dormant volcano in Gunma Prefecture.

Mount Haruna is one of the Jomo Three Mountains (上毛三山), a trio of peaks that define Gunma's landscape. It rises to 1,449m (4,754ft) and features a caldera lake at its summit, Lake Haruna, which corresponds to the lake shown at the top of Akina in the anime. The mountain sits between the cities of Takasaki and Shibukawa, roughly two hours northwest of Tokyo by car.

What draws most visitors here — beyond the scenery — is the chance to drive the same roads that inspired one of Japan's most influential car culture stories. The downhill course, the five consecutive hairpin turns, even the general atmosphere of a quiet mountain road above a small town: it is all here, and it is all drivable. For more Gunma mountain destinations, we have a broader regional guide.

The Downhill Course: Prefectural Route 33

The heart of the Initial D experience on Mount Haruna is Prefectural Route 33 (県道33号), part of the Jomo Three Mountains Panorama Highway. This is the real road that corresponds to the anime's Akina downhill course — the route Takumi drove night after night delivering tofu from the summit to the base.

Route 33 runs from the Lake Haruna area at the summit down through a series of switchbacks and curves to the foothills near Shibukawa. The section most fans come to see includes five consecutive hairpin turns that match the famous sequence in the anime. In reality, the hairpins are wider and equipped with guardrails — less dramatic than the anime's depiction, but unmistakably the same road.

The drive from Lake Haruna down to the base takes about 20-25 minutes at legal speeds. The road is a regular public road with two-way traffic, speed limits, and police patrols. According to local guides, sports car enthusiasts still gather at the hairpin section on weekends, parking their cars for photos — including the occasional AE86. But this is a photo opportunity, not a race course. Reckless driving is taken seriously by local police.

For a technical breakdown of the route's corners and driving lines, see our detailed touge driving guide for Mt Akina.

Key Initial D Locations You Can Actually Visit

The Five Consecutive Hairpins

The five hairpins (五連続ヘアピン) on Route 33 are the single most recognizable location from Initial D. In the anime, these corners are where Takumi's gutter technique and inertia drift separated him from rival drivers. On the real mountain, you can pull over near the hairpins and see the curves stretching below you — the perspective is remarkably close to what the anime shows, minus the guardrails the artists chose to omit.

Fans often park at small pullouts near the hairpins to take photos with their cars. On weekends, you may spot AE86s, RX-7s, and other cars featured in the series. There are no official Initial D signs or monuments at the hairpins themselves — the experience is about recognizing the real place behind the fiction.

Initial D Manhole Covers in Shibukawa

Shibukawa City has embraced its connection to Initial D by installing seven themed manhole covers (頭文字Dマンホール) across the city and the nearby Ikaho Onsen area. According to the Shibukawa City tourism office, the covers feature characters and the iconic AE86 from the series.

Manhole cover collector cards are available at Shibukawa Station — a small but satisfying addition to the pilgrimage. Hunting for all seven covers takes you through the town center and surrounding streets, adding an hour or so to your visit if you want to find them all.

Lake Haruna and the Ropeway

Lake Haruna (榛名湖) sits at the summit of Mount Haruna at 1,080m (3,543ft) elevation. This caldera lake is the real-world version of the lake at the top of Akina where Takumi's downhill runs begin. The lake is surrounded by mountains, with Haruna-Fuji (榛名富士) — a small cone-shaped peak — rising directly from the shore.

The Haruna Ropeway takes you from the lakeside up to the summit of Haruna-Fuji for panoramic views. According to the ropeway official site, the round trip costs ¥1,100 (~$7) for adults and ¥600 (~$4) for children. Operating hours are 9:00-16:30 (extended in summer, shortened in winter), closed every 2nd and 4th Thursday (or the following day if that falls on a holiday).

The lake area also has parking lots at ¥300 (~$2) per visit and lakeside walking paths. For hiking trails on Mount Haruna, including routes to the summit via shrine paths, see our dedicated hiking guide.

Getting to Mount Haruna from Tokyo

By Train and Bus

The nearest station is Shibukawa Station on the JR Joetsu Shinkansen and Agatsuma Line. From Tokyo Station, the shinkansen to Takasaki takes about 50 minutes, then transfer to the JR Agatsuma Line for Shibukawa (approximately 25 minutes). From Shibukawa Station, buses run to the Lake Haruna area, though service is infrequent — check schedules in advance.

Alternatively, take the shinkansen directly to Takasaki Station (about 50 minutes from Tokyo) and arrange transport from there. The drive from Takasaki to Lake Haruna takes approximately 40 minutes.

By Rental Car from Shibukawa or Takasaki

A rental car is strongly recommended for the Initial D pilgrimage. The whole point is the drive — and public transport does not take you along Route 33's hairpins. Pick up a rental car at Shibukawa or Takasaki Station. The drive from Shibukawa up Route 33 to Lake Haruna takes about 30-40 minutes and is the route that matches the anime's downhill course (you will be driving it uphill to start, then down again on return).

From Tokyo, the total drive takes approximately 2-2.5 hours via the Kanetsu Expressway. A day trip is entirely feasible.

Initial D fans visiting Mount Haruna may also want to see Mount Akagi — the RedSuns home base in the anime, located about 40 minutes east by car.

Driving Tips and Safety

• Drive legally: Route 33 is a public road with speed limits and two-way traffic. Police patrol the area, especially on weekends when car enthusiasts gather. Attempting to recreate anime driving techniques on public roads is illegal and dangerous
• Winter conditions: The road is open year-round but snow and ice affect the route from December through March. Snow tires or chains are essential in winter — some sections may be closed during heavy snowfall
• Best season: April through November offers the best driving conditions. Autumn foliage in October makes the drive particularly scenic
• Pullouts: Use designated pullout areas for photos. Do not stop on the road itself, especially in the hairpin section
• Fuel up first: Fill your tank in Shibukawa before heading up. There are no gas stations on the mountain road

Prices and schedules shown are from 2025; check official sites for current information.

Frequently Asked Questions