Initial D Real Locations in Japan: Drive Every Course From the Anime (2026)

What Is Initial D — And Why Do Car Fans Travel to Japan for It?

Initial D is the iconic manga and anime series by Shuichi Shigeno that ran from 1995 to 2013. It follows Takumi Fujiwara, a teenage tofu delivery driver who unknowingly becomes one of Japan's most skilled street racers — all while pushing his father's battered Toyota AE86 Trueno down the hairpin-packed mountain passes of Gunma Prefecture at night.

The series is credited with sparking a global obsession with JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) sports cars, touge (mountain pass) racing culture, and the raw, mechanical style of Japanese motorsport. Today, fans fly in from across the United States, Europe, Southeast Asia, and beyond — specifically to drive the real roads featured in the anime.

The best part? Every single course in Initial D is a real road you can drive right now. This guide covers all of them.

Initial D Course Locations — Full Overview

Here's a quick-reference map of every major Initial D course and its real-world counterpart:

Anime Course Name	Real Location	Prefecture	Main Character
Mt. Akina	Mt. Haruna (Harunasan)	Gunma	Takumi Fujiwara (AE86)
Mt. Myogi	Mt. Myogi	Gunma	Takeshi Nakazato (GT-R)
Usui Pass	Usui Pass / Shimonita area	Gunma/Nagano border	Kai Kogashiwa (FC3S)
Happogahara	Happōgahara / Agatsuma area	Gunma	Seiji Iwaki (EVO)
Mt. Akagi	Mt. Akagi	Gunma	Keisuke Takahashi (FD3S)
Irohazaka	Iroha-zaka (Nikko)	Tochigi	Various
Tsukuba Circuit	Tsukuba Circuit	Ibaraki	Racing stages

1. Mt. Akina — The Most Famous Initial D Course (Real: Mt. Haruna, Gunma)

If you only visit one Initial D location in Japan, make it Mt. Haruna — the real mountain behind the legendary "Mt. Akina" in the series.

Mt. Haruna is where Takumi Fujiwara spent years honing his skills on late-night tofu runs. The mountain's downhill section — particularly the famous Haruna Lake Road (Harunako Road) — features the exact style of tight, technical hairpins that defined the anime's most intense race sequences.

The Real Road

The course is based on Gunma Prefectural Route 33, which climbs from the town of Takasaki up to Haruna Lake. The road winds through 13+ hairpin turns, dense cedar forests, and dramatic elevation changes — strikingly similar to the anime's depiction.

The famous "hairpin" section is visible just below Haruna Lake. Stand at the lakeside parking area and you'll immediately recognize the sweeping curves from the opening credits.

What to Do Here

• Drive the uphill/downhill section slowly (speed limits apply — respect them)
• Stop at Haruna Lake for photos with the mountain backdrop
• Visit the Haruna Shrine, a striking vermilion torii gate set deep in the forest
• Walk the lake perimeter for views of Mt. Haruna's peak

2. Mt. Myogi — Nakazato's Home Course (Real: Mt. Myogi, Gunma)

If Haruna is the heart of Initial D, Mt. Myogi is its dark twin. This is the home course of Takeshi Nakazato and his terrifyingly fast Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 — the "Night Kids" team's fortress.

In real life, Mt. Myogi is one of the most visually dramatic mountains in Japan. Its jagged, volcanic rock formations — often described as looking like dragon teeth — shoot straight up from forested slopes. It's unlike anything else in Gunma Prefecture.

The Real Road

The primary road is Gunma Prefectural Route 196 (Myogi Irohazaka Line), which spirals up the mountain past the Myogi Shrine and several dramatic rock outcroppings. The road is narrower than Haruna and feels more raw — true touge territory.

What to Do Here

• Drive the lower section of Route 196 at dawn for misty mountain atmosphere
• Hike to Myogi Shrine (Myogi-jinja) — one of the three famous Jōshū shrines
• Look for the distinctive jagged peaks called Hakuun-san and Kinryu-san
• Visit in autumn (October–November) for breathtaking fall foliage framing the rocks

Getting there: From Matsuida Station (JR Shinetsu Line), it's a 15-minute taxi or 40-minute walk to the shrine area. By car from Tokyo, take the Joshinetsu Expressway to the Matsui-Toge IC — about 2 hours.

3. Usui Pass — The Emperor's Course (Real: Usui Tōge, Gunma/Nagano Border)

Usui Pass is one of the most storied locations in Initial D — and in real Japanese motorsport history. This is the domain of Kai Kogashiwa, the calculating driver of the Mazda FC3S (RX-7) who earned the nickname "the Emperor of Usui."

In real life, Usui Pass (Usui-tōge) sits on the border between Gunma and Nagano prefectures. It's one of Japan's highest road passes accessible by standard car, reaching around 956 meters (3,135 feet) in elevation.

What to Do Here

• Drive National Route 18 over the pass for the full mountain experience
• Stop at Onioshi-dashi — a stunning volcanic rock field formed by Mt. Asama eruptions
• Visit Karuizawa resort town on the Nagano side (elegant, European-style streets)
• Walk the old Nakasendo post road through the Usui gorge area

4. Happogahara — Seiji Iwaki's Fortress (Real: Agatsuma District, Gunma)

Deep in the Agatsuma district of Gunma, Happogahara is one of Initial D's most atmospheric courses — a high-altitude plateau surrounded by forests and volcanic terrain. This is where Seiji Iwaki and his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution dominate.

The real area is located near Shiga Heights and the volcanic slopes of Mt. Shiga (Shiganeyama). The roads here feature long, sweeping sections at altitude — very different from the tight hairpins of Haruna. It's the kind of road that rewards smoothness and rhythm over pure aggression.

What to Do Here

• Drive Route 292 (Shiga Kogen Road) — one of Japan's highest paved roads at over 2,000m
• Stop at Shibu Onsen for a traditional hot spring bath after a day of driving
• In winter, the area transforms into a major ski resort — the landscapes from Initial D's stage are even more dramatic under snow
• Look out for wild monkeys near the Jigokudani area (a short detour away)

5. Mt. Akagi — The Red Suns' Home (Real: Mt. Akagi, Gunma)

Mt. Akagi is the home base of the Akagi RedSuns — the team led by brothers Ryosuke and Keisuke Takahashi. Ryosuke drives the white Mazda FC3S, while Keisuke pilots the iconic yellow Mazda FD3S RX-7.

The real Mt. Akagi (Akagizan) is a large volcanic mountain in central Gunma. At its summit sits Lake Ōnuma, a caldera lake surrounded by marshland. Unlike the jagged drama of Myogi, Akagi is broad and sweeping — a mountain that feels like it goes on forever.

The Real Road

The Akagi Mountain Road (Akagi Sansōdō) is the defining route here. It climbs from Maebashi city all the way to the summit caldera in a series of long, fast, sweeping curves — perfect for the high-speed battles depicted between the RedSuns and their rivals.

Unlike Haruna's tight hairpins, Akagi rewards high-speed control. This is a road where a turbocharged sports car truly comes alive.

What to Do Here

• Drive the Akagi Mountain Road from Maebashi to Lake Ōnuma (about 30km)
• Stop at the lake for photos of the caldera landscape
• Visit Akagi Shrine (Akagi-jinja) on the lake's eastern shore
• Explore the Kengamine Peak hiking trail for panoramic views of the Kantō Plain

6. Irohazaka — The Legendary Switchbacks (Real: Iroha-zaka, Tochigi)

While not a primary Initial D course, Iroha-zaka (also known as Irohazaka) appears in the series and is one of Japan's most famous mountain roads by any measure. Located in Tochigi Prefecture near Nikkō, this one-way spiral road features 48 hairpin turns — each one named after a character from the Japanese iroha poem.

Iroha-zaka is the gateway to Nikkō's famous shrines and Lake Chūzenji. In autumn, it's one of the most photographed drives in all of Japan — the foliage frames every corner in shades of deep red, orange, and gold.

7. Tsukuba Circuit — Where the Battles Move Indoors

In the later stages of Initial D, action moves to Tsukuba Circuit — a real professional motorsport facility in Ibaraki Prefecture, about 50km northeast of Tokyo. This is where the anime's most structured, technical races take place.

In real life, Tsukuba Circuit is a genuine FIA-grade racing circuit. It's famous in Japan for being the track where Best Motoring and Hot Version — the legendary Japanese car magazines — filmed their iconic comparison tests of GT-Rs, NSXs, and Supras throughout the 1990s and 2000s.

Can You Drive at Tsukuba?

Yes — Tsukuba Circuit regularly holds open track days where members of the public can bring their own cars (or rental track cars) for supervised laps. It's the closest most visitors will ever get to racing on a real Japanese circuit.

Check the official Tsukuba Circuit calendar for upcoming track day events. Note: a valid Japanese driving license or international driving permit (IDP) is required.

How to Experience Initial D Like a True Touge Racer

Reading about these roads is one thing. Actually driving them in an authentic JDM sports car is something else entirely.

The cars that defined Initial D — the Toyota AE86 Trueno, Mazda RX-7 (FD3S and FC3S), Nissan Skyline GT-R, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, Toyota Supra — are the exact cars that Samurai Car Japan rents out of Tokyo.

Samurai Car Japan is a Tokyo-based JDM rental and tour service run by genuine car enthusiasts. Their fleet includes iconic JDM sports cars that you can rent and drive to the actual Initial D locations — no tour bus, no restrictions, just you and the mountain road.

Best Initial D Cars to Rent

Initial D Character	Car	Real Rental Equivalent	Best For
Takumi Fujiwara	Toyota AE86 Trueno	Toyota 86 / GR86	Tight hairpin courses (Haruna, Myogi)
Keisuke Takahashi	Mazda FD3S RX-7	Mazda RX-7 FD3S	Sweeping high-speed roads (Akagi)
Takeshi Nakazato	Nissan Skyline GT-R R32	Nissan Skyline GT-R	Any course — pure power
Seiji Iwaki	Mitsubishi Lancer EVO	Mitsubishi EVO	High-altitude, all-weather roads

For the full JDM rental experience — including what's available, pricing, and how to book — check out the complete guide: JDM Car Rental in Japan: The Ultimate Guide.

Practical Tips for Visiting Initial D Locations

Best Time to Visit

• Spring (April–May): Cherry blossoms on the mountain roads — stunning but busy on weekends
• Summer (June–August): Lush green forests, occasional rain — atmospheric and less crowded
• Autumn (October–November): Peak foliage — the absolute best for photos on every course
• Winter (December–February): Snow and ice — mountain roads may be closed or require chains. Check road conditions.

Driving Rules for Foreign Visitors

Foreign visitors need a valid International Driving Permit (IDP) plus their home country license to rent a car in Japan. Japan drives on the left side of the road. Speed limits are strictly enforced — keep to the posted limits on all mountain roads.

See our full guides for details: Japan IDP Guide | Japan Traffic Rules for Foreign Drivers

Safety on Mountain Roads

Getting to Gunma from Tokyo

• By car/rental: 1.5–2 hours via the Kan-Etsu Expressway or Joshinetsu Expressway
• By train + taxi: Shinkansen to Takasaki (50 min), then taxi to Haruna (30–40 min). Limited options for Myogi and Akagi without a car.
• Recommended base: Maebashi or Takasaki city — both have hotels and are centrally located between all the main courses

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mt. Akina from Initial D a real place?

Yes. Mt. Akina is based on Mt. Haruna (Harunasan) in Gunma Prefecture. The roads, hairpins, and lake seen in the anime are directly modeled on the real Haruna Lake Road. Creator Shuichi Shigeno has confirmed this.

Can tourists drive the Initial D courses?

Absolutely. All the courses are public roads open to anyone with a valid driver's license (and an IDP for foreign visitors). There are no special permits required. Just respect speed limits and local traffic laws.

Which Initial D course is the best to drive?

Mt. Haruna (Akina) is the most iconic and beginner-friendly. Mt. Akagi offers the most exciting high-speed sections. Mt. Myogi is the most visually dramatic. For a dedicated car enthusiast visiting Japan, all of Gunma's Initial D courses can be covered in a well-planned 2-day road trip from Tokyo.

Is Initial D based on true events?

The manga is fictional, but it's rooted in real Japanese street racing culture from the 1980s and 90s. Shuichi Shigeno drew heavily from real Gunma mountain pass racing scenes, real cars, and real roads. The technical driving techniques depicted (inertia drift, scandinavian flick, etc.) are genuine motorsport techniques.

What is the best JDM car to rent for the Initial D courses?

For a true Initial D experience, a Mazda RX-7 FD3S or Nissan Skyline GT-R is hard to beat. For a more accessible option that mirrors Takumi's spirit, the Toyota 86 / GR86 is perfect for Haruna's technical hairpins. See the full JDM Rental Guide for availability.

Final Word: Drive the Courses That Built a Legend

Initial D turned a series of mountain roads in rural Gunma Prefecture into some of the most famous roads in the world. Decades later, fans still make the pilgrimage — not just to take photos, but to drive them.

Whether you're chasing the ghost of Takumi's AE86 on Haruna's hairpins, feeling the altitude on Akagi's sweepers, or just breathing in the cedar forest air on a quiet Gunma morning, these roads deliver something that no other driving experience in the world can replicate.

Now get behind the wheel. The mountain doesn't care how you got here — only how you drive it.

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