Mount Akina

The legendary Mount Akina is the main setting of Initial D and is based on the real Mount Haruna in Gunma Prefecture. This 1,449-meter mountain is famous for its winding roads descending from Lake Haruna to Shibukawa city. This is where Takumi Fujiwara perfected his drift technique during years of late-night tofu deliveries, and where Keiichi Tsuchiya (the real Drift King) developed his skills in his youth.

Mount Haruna has been a tourist destination since the Meiji era, known for its hot springs and the beautiful lake at its summit. In the 80s and 90s, it became a hotspot for illegal touge racing, attracting drivers from across the Kanto region. The road was originally designed to access Haruna Shrine and the lake, never imagining it would become the birthplace of modern drifting.

1. 01 The Five Consecutive Curves - Technical section where Takumi dominated
2. 02 The C-Curve - Famous blind corner where the gutter technique is used
3. 03 The Tunnel - Marks the start of the most technical section
4. 04 The Final Hairpins - Series of tight corners before the finish
5. 05 The Lake Viewpoint - Starting point for many races

• Gutter technique (using the drainage gutters)
• Drifting on blind corners
• Weight control on descents
• Late braking techniques
• Knowledge of every bump

• Blind corners with oncoming traffic
• Limited guardrails
• Frequent fog
• Slippery surface in rain
• Extreme elevation change

• Keiichi Tsuchiya perfected his drift technique here
• The Fujiwara tofu shop is based on a real one
• Takumi's record was never beaten in the series
• Thousands of fans visit the mountain each year
• The real road has signs warning about illegal racing