Mt. Akina Is Mt. Haruna, and the Only Drifting You Should Do There Is on the Bus

What you're looking at

Mt. Akina, where Takumi delivers tofu in his father's AE86 in Initial D (1998), is modeled on Mt. Haruna, and the lake at the top appears as "Lake Akina." The road most associated with the series is Gunma Prefectural Route 33, about 15 km of switchbacks from Ikaho Onsen toward Haruna Shrine.

Getting there

From JR Takasaki Station, buses take about 90 minutes to Lake Haruna. Driving, it's about an hour from Takasaki IC on the Kan-etsu Expressway.

Before you go

• It's an ordinary public mountain road. The manga and anime themselves carry a notice telling readers to obey the Road Traffic Act and drive safely. Locals use this road every day; drive it like they do.
• The lake sits about 1,100 m up and freezes in winter. Dress for it, and if you drive, plan for winter road conditions.
• Listen to the road. The "Haruna-ko Melody Line" musical road surface plays only on the lane heading from Ikaho toward the lake.

Also nearby

• Ikaho Toy, Doll and Car Museum in Yoshioka displays the sign and fittings of the real Shibukawa tofu shop that played Fujiwara Tofu in the 2005 live-action film, plus an AE86.
• Shibukawa City Hall's second building shows off the city's Initial D manhole cover on weekdays, 8:30 to 17:15.
• Ikaho Onsen, at the bottom of Route 33, is a classic hot-spring town to end the day in.