In Pursuit of Initial D: Driving The Real Mount "Akina"

"Kat Callahan" (kyosuke)
09/06/2014 at 09:12 • Filed to: JDM, Japan, Initial D, Gunma, Honda Logo

Each of the mountains in Initial D are real locations in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. On beautiful weekends, the roads don't just have day trippers to the various tourist spots, you can also spot modified cars and motorcycles enjoying the drive. I recently took a group of friends out on a quick jaunt around Mount "Akina." It's actually named Mount Haruna.

I previously !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! about these mountains more generally. Although I was not able to really enjoy previous drives through or beside the mountains because the vehicle I was using was a Mitsubishi EK Wagon kei car. So, underpowered with pretty sluggish handling. Of course, I finally have my own vehicle now and not a company car. So, my aim is to drive every single of the mountain roads (probably many, many times) with my scrappy little Honda !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! hatchback.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

The GA is a perfect vehicle for this kind of driving. A very small and light car, it has a 90HP D-series "civic" engine. Basically, it's running a full sized vehicle engine in a kei car sized body. It is pretty low to the ground already (although I haven't yet added lowering springs, I have purchased them), and it corners tightly. The handling and quick response, especially in "sport" mode, make it extremely fun to drive. While many would be put off by its automatic transmission, I don't find it to be in any way detrimental to my enjoyment.

On a whim, three friends and I piled into the GA and drove up (and back down) Haruna. Here's some video I posted of our trip (the voices are of my passengers, including my videographer, I was too focused on driving to speak):

There is also a pretty amazing shrine at the top of Mount Haruna. The journey up is built into the mountain, following along a stream made up of many small waterfalls over picturesque piles of fallen rocks. On a hot day like today, I really wanted to take a dip in some of the periodic pools of water which formed at various levels. There are various forks off the path which lead down to the water, some with steps, so I presume that this is allowed, although I did not see anyone actually doing it. Here are some pictures of the shrine components as my passengers and I climbed up and down.

Next up? Probably Mount Akagi, home of the "Red Suns." Until then...

Images and Video via Kat Callahan/YouTube/iPotato.

Kat Callahan is a writer for Jezebel and currently the LGBT editor at Jezebel's LGBT+ subpage !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . She can be reached @JezebelKat on Twitter. She likes Japanese and German cars, with her loyalties being to Honda and BMW. She currently drives a JDM 2000 Honda Logo Sportic TS (GA3) and lives on the Saitama/Gunma Prefectural border in the Tokyo Regional Area of Japan.

DISCUSSION (87)

Flavien Vidal > Kat Callahan
09/06/2014 at 09:21

I advise you to go to irohazaka near Nikko... Beautiful place with its lake and mountain at the top and one way uphill and then downhill road... Skated there before and will go back sometime this year... Awesome awesome driving road! Home of a shitload of ambassadors holiday residency for a reason he he.... It's NICE.

In Japan by the way... Feels good to be back here, feels even better to know I'm here to stay now :)

Nibby > Kat Callahan
09/06/2014 at 09:26

Off topic but did you SEE THE NEW SAILOR MOON?

Anon > Kat Callahan
09/06/2014 at 10:21

Please tell me you were blasting eurobeat the entire time!

vorspringing > Kat Callahan
09/06/2014 at 12:43

Those are marvelous photos. I so need to get back over there and spend some time outside Tokyo.

zeontestpilot > Kat Callahan
09/06/2014 at 12:54

Ok, do you have any more videos?! Those roads look like a blast to drive on!

Ishamael > Kat Callahan
09/06/2014 at 15:17

I've been to Japan twice and I've always said need to go back for the beauty. Truly a nation that had blended the classic with the modern and nature too.

Edit: Found this from Kotaku

Dr_Watson > Kat Callahan
09/06/2014 at 15:19

doesn't matter what country, the mountain fun always ends when you catch up to a minivan.

Rory > Kat Callahan
09/06/2014 at 15:25

I NEED to go there

s1cc n3ss > Kat Callahan
09/06/2014 at 15:31

you really should overlay some eurobeat tracks to your videos of you driving for the full effect.

Karmakazee > Kat Callahan
09/06/2014 at 15:32

You listened to some Move on the way down right?

Next trip: Usui Pass.

Dr.Kamiya > Anon
09/06/2014 at 15:34

This! lol

GreatPower > Kat Callahan
09/06/2014 at 15:35

Compared to my favorite driving roads - Skyline Blvd (between San Mateo and Half Moon Bay on San Francisco penninsula) and Santa Cruz Highway (between Santa Cruz and San Jose), and the coastal Highway 1 (Cabrillo highway on maps) - it seems like Japan has got the more magical forests/architecture, but I still have to give a nod to the Cali roads for the drama, elevation changes, and overall excitement.

I obviously need to visit Japan now though. You need to visit Northern Cali though and experience these roads in America if you haven't already! They tend to be a bit more full of motorcycles and lamborghinis rather than Kei cars, but they're still full of character if you like Redwoods and misty fog.

steevkay > Kat Callahan
09/06/2014 at 15:38

I don't suppose you saw any "prompt" tofu deliveries happening?

Postman Pat > Kat Callahan
09/06/2014 at 15:39

I am not entirely sure you went to the right place.... I have been there like 3 times now your video does not look familiar. For proof post a picture of that famed and iconic (now very rusty and probably not in use) water tower at the "start line" of the mountain. I mean it's Haruna alright but if you go past the famous road (depicted in battle gear 2 and up, by the way), there is probably another way to go down the mountain, and I think that's where you ended up at.... where's the famous 5-consecutive (in reality it's 4 consecutive though) hairpin with the wavy speed bumps?

mwoodski > zeontestpilot
09/06/2014 at 15:43

theyre all over youtube.

techinsanity2011 > Anon
09/06/2014 at 16:24

You mean like this?

Makoyouidiot > Kat Callahan
09/06/2014 at 16:32

Lovely countryside...I wish I lived near mountains. :(

Matthew Phillips > Nibby
09/06/2014 at 16:49

I did !

Im kind > Kat Callahan
09/06/2014 at 16:50

www.crackle.com/c/initial-d

Bring Back Duckman! > Kat Callahan
09/06/2014 at 16:56

Ms. Callahan, you're a Shakotan fanatic?

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > Kat Callahan
09/06/2014 at 16:58

Initial D is what really got me into cars.....dammit Initial D you stole all my money!

Jonny683 > Kat Callahan
09/06/2014 at 17:25

If you wanna DRIVE the Mount Akina course from Initial D, it's been created for rFactor. Download the Toyota 86 Mod, and the Akina track to rFactor and you too can try your hand at the downhill and uphill in the Daytime OR Nighttime. Here's some video and below are pics!

Kinja'd!!!

Ark > Kat Callahan
09/06/2014 at 17:27

I have a hard time imagining mountains like that were ever the meccas of hoonage that people think they were. Are you going to tell me the cops weren't all over that shit?

P4KU > Kat Callahan
09/06/2014 at 17:29

beautiful. Thanks for sharing. I had no idea that there was such nice things to look at on the highway. Wish I could take a spin around that badboy

Wallet_Inspector > Nibby
09/06/2014 at 17:31

Yes, it was okay. There were some moments when the faces were out of alignment, but I'm glad to see an old series come back.

ktfright | Kinja Neighborhood Black Guy > Nibby
09/06/2014 at 17:35

don't ever change Nibby, you're fantastic!

my car smells like crayons > Kat Callahan
09/06/2014 at 17:52

Great. Now I'm craving tofu.

Wallet_Inspector > Kat Callahan
09/06/2014 at 18:03

Initial D was my haven, the game that made the Arcade my most played 'system' in the 2000's. I remember the lines of people, dozens long when the new Initial D Ver 2 arcade machines arrived at the casino arcade where I lived.

It exposed me to racing as a sport, made me appreciate cars, and ate hundreds in quarters as I put in more than 500 head to head races on one card (the lowly AE85), and cleared the story mode three times.

A little bit of gameplay of Arcade Stage ver 3. I recorded about 6 years ago, by that time - the lines had already died down and races for my little hatchback were coming fewer and fewer.

I will always remember my time driving my 85. I had the worst car, but I made it mine.

Dancing in my dreams, you're my destiny. Inside my heart, no more lonely nights.

..and that song (at about 4:30 in the video) - while watching my own car skid and crash across the turns is forever burned in my memory. I don't think I'll ever race Initial D again like I did 10 years ago, but I would love to visit Japan someday and maybe even see the mountain passes in reality.

SolidMGSnake > Kat Callahan
09/06/2014 at 18:20

Initial D ! Makes me miss my FC =[

Apache1234657 > Kat Callahan
09/06/2014 at 19:11

girls love a bit of reckless driving I guess

Kayone74 > Kat Callahan
09/06/2014 at 19:40

whats funny is Akina is the only fictionalized name while Akagi, Myogi and Usui are real names of the cities. I visited Haruna when I was in Japan 2003, sad that I recognized every turn when I took a taxi up the road.

Surprised you don't have a photo of the classic Lake view with yhr the swan pedalboats.

Blebleman0 > Kat Callahan
09/06/2014 at 19:44

Irohazaka is in Tochigi though, not Gunma. It's also really fun to drive on IRL.

Kay Inoue > Kat Callahan
09/06/2014 at 19:54

Kat, you always post great articles, keep it up! Beautiful stuff. I'll have to actually check out Haruna on my next visit back.

Emran Qadir Ismail > Kat Callahan
09/06/2014 at 19:57

Initialize (initial drive)

Customize (initial dream)

Energize (initial drift)

Initialize (initial d)

Kat Callahan > Postman Pat
09/06/2014 at 20:28

We didn't get that far. One of my passengers had to be back quickly. Why would I lie anyway?! Absurd.

Kat Callahan > Ark
09/06/2014 at 20:30

We saw no police anywhere near the mountain.

Count Smorkula > Ark
09/06/2014 at 21:02

The cops don't bother policing roads like these. Mostly the highways and in town.

whistlingsafely > Nibby
09/06/2014 at 21:28

No. But I have seen AN OLD SAILOR'S MOOBS.

HotRodMatt > Kat Callahan
09/06/2014 at 21:39

the only real question is whether or not you rode the drainage ditches through the 5 point hairpins?...

bariki > Kat Callahan
09/06/2014 at 21:59

I am confused. You care enough about cars to drive all the way to Mt. Haruna and Mt. Akagi yet you don't bother getting an MT license and buying a decent car. Nice pictures, though.

Kay Inoue > Kat Callahan
09/06/2014 at 22:34

Also, as if I needed any more pumping up for my group's next local touge cruise. It's not as tall as Haruna by about 250m, but the roads are great this time of year and the foilage is amazing. When I go back to Japan next I think I'll also have to visit a touge near my family's hometown; I've been on it but only as a passenger, a couple of stretches of road in the mountains between lakes Inawashiro and Hibara in western Fukushima-ken.

Keith Moon > Kat Callahan
09/06/2014 at 22:38

Initial D, the best thing that happened to me during my teenage years. In a country where the only car you could realistically buy was a Suzuki 800, and the Honda Civic and Suzuki Swifts came with alien, lethargic engines that were neither JDM nor European, Initial D was the thing that introduced me to cars. I have such a huge respect for Takumi and his dad and every character in that anime/manga for having taught me about suspensions, transmissions, engines, tuning, Wankel engines, turbos, and among several other things, a love for cars. AE86, S13, RX-7, EG6, WRX, R32, MR2, I learned about all of these from the anime :)

Also, my FR-S comes from Subaru's plant in Gunma. The place looks exactly like I imagined. I hope to do some touge driving on these roads one day :)

WhatDaFunk > GreatPower
09/06/2014 at 22:51

I love that stretch of skyline between 92 and 84! One of the few roads around here you can actually drive without getting stuck behind someone slow. I like to wake up really early sometimes and drive up there to catch the sunrise at the vista point. Then go down to 84, take that to the coast then drive up the 1 back to SF.

Kat Callahan > bariki
09/06/2014 at 23:04

Let me be blunt here bariki: you're being an ass.

1) I've explained why I didn't get an MT license in my first year, nor why there is been no purpose to me getting an MT license because all of the company cars have been AT . Why would I spend time and money on a license I don't need? Especially when at the time I got the license I thought my time in Japan would only be temporary. When I am ready to purchase my next car, I will get the MT license and purchase a MT vehicle. That probably won't be for years .

2) The GA3 is a decent car for what I paid for it. It was only the equivalent of $1000. There's no way I could have afforded to purchase this car, especially with shaken and registration, from a dealership, so I was lucky to purchase it from a friend. Most of my money, what thousands of dollars I have, has to go into my pension account and my savings account for medical expenses.

I'm usually more civil than this, but you really deserve it (especially since this isn't your first assholish comment on the subject): fuck off, you don't get to define the validity of my "enthusiast spirit."

Nibby > ktfright | Kinja Neighborhood Black Guy
09/06/2014 at 23:08

Thanks!

Nibby > Matthew Phillips
09/06/2014 at 23:08

WOOOOOOOOOOO Did you like it?

Matthew Phillips > Nibby
09/06/2014 at 23:21

It was alright, I'm pining for a tuxedo mask centric episode. I think we have one more sailor scout to find then the story can start rolling.

Nibby > Matthew Phillips
09/07/2014 at 00:18

Aww yeah. It's going to be even better when all 5 are together.

bariki > Kat Callahan
09/07/2014 at 01:16

I know, I'm an ass. Yahoo Auctions is full of sports cars for less than 100,000 yen, though.

Kylemaro > Kat Callahan
09/07/2014 at 01:18

you better ditch hook

Kat Callahan > bariki
09/07/2014 at 01:24

It's not that simple, and you know it.

Stop bagging on people just because you disagree with their automotive and/or economic choices/situations.

InitialDylan > Kat Callahan
09/07/2014 at 01:45

My wife and I did this when we visited Tokyo a couple years ago. She didn't understand why I was so fascinated with the gutters. We ate at the restaurant near the paddle boats. Fun!

bariki > Kat Callahan
09/07/2014 at 02:43

It's not my intention to bag, I simply think driving around an import car enthusiast's paradise in an automatic grocery getter is a waste of a good opportunity. $3000 (including shaken) can buy you a lot of car here if you know where to look! A Miata (Roadster) wouldn't cost much more to drive than that car. Neither would a Civic or Integra Type R.

Kay Inoue > Kat Callahan
09/07/2014 at 02:51

Have I mentioned how awesome you are lately?

Kat Callahan > bariki
09/07/2014 at 02:53

Yet, you are bagging. I'll be living in Japan for the rest of my life, how is this a waste of a good opportunity? I don't have $3000 to spend on a car. I barely scraped up the $1000. That said, I LIKE THIS CAR. Who do you think you are that you believe it's your job to decide for others what cars they should enjoy owning or driving? Let me reiterate: you are being an ass.

Saf1 > Kat Callahan
09/07/2014 at 03:21

Kinja'd!!!

I love this, so intricate! Made from wood?

Kat Callahan > Saf1
09/07/2014 at 03:23

Yep. There's only wood in the entirety of the construction. No metal nails.

Wirenfeldt_Jr > Kat Callahan
09/07/2014 at 03:48

aaaaaaaaww.. This makes me psuedo-sad all over again... Finished the last two stages last week and was wierdly emotional over it.. Such an awesome series

bariki > Kat Callahan
09/07/2014 at 03:58

I am sorry, I didn't realize your financial situation was so bad. I assumed you were a JET, and JETs are pretty much rolling in cash. I'm not suggesting you should get rid of the car; I'm sure it's a great daily driver. Daily drivers mean you have more leeway with what you do to your weekend car, which is a good thing. Yes, I am an ass.

cesariojpn > zeontestpilot
09/07/2014 at 06:42

Excuse the shitty song. This was originally on a Japanese site that got ripped to Youtube.

zeontestpilot > cesariojpn
09/07/2014 at 07:47

That video proves it, it looks like a blast and challenge to drive on.

I'm was watching the video, thinking how I myself would tackle those turns. My technique of lightly tap the brakes, then accelerating wouldn't work well here. Hmm, I bet it could make that turn if I decreased my speed then powered through the turn....

Thanks for the video! I need to find a similar road where I live. I'm always on the lookout to challenge myself, :).

BE4VER > Kat Callahan
09/07/2014 at 08:08

Iroha. All slides no jumps..

Wirenfeldt_Jr > Emran Qadir Ismail
09/07/2014 at 10:27

eew.. not sure why anyone would pick that song over M.O.V.E.'s DOGFIGHT.. probably the best driving song ever

Barbara C. Efird > Kat Callahan
09/07/2014 at 11:00

Start working at home with Google! It's by-far the best job I've had. Last Wednesday I got a brand new BMW since getting a check for $6474 this - 4 weeks past. I began this 8-months ago and immediately was bringing home at least $77 per hour. I work through this link, go to tech tab for work detail

www.jobs700.com

Noah Porter > Kat Callahan
09/07/2014 at 11:01

i applaud you for being financially responsible. Get what you can afford and spend the rest of your cash on great trips like this one.

Barbara C. Efird > Kat Callahan
09/07/2014 at 11:05

www.jobs700.com

Ithereos > Anon
09/07/2014 at 12:30

FOREVEEEEEEER

amanda_yurf > Kat Callahan
09/07/2014 at 13:37

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

honi > Kat Callahan
09/07/2014 at 13:41

www.jobs7000.com

dismal > WhatDaFunk
09/07/2014 at 14:03

Going to Santa Cruz on 35 to 9 is now my favorite route (I'm in San Carlos, so up Woodside>35 > 9). Some parts of 9 are amazing if you're not stuck behind someone. I wish there were more passing zones on 9 since otherwise I've resorted to some questionable passing of slow trucks and RVs...

lianne_ak9y > Kat Callahan
09/07/2014 at 14:23

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

GoPDemon > Kat Callahan
09/07/2014 at 17:30

Cool. There is a youtuber going by deepdrive who takes his NSX to a few initial d mountains, the tofu shop, and some wangan highways.

Cowhauler > Kat Callahan
09/07/2014 at 18:21

that looks like an awesome road to drive!!! Great photos too I'd love to visit that place. But being 'Merican 90 hp dosent seem like a full size engine at all. But I guess the kei car would be light enough to make use of that. But I'd still love to drive those roads!

The Grizzo > Kat Callahan
09/08/2014 at 11:09

Japanese mountain run AND awesome shrine to check out? Spectacular! Can't wait for the next one!

MonkeePuzzle > Kat Callahan
09/08/2014 at 12:20

this feels like an appropriate repost of this image :D

Kinja'd!!!

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/i-just-want-to…

KirkyV > Anon
09/08/2014 at 12:28

I'm so bummed that they're excising eurobeat from the soundtrack of the 'Legend' films! I mean, Initial D without eurobeat is like Gundam without mecha, or Macross without fighter planes that transform into mecha, or Space Battleship Yamato without a fucking huge gun.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Kat Callahan
09/08/2014 at 13:28

That must be awesome living in Japan; I very much respect their culture and what a beautiful place! How is it being an american there (assuming you are american lol)?

RedWhine > Anon
09/08/2014 at 13:54

Star for both your username and comment

Kat Callahan > bariki
09/09/2014 at 21:46

I'm not a JET, and JETs haven't been rolling in the cash for a few years now. It's a race to the bottom, and my "main squeeze" (a JET) is making less money than I was making when I first came to Japan. I've dropped 60,000 Yen (about $600) a month in salary since I started. And I'm even in a union! Casualisation of work is killing ALT salaries/benefits. Why do you think I desperately need to keep working for Gawker Media?

bariki > Kat Callahan
09/09/2014 at 23:19

That is true, I was just finishing JET before the salary drop for new JETs went into effect. That said, it's still good money for how much work JETs do and much more than what new Japanese graduates make (which is typically about 175,000 a month). Freelance translation is a pretty good supplement for income, fwiw...hehehe

protodad > Kat Callahan
09/12/2014 at 19:51

No pic of the gutter that you hook your wheel into?

Wish we had drives like that in CA.

Kat Callahan > protodad
09/12/2014 at 19:55

That's on the other side of the mountain.

protodad > Kat Callahan
09/12/2014 at 20:00

lol

Cielmer > Flavien Vidal
09/13/2014 at 20:26

Honestly, ive read lots of bad things about racism and lack of rights in Japan. How do you find it? Im curious since I did love it the time I visited and considered moving.

Mangettinghitbyfootball > Kat Callahan
09/13/2014 at 20:32

Postman Pat strikes again!

Flavien Vidal > Cielmer
09/13/2014 at 22:49

Never had a problem... I know gaijins are not always well considered by some but it's a very small minority of people that are like this... It's definitely much better to be a foreigner in Japan than a black guy in the US lol

Dont_Trust_Cats > GreatPower
07/27/2015 at 14:25

I’ve always been partial to Highway 9 (from Saratoga to Santa Cruz) myself.