Shuichi Shigeno created a genre. Initial D, which ran from 1995 to 2013, turned mountain pass racing ("touge") into a cultural phenomenon. MF Ghost, its spiritual successor set in the near future, brought the concept back with modern supercars and a new generation of drivers. Together, these two series have made specific Japanese mountain roads into destinations for car enthusiasts worldwide.
The Stories
Initial D follows Takumi Fujiwara, a high school student in Gunma Prefecture who delivers tofu for his father's shop every morning — racing down Mount Akina (based on Mount Haruna) in a Toyota AE86 Sprinter Trueno. Takumi doesn't realize he's become an exceptional driver until local racing teams start challenging him. The series spans five stages as Takumi takes on drivers from across the Kanto region.
MF Ghost picks up years later in a world where self-driving cars have made manual driving nearly obsolete. Kanata Rivington, a young driver trained at a British racing school, enters the MFG racing series — a legal circuit-style race held on Japanese mountain roads, including routes around Hakone and Odawara. The series premiered as an anime in 2023.
The Real Roads
Mount Haruna / Akina (Gunma)
Mount Haruna is Initial D's spiritual home. The winding downhill route from the summit to the base is where Takumi honed his skills. The actual road is a narrow, two-lane mountain pass with tight hairpin turns and minimal guardrails. In person, it's easy to see why Shigeno chose it — the road is technical, scenic, and isolated enough that you can imagine racing on it at night (don't actually do this).
Ikaho Onsen, the hot spring town at the base of Mount Haruna, provides a convenient base. The stone-step main street is worth a visit on its own.
Hakone Turnpike / Odawara (Kanagawa)
MF Ghost's races take place on roads modeled after the Hakone Turnpike and surrounding mountain routes. Odawara was newly selected for the 2026 edition of Japan's "88 Anime Pilgrimage Sites," reflecting MF Ghost's growing influence. The Turnpike is a toll road with sweeping views of Sagami Bay and, on clear days, Mount Fuji.
Pilgrimage Tips
These locations require a car — that's the whole point. For Mount Haruna, rent from Takasaki Station (Shinkansen from Tokyo, about 50 minutes). The drive up to the summit takes about 30 minutes and passes through the exact corners depicted in the manga.
For the Hakone area, rent from Odawara Station. The Hakone Turnpike toll is around ¥520 for a regular car. Drive it during weekday mornings for lighter traffic and better visibility.
If you don't drive, you can still reach Ikaho Onsen by bus from Shibukawa Station, and the Hakone area is accessible via the Hakone Free Pass (bus, ropeway, boat — no car needed). But for the full Initial D experience, there's no substitute for being behind the wheel on those mountain switchbacks.
A note on safety: the mountain roads depicted in these series are public roads with real traffic. Speed limits exist for good reasons. Enjoy the scenery, take photos at pullover points, and save the racing for video games.