"Pursuing the Sacred Sites of Initial D: Touring the Akina Mountain Downhill and the Points of the Eight-Six Engine Blowout."

The "Initial D" (by Shuichi Shigeno, Kodansha) pilgrimage series, Akina Mountain edition. Akina Mountain is the location of the home course of the main characters, the Takahashi brothers. I actually drove on the mountain pass where the iconic early scenes unfolded.

The starting point is near the Akagiyama General Tourist Information Center

In the story, the starting point of the Akagiyama course is said to be near the Akagiyama General Tourist Information Center, which is located just a little down the Route 4 from the summit. The hexagonal building is a landmark and is an impressive place in the narrative; when you actually go inside, it turns out to be a rest house bustling with tourists.

There are various menus, including soft-serve ice cream from Shirakaba Farm, and it was very lively. If you're not dining at the drive-in near Lake Ohnuma at the summit, this place also seems good.

I plan to drive and check out the course. I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of scenery there is.

When I tried driving, I surprisingly felt there were many straight sections, and the road was bright with sunlight streaming in. There were bumps installed in some places to prevent speeding. I hardly felt the atmosphere of a battle location.

I wanted to come to the roadside after the engine blew

but among the many famous scenes born on Mount Akina, there is a spot that I wanted to visit the most. That is the place where this Hachiroku broke down after the engine blew. In the story, it becomes a scene where the protagonist, Takumi Fujiwara, challenges a reckless battle to vent his frustration, resulting in regret and tears after destroying his car.

I also have experienced my Jimny stopping in the mountains of Okutama, overwhelmed by a terrifying sense of helplessness. I found myself sympathetically recalling that famous scene and feeling a connection by the roadside of the mountain pass. I feel a bit moved that I could come here with my beloved car, which was revived after replacing the engine, just like in the story.

From the continuous hairpins to the finishing point at Himeyuri Parking Lot

the latter half of the course consists of a series of tight hairpin turns, making it a challenging route. In the story, there is a scene where Ryoichi Takahashi overtakes his fateful rival, Kyoichi Sudou, in a counter maneuver, and this section is vividly depicted with various dramas.

The goal point is at the Himeyuri parking lot, which also serves as the trailhead. When I ran, it felt like a quite short course. The sound of the clear stream flowing near the parking lot echoes, making it a very pleasant place.

Following my previous visit to Mount Haruna, I had a very enjoyable trip to Mount Akagi as well, where I could also pilgrimage to sacred sites. Mount Akagi has a resort-like atmosphere and is a very popular tourist spot. It's the perfect place to drive with the windows wide open while enjoying the refreshing air. I highly recommend visiting Mount Akagi.

【Initial D Pilgrimage】Day Trip - Downhill of "Haruna Mountain," the model for Akina Pass, and Ikaho Onsen Edition - https://maduro-online.jp/travel/22065

Interviewed and written by Kazuma Tanaka

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