Shūichi Shigeno's mountain-racing saga (manga in Young Magazine from 1995, anime from 1998) about Takumi Fujiwara, a tofu-delivery driver who unknowingly becomes a legendary racer by descending Gunma's passes every dawn in his Toyota AE86. The comic's 'touge' are real mountains in Gunma Prefecture with changed names — Akina is Mount Haruna, while Akagi and Myōgi keep theirs — and have become a pilgrimage destination for car-culture fans.
-
Lake Haruna (Akina-ko)Lake Akina
A caldera lake at the summit of Mount Haruna, around 1,080 m. It is the series' 'Lake Akina', the start of the legendary downhill Takumi races and a meeting point for the teams. Its snowy winter scenery appears in key moments.
-
Akina downhill (Mt. Haruna Route 33)the five hairpins
Prefectural Route 33, linking Ikaho onsen with Lake Haruna, is the road that inspires the Akina downhill; its five consecutive hairpins are the corners Takumi masters with his cup-of-water technique. (Coordinate approximate, a point on the route.)
-
Mount Akagithe RedSuns
One of the 'Three Mountains of Jōmō', home course of the Akagi RedSuns led by the Takahashi brothers. Stretches of the Gunma road climbing the mountain appear in numerous episodes as the Akagi touge.
-
Mount Myōgithe Night Kids
A jagged, rocky mountain, another of the 'Three Mountains of Jōmō' and home course of the Myōgi Night Kids. Its winding roads are the setting of several races in the series. (Coordinate approximate, of the massif.)
-
Usui PassImpact Blue
A mountain pass between Gunma and Nagano, famous for its brick arch bridges (the 'glasses bridge'). It is the home course of Impact Blue, the duo of Mako and Sayuki who challenge Takumi in one of the most memorable duels.
-
Ikaho OnsenTakumi's home town
A hot-spring town at the foot of Mount Haruna, in Shibukawa, anchoring the area where Takumi lives and works and delivers his family shop's tofu at dawn. Its famous stone staircase roots the series in the real Gunma. (Coordinate approximate, of the town.)