Initial D Manhole Cover 4, Ikaho Shrine

Initial D Manhole Cover 4 is set just below Ikaho Shrine, at the top of the 365 stone steps that run up through Ikaho Onsen in Shibukawa, Gunma. It is one of seven official Initial D manhole covers Shibukawa City has placed around town, and one of five in Ikaho Onsen.

Ai Yokoyama, animation director of the New Initial D film series, drew all seven covers in full colour. Cover 4 shows Ryosuke and Keisuke Takahashi, the brothers who lead the Akagi Red Suns and Takumi's best known rivals, soaking in a hot spring.

Ikaho Shrine sits at the head of the steps, the town's main street of shops and inns. Ikaho Onsen is on the slopes of Mount Haruna, the mountain the series calls Akina.

• The cover shows the Takahashi brothers soaking in an onsen, a nod to the hot spring town it sits in.

• The shrine steps turn up in the manga: in volume 2 Takumi and a friend sit on them eating yunohana manju, Ikaho's steamed hot spring bun.

• Cover 5 is at the bottom of the same steps, so one climb takes in both.

• The cover is below Ikaho Shrine at the top of the stone steps, 1 Ikaho, Ikaho-machi. It is reached on foot, 365 steps up from the square at the bottom.

• The closest municipal car parks are near the stone steps: Alwin Park West (P2, 10 spaces), Alwin Park (P3, 9 spaces) and Alwin Park North (P4, 27 spaces), each ¥500 for the first 2 hours and ¥100 for each hour after.

• Buses run from JR Shibukawa Station up to Ikaho Onsen, and covers 2 to 6 are all in and around the town.

• The free Initial D manhole card is not handed out here. It is given out one per person at Shibusan in Shibukawa Ekimae Plaza, in front of JR Shibukawa Station, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM every day except New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

Last verified: 3 November 2026

Official link: https://initiald-shibukawa.com/eg/manhole.html