Japanese Manhole Covers Have A Great Variety Of Designs!

I introduced the manhole covers' design in Hinohara Village which has a message of Emvironental Protection in the previous post on my another blog, but actually it is common for manhole covers having designs in Japan. Each local government put some designs on manhole covers within their jurisdiction, and usually they use the design representing the area.

For example, in Numazu City the design (shown in the upper left end photo) shows Mt. Fuji over the see because the city is located on a peninsula in Sizuoka Prefecture where Mt. Fuji is located, so the city has a great view of Mt.Fuji over the see. The design on the manhole cover is what they are proud of. 

In the same way, manhole covers in Yokohama City (on second to the left end of upper row) show Yokohama Bay area and Yokohama Bay Bridge. Also the covers in Oume City (on the upper right end) show Japanese plum (Ume) flowers and a bush warbler, because the area is a famous product place for Japanese plum (Ume) fruits. Although some local governments are using many different designs but usually a city or a village use one same design for their manhole covers. 

Sometimes we can find color painted manhole covers as shown on the lower low. It's prettier and we can see the design more clearly. The set of non-painted and painted manhole cover on the lower left hand side is Hachioji City's. It is showing a local traditional art of puppet show called "Hachioji Kuruma-Ningyou (it means puppet with wheels)" handed down in Hachioji.

When you are traveling Japan, please check the manhole covers in the places you visited. It would be additional fun for your travel and you can see something that is famous in the area from the cover designs!