Monday, July 7, 2014

The Artistic Manhole Covers of Japan

While I was in Osaka, I so happened to look down at random and chanced upon their uniquely designed manhole cover.  Soon I was noticing this beautiful manholes covers was all over Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe and Nara.

It is no secret that Japan is a beautiful country, historically, culturally and architecturally and even its manholes have an artistic touch to it.  This started out in the 1980s when Japan started to modernize the sewage infrastructure in the rural areas of the country. These, of course, were expensive changes and the people then refused. Until someone came up with the idea to let the towns and cities design their own manholes and display their local attractions. (source: Bored Panda)

Okay la, not a manhole cover but cute nonetheless.


Today each municipality in Japan has taken it upon them to come with their own manhole designs which ran range from symbols, surrounding landscapes to famous iconic legends and landmarks. There is even a Japan Society of Manhole Covers that recorded over 6,000 manholes all over Japan. Remo Camerota, a travel blogger even wrote about Japan's manholes in his book, Drainspotting.

Here are some of the manhole covers I spotted during my recent visit. 

Kobe



Kyoto: 

Nara:


Osaka: 




Ikeda:


I find it amazing that no one has actually stolen them. If this was Malaysia, the grounds and pavement will be riddled with holes because someone would have stolen all the manhole covers overnight. This sadly is no joke which makes Japan and its people all the more amazing, at least, to me.

So the next time you travel to Japan, don't just look around, look down as well. 

Other websites to read on Japan manhole covers:
http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2014/03/the-beauty-of-japans-artistic-manhole-covers/
http://www.boredpanda.com/japanese-manhole-covers/

Also read about:
Osaka on a Budget
Kobe: Yume Nomad Guesthouse review
Kobe Day 1: Kitano Ijinkan & Harbourland 
Kobe Day 2: Rokkosan Pasture, Mount Rokko & Sannomiya
Kyoto: Hana Hostel Hybrid Inn review 
Kyoto Day 3:Fushimi Inari Shrine
Kyoto Day 4: Imperial Palace, Kitano Shrine, Kinkaku-ji & Gion
Kyoto Day 5: Arashiyama & Cat Cafe Nekokaigi
Osaka: Namba guesthouse (NUL-Live.com House), Osaka Review
Osaka Day 6: Nara & Dotonbori 
The Artistic Manhole Covers of Japan  
Osaka Day 7:  Pokemon Center & Cherry Blossoms, Osaka Castle Park
The Flavours of Haagen Dazs Japan  
Osaka Day 8: Tsutenkaku Tower, Den Den Town & Umeda Floating Garden Observatory  
Osaka Day 9:  Ramen Museum, Kyoto Hanami & Kiyomizudera Night Illumination
Osaka Day 10: Bye Japan :(
Kobe, Kyoto, Nara & Osaka Itinerary (10-days) 

2 comments:

Obuj balok said...

Nice

manhole cover said...

I know that Japan is a beautiful country. But i really don't know that they use artistic manhole covers. All the covers of manhole look like so strange that no one can understand that it is manhole covers.