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Aug 21, 2016

What is on your manhole cover?

That was a fun question by JTSuzuki. It reminded me that I would like to know what is on the manhole cover of your cities or towns. I collect photos of manhole covers wherever I go, so it would be really cool to know what motif is on your manhole covers to see if I need to visit the area to get a photo!! :-) TIA

BigfamJapan

BigfamJapan

Irish, Mom of 4, currently also living beside the In-Laws. 25+ years back and forth between Ireland and Japan! I also write on my personal website: insaitama.com

17 Answers



Best Answer

  • helloalissa

    on Sep 30

    Here are a couple of the designs in Beppu - there are so many versions with different flowers.

    0
  • KpQuePasa

    on Aug 22

    Here in Nagoya there are a few different manhole covers depending on if you're near the castle or the river, but most common covers display the city crest and some depictions of popular sights to see in the area.

    1
  • BigfamJapan

    on Aug 22

    That's a lovely one, I like how it displays popular attractions.

    0
  • KamaT

    on Aug 22

    Shimbashi, Tokyo

    1
  • JTsu

    on Aug 22

    Nice! Somehow, my current town doesn't have any fancy manhole covers, but here's one from the first Japanese town I lived in-- Nakatsugawa, Gifu. This is actually a weird old ceremonial costume still worn at festivals sometimes by marching dancers, but my local friends could not explain what was up with the long banners.

    1
  • BigfamJapan

    on Aug 22

    @Tomuu I love the fire hydrant ones. That one is really cute. This is one of our local fire hydrant manhole covers.

    1
  • BigfamJapan

    on Aug 22

    @JTsuzuki that one is gorgeous. Interesting that they don't have them in your current town, budget restrictions I wonder.

    0
  • JTsu

    on Aug 23

    I know! It's weird. I guess they spent all that money on the mailbox-fish. Here's another one from Ishinomaki, a little fishing town up the coast, half-destroyed by the 2011 tsunami. When the train lines finally started back a couple years ago, we went all the way up there. Turns out some famous mangaka from ages ago is from there, so there's a museum for his work and statues of manga characters all over. They look kinda like this.

    2
  • BigfamJapan

    on Aug 23

    @JTsuzuki Haha! But the mailbox fish are awesome. That's a really fun one from Ishinomaki. I haven't been in the area since the tsunami, I really must go visit and support the local trade... and keep a look out for these manga-esque manholes. :-)

    0
  • CityCost123

    on Aug 25

    I recently came across this one in Hofu, Yamaguchi Prefecture.

    1
  • BigfamJapan

    on Aug 25

    That's a lovely one @Rei , thanks for sharing. I love how it says 美しい自然 "beautiful nature" on it. I think that's the first one I've seen with that type of message on it.

    0
  • helloalissa

    on Sep 4

    Our manholes have the local mountain, river, and flower. Minouren zan, Chikugo Gawa, and Kurume Tsutsuji (azalea).

    0
  • Kasajizo

    on Sep 11

    I have Osaka Castle. Guess where I live :D

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  • BigfamJapan

    on Sep 11

    That's a lovely one @helloalissa , it must be stunning in colour too.

    0
  • BigfamJapan

    on Sep 11

    @Kasajizo I am at a complete loss... !!! :-D :-D :-D

    0
  • Oh my gosh! I do the same! I have an album on Facebook dedicated to them!

    0
  • BigfamJapan

    on Feb 23

    @SilviaS15 I had a feeling we were kindred spirits. ;-)

    0

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