Can’t remember how many times we have talked about Japan’s manhole. The humble utility cover has a quite different life compared with its siblings in the other countries. Of course, it is still a kind of public utility. But it also plays other important role in Japan’s culture.
Japan’s Pokemon manhole cover campaign, called ‘Pokefuta’ in Japanese and ‘Pokelids’ in English, was devised as a way to bring tourism to lesser known regions in Japan. Each original design is one-of-a-kind, meaning you’ll have to travel to that particular spot to see it.
And now, you can even find them in tourist hotspots, like Kyoto, due to its popularity. Recently, five manhole covers have just been installed in Kyoto. The new collection includes:
Legendary Pokemon Ho-Oh with some Kyoto landmarks in the background.
Then a trio of cuties, Pichu, Cleffa and Igglybuff are frolicking in front of some blossom.
Chikorita and Shiftry also star in their own manhole cover.
Things heat up with Cyndaquil and Darmanitan.
Totodile and Azumarill celebrate Kyoto’s rivers.
There’s now 159 Poke lids to found all over Japan. If you ever have chance to visit Japan and want to check these unique manholes, you can use the poke lids website to find out their location. Sounds like a treasure haunting for me. Really hope I can do that one day!
