Manhole Covers in Japan Feature Famous Anime and Local Characters

gamerant.com:

Manhole covers are a normal part of urban development, serving the same general purpose in many countries around the world — they allow access beneath the street or sidewalk for people that need to work there. And in most countries of the world, you walk over manhole covers without a second thought because there is nothing special about them. They blend into the street, with the most «decoration» they have sometimes being the city's name.

Japan, though, is different. Japan has seen an opportunity in manhole covers, using them as a way to add decoration to an otherwise plain city street, and even as a way to draw in tourists! The manhole may still serve the same purpose that it does around the world, but the manhole cover has become a vehicle for art, and of course, beloved characters.

RELATED: Anime Statues Fans Should See in Japan

For years, Japan has been putting famous landmarks on manhole covers all around the country. For instance, you can see Mt. Fuji on many manhole covers in Shizuoka Prefecture, one of the prefectures the famous mountain is in. Often people who travel around Japan snap photos of these beautiful manhole covers along with the other sites in the city.

It didn't stop there, though. Unsurprisingly, Japan also has a lot of manhole covers that feature characters! It didn't start right away with famous ones, however. Many prefectures, cities, and wards in Japan have local mascot characters that can be found on city notices, signs, and more around the area. These characters were some of the first to make appearances on manhole covers, and can still be found all around, especially in areas that really embrace their local mascots.

The most commonly found characters that are now adorning manhole covers all around