Manhole Covers in Japan: Decorative Designs and Manhole Cards

Japan's sewer covers carry local landmarks, flowers and characters, and free collectible manhole cards turn a walk with your eyes on the pavement into a treasure hunt.

Published October 19, 2026 at 11:14 PM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: Many Japanese manhole covers feature artistic designs showing a town's landmarks, flowers, festivals or mascots, a practice that grew from the 1980s. Collectible manhole cards, planned and supervised by the Japan Sewerage Public Relations Platform, picture selected covers with their locations. They are usually free, limited in number and handed out in person at designated places.

What decorative manhole covers are

A manhole cover is the metal lid over a sewer or utility access point. In many countries it is a plain disc with a simple pattern, but in Japan the lid has become a small canvas. Since the 1980s, many covers have carried artistic designs, and the English-language encyclopedia article on manhole covers estimates that around 12,000 designs were spread across Japan by 2019, found in nearly all cities and towns.

The designs are usually cast in iron with raised lines, and some are filled with colored paint. Others are left in plain metal, which is practical and still pretty. A cover typically shows something that residents are proud of: a castle, a flower, a famous bridge, a local fish or a festival scene. Walking through a town and looking down becomes a way to read its identity, and a short stroll can turn up several different designs within a few blocks. Many covers sit in plain sight along shopping streets, near stations and beside castles or parks, so no special equipment is needed to enjoy them.

How the tradition grew

Local governments in Japan are responsible for their sewer systems, and they began to commission original lid designs in the 1980s. A public call for designs is one method. In Fukuoka City, for example, an official page explains that the design of the local manhole card came from a public call for designs meant to improve the image of sewer facilities and suit the city's character. The idea spread, and local pride did the rest.

According to the author of a book on Japanese manhole covers cited in the Wikipedia article, as many as 95 percent of Japanese municipalities have their own cover design. That figure comes from a single secondary source and is best read as a general sense of how widespread the practice is. The result is a nationwide collection of tiny public artworks, each linked to a specific place and often easy to find on ordinary streets.

What the designs show

Common subjects fall into a few groups. Landmarks include castles, bridges and shrines. Nature appears as cherry blossoms, maple leaves, waves and mountains. Local specialties such as fruit, fish and crafts show up too, along with festivals and historic events.

Modern covers can also feature characters. The Wikipedia article notes that popular anime and game franchises have appeared on covers, and that hundreds of covers with one well-known game's characters exist across Japan. Such special covers are often installed to encourage visitors to explore a region. The same article observes that interest is strong enough to support merchandise and conventions, which shows how much affection the covers have gained.

What manhole cards are

Manhole cards are collectible, card-sized pamphlets that picture a particular cover and explain it. The Fukuoka City sewer bureau says the front shows a photo of the cover and its location coordinates, while the back gives the design's background and information about sewers. The cards follow a nationwide standard design, and limited distribution adds to their appeal.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism explains that the Japan Sewerage Public Relations Platform plans and supervises the cards, and that each one is made jointly with the organization that manages the manhole cover. The platform was launched in fiscal year 2012. In its April 2023 announcement, the ministry reported cumulative totals of 656 municipalities and organizations, 941 card types and about 10.3 million cards issued, so the project was already large and still growing.

How to get a card

Cards are normally free, but they are handed out at specific places, such as sewer offices, museums, city halls, tourist information centers and similar facilities chosen by the municipality. Fukuoka City, for example, gives cards at its sewer museum and at the information plaza in City Hall. Conditions apply: collectors must pick the card up in person, reservations and mail orders are not accepted, and the limit is one card per person.

Because stock is limited, availability can change, and some places may run out. Hours, closing days and distribution rules are set by each site, so check the official page for the card before traveling. The project's website lists distribution locations, so it is the place to look before planning a visit. The ministry's April 2023 announcement also mentioned the first card from outside Japan, for Siem Reap in Cambodia, which follows a sewerage technical cooperation agreement between the two countries.

Planning a trip around covers

The card project works as a gentle reason to visit places off the main tourist routes. The project's website lists where cards are distributed, so a traveler can look up what is available near a planned destination. Cards are issued in numbered releases, and new ones appear over time, which means the list of places to visit keeps growing.

A relaxed plan might combine a card pickup with a museum, a market and a local meal. Because cards are handed out at facilities with their own hours, it is smart to check opening days before building an itinerary around one. Some distribution sites have closing days, and a few may pause distribution when stock runs low. A backup plan, such as a second nearby cover to photograph, keeps the day enjoyable regardless.

Collecting and photographing covers

A manhole-cover trip can be built around a town walk. Plan a loop between the card distribution point and the cover, looking for neighboring designs on the way. A phone map helps with location, and the coordinates printed on a card are accurate enough to find the lid. Many fans photograph the cover straight on, in soft light, with a coin or a shoe beside it for scale.

Safety and courtesy come first. Stay out of traffic, avoid blocking a driveway or crosswalk, and be careful on wet or glossy metal, which can be slippery. Covers are working infrastructure, so do not touch or lift them. Early morning and cloudy days give gentle light and quiet streets. Cards are small and flat, so a sleeve or a small album keeps them tidy in a bag.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are Japanese manhole covers decorated?

Artistic designs have been used on covers since the 1980s, and local governments commission many of them to celebrate local identity and make sewer systems friendlier. Covers now feature landmarks, flowers, festivals, regional foods and characters. The result is a large, scattered collection of public art found in nearly all cities and towns.

Are manhole cards free?

Generally yes. Fukuoka City, for example, gives its cards free at designated places. Cards must be collected in person, with a limit of one per person, and supplies are limited. Each distribution site sets its own hours and rules, so confirm details on the official page before visiting.

Who makes manhole cards?

The Japan Sewerage Public Relations Platform plans and supervises the cards, and each is produced jointly with the organization that manages the manhole cover. The platform began in fiscal year 2012. A government announcement from 2023 reported hundreds of participating municipalities and organizations.

Want to go deeper? Tokyo Paul's book Japan Photography Book: Stunning Photos of Japanese Cityscapes, Shrines, Festivals & Nature is available on Amazon.

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