A manhole cover over the access to a subterranean fire hydrant!
The design advertises the fact that Shizuoka City , Sumpu at the times, was the city chosen by the greatest Japanese Shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu, when he chose to retire from politics!
With Mount Fuji and the Abe River!
I already know of many blogging friends in Japan taking pictures of manhole covers all over Japan.
The reason is simple enough: as there is little chance of them being stolen (I can’t say the same thing back in our countries!) the local/municipal government often use them as touristic advertisements !
I decided to start looking around when I found quite a few in Shimada City during the Shimada Obi Festival.
As I’m sure there are quite a few there should quite a few more articles about the subject in the offing!
I might even close this series with another “Ten Best”!
Stylized Tea leaf on a manhole cover in Kikugawa City!
In Japan manhole covers are not only found above accesses to sewers but also to electric cables, phone cables, gas conduits and water accesses.
There not always round but also square, rectangular and square.
You might add the many small ones used for access to electric or phone cables, too!
Kikugawa City is very famous for its green tea.
The design above is that of a young lady picking the new leaves by hand and wearing traditional Japanese farmer clothes!
The design of this manhole was inspired by an old ukiyoe/woodblock print depicting the crossing of Oi River at Hourai in Shimada City!
Shimada Obi Festival on a manhole cover!
The crossing of the Oi river at Hourai In Shimada City with Mount Fuji in the background.
The bridge crossing the river there is the longest wooden bridge in the whole world!
A Sabre Dancer at the Shimada Obi Festival!
A symetrical design for a manhole used by the notorious Shizuoka Gas Company!
If you to know why I said “notorious” I can explain in a separate article!
An enameled manhole cover in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City. Probably that of an electric company!
A very small manhole cover to access to another fire hydrant in Shizuoka City!
A rectangular manhole in Shizuoka City over the access to another fire hydrant.
The design represents Mount Fuji, tea fields, the Abe River and the Toro Ruins!
Care to join the search?
RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES
Shop with Intent by Debbie
BULA KANA in Fiji
Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,
Must-see tasting websites:
-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery
Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents
HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City
SHIZUOKA GOURMET 