TRANSIT-MANHOLES

SYNOPSIS: About a curious, wide-spread Japanese phenomenon.

Thanks to Carl who mentioned early on that I should pay attention to the manholes in Japan, I did. I can’t add anything about the history or origins of the unique and artistic manholes that is not mentioned in the article I am posting below. Nobody with half an eye could miss the colorful variations of the manholes in Japan after walking around for a bit. But I know it would have taken me much longer to catch up on this unique phenomenon if Carl had not alerted me to this. Thanks!

So, I went through Japan always mindful of manholes and I got a few good ones. Of course, the examples in the article are a lot better than mine. To do these critters justice one should have a consistently elevated view and wait for the sun. At times I did not, as I did not always have my wide-angled lens with me and I was traveling in the rainy season and a few of those examples are wet. I also was not sure if I preferred the colored versions of the more pure, iron ones. Each city usually has both. The painting schemes are consistent but seem to be done by hand. I am not sure, but I am giving you a whole slew of all I found. Enjoy.

Curiously absent were any examples of note in Kyoto. Did Kyoto not catch on to this trend?

http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2014/03/the-beauty-of-japans-artistic-manhole-covers/

Otherwise, this day was spent as uneventful in transit as these travel days go.

I have now reached the final destination of this trip, going right back to where I started: Tokyo.

Good night.