Japan designs manhole covers so beautiful that they're actually works of art. Across the country, thousands of municipalities have designed unique manhole covers to demonstrate their unique local cultures, and now the Japanese Manhole Cover Festival celebrates this creativity. The festival, which takes place in Tokyo, promises three days of activities dedicated to the artistic manhole covers.

From February 1 to February 3, 2019, the Shinjuku Takashimaya department store is hosting a range of events, including an exhibition of actual manhole covers from around the country. Next door, at Tokyu Hands Shinjuku, there will be a whole range of manhole cover collectibles for sale. This includes pencils, stickers, books, as well as small versions of selected manhole covers. These limited edition collectibles will remain on sale until February 24, 2019.

Visitors will also be able to snack on macaroons, cookies, and other sweets decorated with some of the country's most popular manhole cover designs. If you can't make it over to Tokyo for the event, you might want to pick up a copy of Drainspotting. This 2010 book by Remo Camerota celebrates this unique Japanese phenomenon.

Since the 1980s municipalities in Japan have designed their own unique manhole covers to celebrate their individuality.

A new festival in Tokyo pays tribute the art of Japanese manhole covers.

Special sweets will be created for the occasion and there will be a display of some of the most popular manhole cover art.

h/t: [Spoon & Tamago]

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