One of the coolest attraction in Japan lies beneath the feet.
The trend started in the 1980s when Japan wanted to standardize their sewer system.
Until then, Japan used regular geometric shaped manhole covers similar to those used in other countries.
One dedicated bureaucrat solved the problem by allowing the town folk to choose their own design.
Today nearly 95 percent of the 1,780 municipalities in Japan sport their own specially designed manhole covers.
The designs are manufactured by a municipal foundry where they are cast and created.
The foundry will then cast a prototype before doing the final cast.
After the covers have been cast the carved wooden masters are saved in an enormous central library.
One of the first books celebrating this unique form of art isDrainspotting, penned by Remo Camerota.
Flickr member MRSY has afascinating setof Japanese manhole covers.
Theres also an awesome Flickr group dedicated toJapanese manhole covers.
