Hokkaido Manhole Covers
Hi there! Neil Nicerio here,
I have already written about Japan's Awesome Manhole Covers in the past and talked about being part of a hobbyist group referred to as drainspotters. Being one is not easy, as it also requires me to visit different towns, cities, and villages in Japan.
Lucky for me, I'm blessed to have been given the opportunity to live and work in Rumoi City in Hokkaido Prefecture as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) under the JET Programme. For this article, I will only focus on my current home prefecture.
As of this writing, there are 179 municipalities in Hokkaido Prefecture. This is broken down into 35 cities, 129 towns, and 15 villages. It only means that there are a lot of different manhole cover designs to see. Aside from that, there are currently 41 Pokemon Manhole Covers scattered around the prefecture. You can click the link to read more about these special manhole covers.
Going back, these are the manhole covers that I have "collected" in Hokkaido Prefecture as well as where I took a photo of them and their rarity:
![]() |
Hokkaido Manhole - near train stations (common) |
![]() |
Sapporo City colored manhole cover - Sapporo Clock Tower (rare) |
![]() |
Asahikawa City manhole cover - Asahikawa Roadside Station (common) |
![]() |
Rumoi City colored manhole cover - Rumoi Roadside Station (only 1) |
![]() |
Rumoi City manhole cover - near Rumoi Shrine (common) |
![]() |
Obira manhole cover - Obira Roadside Station (common) |
![]() |
Obira manhole cover 2 - near Obira Shrine (uncommon) |
![]() |
Embetsu manhole cover - Near Embetsu Agricultural High School (common) |
![]() |
Mitsuishi colored manhole - displayed inside Rishiriya Minoya - Otaru City (Only 1) |
![]() |
Toyotomi manhole cover - near the JR Toyotomi Station (common) |
![]() |
Toyotomi colored manhole cover - Displayed inside Toyotomi Kankojo Center (only 1) |
![]() |
Tomamae manhole cover - Near Tomamae Commercial High School (common) |
![]() |
Teshio manhole cover - Near the Teshio Town Hall (common) |
![]() |
Teshio colored manhole cover - Inside Teshio Onsen Yubae (only 1) |
![]() |
Mashike manhole cover - near Mashike Itsukushima Shrine (common) |
![]() |
Mashike manhole cover - In the town proper (common) |
![]() |
Hokuryu manhole cover - Near Matatsu Shrine (common) |
![]() |
Fukagawa City manhole cover - Near Fukagawa Shrine (uncommon) |
![]() |
Moseushi manhole cover - near Moseushi Onsen Peperu (uncommon) |
![]() |
Chippubetsu manhole cover - near Chippu Shrine (common) |
![]() | ||
Shosanbetsu manhole cover - near Shosanbetsu Inari Shrine (common)
|
![]() |
Horonobe manhole cover - Near Horonobe Town Hall (uncommon) |
![]() |
Wakkanai colored manhole cover - Cape Noshappu (only 1) |
![]() |
Sarufutsu manhole cover - Near Sarufutsu Village Hall (uncommon) |
![]() |
Mashike colored manhole cover - Mashike Town Hall (only 1) |
![]() |
Hamatombetsu manhole cover - Near Hamatombetsu Shrine (uncommon) |
![]() |
Nakatombetsu manhole cover - Near Nakatombetsu Shrine (common) |
![]() |
Otoineppu manhole cover - Near Otoineppu Village Hall (common) |
![]() |
Otaru City colored manhole cover - In front of Le Tao Main Store in Sakaimachi (only 1) |
![]() |
Otaru City manhole cover - Along Sakaimachi Street (common) |
![]() |
Akaigawa colored manhole cover #1 - Along Route 36 (uncommon) |
![]() |
Akaigawa colored manhole cover #2 - Along Route 36 (uncommon) |
![]() |
Toyako manhole cover - Toyako Gurruto Sculpture Park (common) |
![]() |
Takikawa City colored manhole cover - Takikawa Tourist Information Center (Only 1) |
![]() |
Takikawa City manhole cover - Near Takikawa JR Station (uncommon) |
![]() |
Former Ohtaki Village (now part of Date City) manhole cover - In the vicinity of Midorinokaze Resort Kitayuzawa (uncommon) |
![]() |
Chitose City manhole cover - Lake Shikotsu area (common) |
![]() |
Chitose City colored manhole cover - Chitose Roadside Station (Only 1) |
![]() |
Shintotsukawa colored manhole cover - Inside Shintotsukawa Town Hall (Only 1) |
![]() |
Shintotsukawa manhole cover - Near Shintotsukawa Town Museum (uncommon) |
![]() |
Uryu manhole cover - Near Uryu Shrine (uncommon) |
![]() |
Urausu colored manhole cover - Urausu Town Hall (only 1) |
![]() |
Ishikari City manhole cover - Atsuta District (uncommon) |
![]() |
Ishikari City manhole cover - Near Ban'ya no Yu (common) |
![]() |
Naie colored manhole cover - Naie Town Hall (only 1) |
![]() |
Akabira City manhole cover - Near Akabira Exchange Center "Mirai" (common) |
![]() |
Ashibetsu City colored manhole cover - Along Route 452 (uncommon) |
![]() |
Nakafurano manhole cover - Tomita Farm (common) |
![]() |
Numata manhole cover - near Numata Shrine (common) |
![]() |
Numata manhole cover - near Horoshin Spa (uncommon) |
![]() |
Kamisunagawa manhole cover - near Kamisunagawa Shrine (common) |
![]() |
Utashinai City colored manhole cover - Along Route 691 (uncommon) |
![]() |
Utashinai City manhole cover - near Myooji (common) |
![]() |
Anne of Canadian World - Canadian World, Ashibetsu City (only in Canadian World) |
![]() |
Akabira City colored manhole cover - Displayed inside Akabira Base (only 1) |
![]() |
Sunagawa City colored manhole cover - Displayed near Sunagawa City Hall (only 1) |
![]() |
Toma manhole cover - Displayed near Toma Roadside Station (common) |
![]() |
Takasu manhole cover - Displayed near Green Park (common) |
![]() |
Pippu manhole cover - Displayed outside Pippu Station (common) |
![]() |
Kamikawa manhole cover - Displayed near Ogamigawa Shrine (common) |
![]() |
Asahikawa City manhole cover - Displayed near Seicomart Shunkodai (common on the western side of Asahikawa City) |
![]() |
Aibetsu manhole cover - Displayed near Aibetsu Town Hall (common) |
![]() |
Toma colored manhole cover - Near Toma Local History Museum (only 1) |
![]() |
Maruseppu (Engaru) colored manhole cover - Inside Maruseppu Local Museum (only 1) |
![]() |
Abashiri City manhole cover - near Abashiri Shrine (common) |
![]() |
Saroma manhole cover - Near Saroma Shrine (common) |
![]() |
Kamiyubetsu (Yubetsu) manhole cover - Near Kamiyubetsu Roadside Station (common) |
![]() |
Ozora manhole cover - Near Memanbetsu Shrine (common) |
![]() |
Kitami City manhole cover 1 - Near 2nd Street Kitami (common) |
![]() |
Kitami City manhole cover 2 - Near Kitami Shrine (common) |
![]() |
Bihoro manhole cover - near Bihoro Shrine (common) |
![]() |
Nayoro City manhole cover - near Nayoro Shrine (common) |
![]() |
Nayoro City colored manhole cover - Along Route 40 in Furen District (common) |
![]() |
Bifuka colored manhole cover 1 - Along Route 40 (common) |
![]() |
Bifuka colored manhole cover 2 - Along Route 40 (uncommon) |
![]() |
Horokanai manhole cover - Near Horokanai Town Hall (uncommon) |
![]() |
Kembuchi colored manhole cover 1 - Kembuchi Town Picture Book Museum (Only 1) |
![]() |
Kembuchi colored manhole cover 2 - Kembuchi Town Picture Book Museum (Only 1) |
![]() |
Shibetsu City colored manhole cover 1 - Shibetsu Roadside Station (only 1) |
![]() |
Shibetsu City colored manhole cover 2 - Near Shibetsu Roadside Station (uncommon) |
![]() |
Wassamu colored manhole cover - Along Route 40 (uncommon) |
![]() |
Abira colored manhole cover 1 - Abira Roadside Station (Only 2) |
![]() |
Abira (Hayakita) colored manhole cover 2 - Abira Town Hall (Only one) |
![]() |
Abira (Hayakita) colored manhole cover 3 - Abira Town Hall (Only 1) |
![]() |
Abira (Hayakita) colored manhole cover 4 - Abira Town Hall (Only 1) |
![]() |
Naganuma colored manhole cover - Near Naganuma Shrine (uncommon) |
![]() |
Nanporo manhole cover - near Former Horomuka Station (common) |
![]() |
Shinshinotsu manhole cover 1 - near Shinshinotsu Shrine (common) |
![]() |
Shinshinotsu manhole cover 2 - near Shinshinotsu Shrine (common) |
![]() |
Tsukigata manhole cover - Near Kabato Shrine (uncommon) |
![]() |
Yuni manhole cover - near Yuni Shrine (common) |
![]() |
Tomakomai City manhole cover - near the Tomakomai City Hall (uncommon) |
![]() |
Noboribetsu City manhole cover 1 - Noboribetsu City Hall (uncommon) |
![]() |
Noboribetsu City manhole cover 2 - Noboribetsu City Hall (only one) |
![]() |
Noboribetsu City manhole cover 3 - Noboribetsu City Hall (uncommon) |
![]() |
Shiraoi manhole cover 1 - near Shiraoi Hachiman Shrine (common) |
![]() |
Shiraoi manhole cover 2 - near Shiraoi Hachiman Shrine (uncommon) |
![]() |
Shiraoi manhole cover 3 - Shiraoi Town Hall (only 1) |
![]() |
Chitose City colored manhole cover - outside Chitose Roadside Station (only 1) |
![]() |
Muroran City manhole cover - near APA Hotel Muroran (common) |
![]() |
Higashikagura manhole cover - near Higashikagura Shrine (common) |
![]() |
Higashikawa manhole cover - near Higashikawa Shrine (common) |
![]() |
Chippubetsu manhole cover - Near Chippubetsu Library (uncommon) |
![]() |
Mikasa City manhole cover - near Ichikichi Shrine (common) |
![]() |
Iwamizawa City manhole cover - near Iwamizawa City Hall (common) |
![]() |
Bibai City manhole cover - near Bibai City History Museum |
![]() |
Bibai City colored manhole cover - near Bibai Tondenheiya (only 1) |
![]() |
Tobetsu colored manhole cover - near Tobetsu Roadside Station (only 1) |
![]() |
Ebetsu City manhole cover 1 - Near Ebetsu Shrine (common) |
![]() |
Ebetsu City manhole cover 2 - Near Ebetsu Shrine (common) |
![]() |
Ebetsu City manhole cover 3 - Near Second Street Ebetsu (common) |
![]() |
Furano City manhole cover 1 - Near Furano Shrine (common) |
![]() |
Furano City manhole cover 1 - Near Furano Shrine (common) |
![]() |
Furano City colored manhole cover - Inside Furano City Hall (only 1) |
![]() |
Kamifurano manhole cover - Near Kamifurano Shrine (common) |
![]() |
Kamifurano colored manhole cover - Hinode Park (only 1) |
![]() |
Akaigawa colored manhole cover 1 - Near Akaigawa Post Office (uncommon) |
![]() |
Akaigawa colored manhole cover 2 - Near Akaigawamura Chamber Of Commerce (uncommon) |
![]() |
Kutchan manhole cover - Along Route 58 (uncommon) |
![]() |
Kyogoku colored manhole cover - outside Kyogoku Roadside Station (only 1) |
![]() |
Makkari manhole cover - near Makkari Roadside Station (common) |
![]() |
Niseko manhole cover - Near Niseko Town Hall (uncommon) |
![]() |
Kuromatsunai manhole cover - Near Otori Shrine (common) |
![]() |
Rankoshi manhole cover - Along National Road 5 (common) |
![]() |
Yakumo manhole cover - Near Yakumo High School (common) |
![]() |
Hakodate City's colored manhole cover - In front of the Goryokaku Tower (only 1) |
![]() |
Hakodate City manhole cover 2 - In front of the Hakodate Park (uncommon) |
![]() |
Hokuto City's manhole cover 2 - Inside Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station (only 1) |
![]() |
Mori's manhole cover - Near Morimachi Inari Shrine (common) |
![]() |
Shikabe's manhole cover - Shikabe Town Hall (rare) |
![]() |
Kuriyama's manhole cover 1 - Kobayashi Sake Brewery (common) |
![]() |
Kuriyama's manhole cover 2 - Kobayashi Sake Brewery (common) |
![]() |
Yubari City's manhole cover - Yubari Coal Mine Museum (common) |
![]() |
Monbetsu City's manhole cover - Monbetsu Itsukushima Shrine (common) |
![]() |
Monbetsu City's colored manhole cover - Kaiyokoen (only 1) |
![]() |
Takinoue manhole cover - Near Takimi Bridge (uncommon) |
![]() |
Yubetsu manhole cover - Kamiyubetsu Tulip Park (uncommon) |
![]() |
Asahikawa City bronze manhole cover - Banana Pavilion (only 1) |
![]() |
Nishiokoppe manhole cover #1 - Kamioppe Railway Museum (common) |
![]() |
Nishiokoppe manhole cover # 2 - Kamiokoppe Railway Museum (common) |
![]() |
Shimikawa manhole cover - Bustling Square (common) |
![]() |
Esashi (Soya) manhole cover #1 - Esashi Roadside Station (common) |
![]() |
Esashi (Soya) manhole cover #2 - Esashi Itsukushima Shrine (common) |
![]() |
Okoppe colored manhole cover - Okoppe Town Hall (only 1) (non-colored version = common) |
![]() |
Okoppe manhole cover - Okoppe Roadside Station (common) |
![]() |
Omu colored manhole cover - Omu Roadside Station (only 1) |
![]() |
Omu manhole cover # 1 - Omu Roadside Station (common) |
![]() |
Omu manhole cover # 2 - Omu Roadside Station (uncommon) |
![]() |
Nakagawa colored manhole cover - Nakagawa Town Hall (only 1) |
![]() |
Shosanbetsu colored manhole cover - Along Route 232 (uncommon) |
![]() |
Eniwa City Garden Festa manhole cover - Eniwa Roadside Station (only 1) |
![]() |
Eniwa City manhole cover #1 - Near Megumino Station (common) |
![]() |
Eniwa City manhole cover #2 - Near Megumino Station (common) |
![]() |
Kamifurano colored manhole cover - Hinode Park (only 1) |
![]() |
Kitahiroshima City manhole cover - near Kitahiroshima City Eco Museum (common) |
#HokkaidoManholeCovers
#JapanManhole
#ManholeCover
#Hokkaido179
#NeilNicerio
Those are very beautiful manhole cover designs. It makes me want to visit Hokkaido.
ReplyDeletePlease do. These are but some of the manhole cover designs that I saw during my travels. I'll update this regularly.
DeleteThe Wakkanai colored manhole cover is the best one for me. Next is the Rumoi mascot manhole cover.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. =)
DeleteCool manhole collection!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteHave you seen a manhole cover for Shari and Rausu? We've been there last month but we weren't able to see a unique manhole design.
ReplyDeleteMy family and I went to Shari a few weeks back. I found the colored manhole cover in the Roadside Rest Area "Utoro-Shirietoku”. For Rausu, I wasn't able to see a unique one although they have the Prefecture-wide Hokkaido manhole cover displayed along the main road in front of Seicomart.
DeleteThe manhole cover designs in Hokkaido are really beautiful. I like the colored versions particularly the Toma manhole cover.
ReplyDeleteThanks for checking out my blog. I agree with you the Toma manhole cover is really nice.
DeleteYour Hokkaido manhole cover collection is growing. Cool!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteI admire your dedication. I'm looking forward to see your collection when you visit all the towns of Hokkaido.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Delete