You usually ignore them and walk all over them: manhole covers. While they seem to look the same everywhere over here, they differ massively from each other in Japan. Practically every city shows off its special features or sights as a beautifully decorated cover, some even in bright colours.

The designs are popular photo souvenirs and collector’s items for tourists and locals alike. It’s hardly surprising that a Manhole Cover Festival recently took place in Tōkyō.

Here’s our ongoing collection of covers that we’ve photographed.