The city’s government has said it will sell iron manhole covers to members of the public for the first time, according to the Mainichi Shimbun. According to media reports, new manhole covers cost around ￥60,000 each. In 2018, it came up with the idea of commercializing the items when it invited firms to advertise on manhole covers in an attempt to finance its heavily indebted sewage management system. Japan’s artistic manhole covers are embellished with thousands of colorful illustrations of everything from local landmarks, famous natives, festivals and flora and fauna. According to Kyoto’s water supply and sewerage bureau, the city is home to about 160,000 manhole covers.
