Poké Lids

[Moonface]

So I just discovered there's a trend in Japan that involves transforming manholes into Poké Lids, Pokémon themed manhole covers that feature different Pokémon and also mark locations that are Pokéstops compatible with Pokémon Go:

Poké Lids, artistic covers for utility holes, have recently started to be spotted in some cities. Who knows if they are of Pokémonopolistic nature? It seems that not all utility holes are man-made; rumor has it that Diglett may be responsible for digging large enough holes to be mistaken for utility holes and some artists took it upon themselves to “mark” the covers to differentiate them from ordinary ones. Where will the next “mark” be?

You can explore all the manhole covers and their locations via the official website: https://local.pokemon.jp/en/manhole/
There's also an image of all of the covers made so far here: Poké Lids

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I think these are pretty neat. I wonder if there's a correlation between the location and the Pokemon that get featured on the cover?

[Karo]

I actually think this is really cute idea and I'm kinda like Japan does a lot of fun things like this, but I do wonder would people try to steal these?

[ShiraNoMai]

Wow these are amazing indeed! I can't imagine you could feasibly try and get away with attempting to steal an actual sealed manhole cover without the right equipment...right?

I think my favorite part about these is that they're not just Pokémon covered, but like, full on little art pieces of a few Pokemon and such. My fav has to be the Slowpoke and Slowpoke Ditto one

[Moonface]

I wouldn't be surprised if they're all installed in areas with CCTV. There's also the problem of stealing it and then you would be stuck with it because what would you do with it otherwise? Trying to sell it would be a very stupid idea.

[Mr EliteL]

Yup they're cool alright, liking the designs. Wondering how dirty they'll get though, hopefully citizens won't step on them with really messy shoes, and bad weather. I know Japan is good on cleanliness though so I shouldn't worry. Hope UK don't ever get them though, good Gods no! Only because these people don't give a toss about litter and dirt. 

[Moonface]

I don't think any country other than Japan would get these. If the UK got them some stupid teenagers would throw graffiti on it in a week.

What I really love is all the merchandise associated with this project. I'd definitely collect all the manhole cover replicas they offer if I was a big enough Pokemon fan to want something from this.

[Nightingale]

Awww.

I love it when Japan gets all cute and creative like this.

I do agree that this is for their eyes only, though. These would be abused and destroyed anywhere else in the world.

[Moonface]

Awww.

I love it when Japan gets all cute and creative like this.

I do agree that this is for their eyes only, though. These would be abused and destroyed anywhere else in the world.

Yeah, and sold if not for the fact you'd never manage to sell one of these without being caught unless you have some black market stuff going on, and even then I feel you'd still get caught.

There have also been new lids made since the last time this thread was active, for anyone curious if there's anything new to see that checked this out earlier.