Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 6

Courtesy of Atsuko Kurata!
Shizuoka Fire Department Water tank Access!
She found this very unusually patterned manhole cover in her neighborhood near Kusanagai JR Station in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!

I already know of many blogging friends in Japan taking pictures of manhole covers all over this country.
The reason is simple enough: as there is little chance of them being stolen (I can’t say the same thing back in our countries!) the local/municipal government often use them as touristic advertisements !

I keep on looking for them during my many travels through the Prefecture.
And this time again I was lucky to enjoy some great help from a new friend working for the Shizuoka City Touristic Information, namely Atsuko Kurata!
Like me she is chasing all kinds of cultural artifacts, especially the unusual ones!
I’m pretty sure that we should be able to come with a “Ten Best” very soon, at least for the year 2013!

The next 4 picture all taken by Atsuko Kurata show the variations on a beautiful design!

The manhole cover above and the next three below were ordered by the Municipal Government of Shizuoka Prefecture. “道路・維持” could be loosely translated as “Road Development”.
The above was discovered at the gate of Kunozan Toshogu Shrine, at the foot of mountain, in Suruga Ku, Shizuoka City!

The above was discovered in Suruga Ku, Shizuoka City, at the Ishida crossroad, right in front of the APITA shopping mall!

The above was discovered in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, at the front entrance of the Shizuoka Prefectural Government Office!

Manhole covers are sometimes designed to blend with their surroundings, but this one was “blinded” by a relief marker to help blind people walk along pavements!

Atsuko Kurata discovered this extraordinary double manhole cover near Manseicho crossroads in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City one her way to Satsuki Street from S-Pulse Dream Plaza.
It is made of two known manhole covers to allow for two different sizes of access!

I found this one and the ones below near the National Sports Training Center in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City.
The one above is the smaller size manhole cover by Kojima Foundry Co. for ”汚水” or waste waters.

This large one is of an old design for electric cables with an interesting notice!

Can bear up to 5,000 kg! Wow

The same type (also seen at Kikugawa JR Station!) but for “雨水” or rain waters but a different notice at the bottom allowing for maker’s identification!