Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 62: New Shimizu S-Pulse “Paru” Mascot Cover in Shizuoka City!

A new manhole covers for Shizuoka City, a city replete with them, had been announced not long ago during a special event held on Aoba Street in Shizuoka City!

Among the mint covers on exhibition featured the unique one featuring Chi Maruko which has been installed behind Cenova Department Store in Aoi Ku!

Another featured the second, also unique, cover featuring Chibi Mariko which has been laid in front of the south exit of Shimizu JR Station in Shimizu Ku!

Finally another featured the brand new manhole cover depicting the Shimizu s-Pulse Soccer/Football Club Mascot, namely “Pru” or also “Paru San/Paru Chan”!
Now you must realize that Shimizu was a separate City not ong ago.
But Since it was merged into Shizuoka City under the name of Shimizu Ku (Shimizu Ward), the Shimizu S-Puse Soccer Club had to adopt a new official name, that is “Shizuoka Shimizu S-Puse” although fans call it so!

Now, where is it located, actually a bone of contention among citizens of our city as there is only installed.
Of all places it was laid at the corner of Gofuku Cho Street and Aoba Street in front of Mc Donald’s!
Now, the problem is that Mc Donald’s as far as I know is not a sponsor (yet) of Shimizu S-Pulse!
Accordingly citizens living in Shimizu Ward are not happy at all! Another imbroglio caused our dear mayor?

The new manhole cover!

“Paru San”!
Actually he has a girlfriend, so like for Chibi Maruko, we might expect another cover in Shimizu Ward with a different character!

Mount Fuji, of course!

A very ambivalent message as it literally means “Shizuoka, a Street of S-Pulse”!

Let’s hope we all see another soon come to light soon! LOL

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pie
rre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 60: Visit of Shizuoka City Waterworks!

The relatively new Shizuoka City Waterworks Office is a place to visit for all true manhole covers fans!
It does have quite a few surprises for you you must not miss!
It is located about 15~20 minutes form Shozuoka JR Station. Walk straight up Gofukucho Street then turn right onto Shichikencho Street. The Office is located on your right side beyond the crossroads between Shichikencho and Showa Streets.

But before entering the building carefully check its surrounding pavements!

You will discover three unique manhole covers labelled “Shizuoka City waterworks” all installed in a single row! First one!

Second one!

Third one!

You will also find just next to them the cover commemorating the 400th Anniversary of the death of Lord Tokugawa Ieyasu in Sumpu City/now Shizuoka City (2nd version with a falcon and egg plants added)!

On the pavements and street nearby you will also find valve covers of two different sizes with Sumpu Castle on them!

And another utility cover!

Once past the entrance you will be welcomed by this sign!

Take the elevator! But get out at he third floor first!

Inside the elevator a sign will inform you that the Manhole cover card depicting Manga character Chibi Maruko is not available there but at the tourism Office located on the north side of Shimizu Station!

On the third floor proceed to your left!

Follow the arrows directing you to the desk where you can pick up a Shizuoka City manhole cover card!

It represents one (there are many types!) of the covers decorated with the City flower, the holluyhock/”Tachi Aoi/たち葵 in Japanese)!

With detailed information on the back!

Go back to the elevator and get out on the 6th floor!

You can’t miss the Shizuoka City Waterworks Display Room just in front of you!

Past the entrance!

You will find all kinds of artifacts displayed! take your time!

On that particular day they held an exhibition of drawings by local elementary pupils depicting themes based on water!

Bear in mind this is only a partial but very interesting display!

An ancient dragon waterspout!

The cover commemorating the 400th Anniversary of the death of Lord Tokugawa Ieyasu in Sumpu City/now Shizuoka City (2nd version with a falcon and egg plants added)!

A cover (there three versions) with a “Matoi/纏”, firemen Festival flag pole and swallows/ one of the emblem birds of Shizuoka City!

The cover depicting the 400th Anniversary of the coming of Lord Tokugawa Ieyasu to Fuchu City before he changed its name to Sumpu City (now Shizuoka City)!

An ancient sewer pipe!

Now, you will not find this cover anywhere as it was never installed as it was discovered that the design made it slippery in case of rain! It has been replaced since then with a cover depicting three kingfisher fire rescue members!

the very recent covers depicting Chobi Maruko, the famous character of the manga of the same name created by an artist living in Shimiau Ku, Shizuoka City!

This unique cover can be found behind Cenova Department Store in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

This unique one can be found on the pavement by the north exit of Shimizu Station!

Have a nice day!

SHIZUOKA CITY WATERWORKS/静岡市上下水道局
420-0035, Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Shichikencho, 15-1
Opening hours: Monday~Friday, 08:30~17:30
GOOGLE MAP

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pie
rre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 58: Nissaka, the Station along the Tokaido Trail in Kakegawa City!

Nissaka/日坂 was the 26th Station along the Tokaido as depicted in the 53 Stations of the tokaido as depicted in the World famous Utagawa Hiroshige’s woodblock prints/Ukiyoe. Actually you v\can find them all at Th the Hiroshige Museum in Yui, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!
For more information on that particular Ukiyoe/Woodblock Print check HERE!

Reaching the place is both complicated and easy.
Complicated when it comes to a tight schedule, but easy in concept!
Get off at Kakegawa Station (tokaido Line or Shinkansen Line), go out at South Exit and walk to the Bus Line Stop No 7 and borad a bus of the Higashiyaa Line/東山線. Keep inmind there are only less than a dozen buses a day which is why it is complicated. It costs only 300 yen as it is a community line. I advise you to get off at Nissaka/日坂！

The manhole covers are everywhere not to be missed!

The colored version!

The plain version!

Taking pictures of those manhole covers will take only a few minutes.
But remember that this was one important station of yore along the Tokaido Line that travelers used to walk around until the last years of Edo Period!

take the time to look at the old houses/inns of old and their names on wooden signs!

many of them are to the public to visit them at ease!

Some great pictures to take there as very few foreign tourists or residents have heard about the place nonetheless full of interest. Actually most Japanese tourists alight a couple of stops before to visit the celebrated local Shinto shrine!

i will definitely come again, not for the covers, beautiful as they might be, but to thoroughly explore the local culture and history!

Since I had about 40 minutes until the bus came back (bear in mind that the next one might have you wait two hours!) I took the opportunity to visit the only liquor shop in the village and sip a beer (directly from the can!) there while enjoying a great talk with the owner! Socialize with the locals and they will be only too happy to tell you more than expected!

No need to walk back to the Nissaka/日坂 bus as the next one, Shimomachi/下町 is right in front of the liquor shop!

Looking forward to the next visit!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pie
rre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 57: Old and New Toro Ruins Cover in Shizuoka City!

When sometime this year Shizuoka City decided to adorn the Suruga Office of the Shizuoka City Hall with an original colored sewer manhole cover, very few among the local media and even less among civil servants realized that the Toro Ruins (located in Suruga Ku, Shizuoka City) were already featured on a rectangular manhole cover which can be seen here and there in the northern half of Shizuoka City and even near Shizuoka Railway Station!

Apart of the Toro Ruins it featured Mount Fuji, the Abe River and green tea fields!
Check HERE for more information on the Toro Ruins!

The new cover was first exhibited inside the Suruga Office of the Shizuoka City Hall!

Many visitors commented that it was one of the cutest in Japan!

The City came up with the nickname of “Torobe” for the “Toro Ruins Character”!

Shizuka City is famous for its strawberry fields located by the sea south of the Toro Ruins!

And Mount Fuji of course!

As it is on the pavement in front of the Suruga Office of Shozuoka City Hall!
Note it is the unique sole location!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pie
rre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 56: Sagara Cho! Old and new!

Sagara Cho is located in the south part of Makinohara City.
This is a bit confusing for newcomers as only recently Haibara Gun has been renamed Makinohara City while two districts, namely Yoshida Cho (Town) and Sagara Cho (Town) have still kept their names and some autonomy as Makinohara City has a Town Hall in both districts!

Talking of Sagara Town Hall, the staff and civil servants there not only are super friendly bu also proud of their culture and history! It is not big but even though they can provide you with pamphlets in three foreign languages!

Actually if you visit the Tourism Bureau inside the Town Hall the staff there will donate you a metal badge of their newest manhole cover if you can show them a photo of it!

There is actually only one sample of this new manhole cover i town. It is located along the main shopping street right from the bus stop, Sagara Eigyoujyou, the last stop of the Shizutetsu Highway Bus leaving from Shizuoka Cenova Store or Shizuoka Station (about two every hour, 80 minute-trip! Count 1,250 yen)!

You can’t miss it!

It commemorates the 300th Anniversary of the Death of Tanuma Okitsugu, the last Daimyo of the Sagara Domain.
Check his life and achievements on Wikipedia!

At the same time and in the same street you can discover real antiques!
This fire hydrant was installed in 1991!
I heard it is kept for the sake of culture but it is actually functioning!

Since it would not be easy to find for fire trucks especially at night the City had the word “水?Water” painted on the road!

An older common type fire hydrant cover but with the sigil of Sagara Cho!

Another one found everywhere with only “水/Water” sigil!

A large sewer manhole cover with the Shizuoka Prefecture map sigil!

A small valve cover with the Sagara Cho sigil!

Another one with the same sigil!

Time to say good by and take the bus back to Shizuoka City!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pie
rre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 55: Makinohara City!

Beautiful fire hydrant manhole cover but does not bear any distinctive sigil!

Makinohara City in the southern center part of Shizuoka Prefecture, in spite of its full city status acquired on October 11th, is what you may call a manhole cover desert. The city was created by merging the northern and western part of Haibara Gun/Distric (the southeastern part becoming Yoshida Cho/Town) and Sagara Village. Its main resources are green tea, some fishing and a Suzuki car components factory.
I suppose that in some near future that the City will come up with its own distinctive manhole cover!

This large fire hydrant cover is the only truly Makinohara City cover! It is a common design but with the name of the city on it!

This is a cover found everywhere with the central sigil with the Japanese caharacter for “water”!

水/water!

The same with the old Haibara District sigil!

は/hiragana for “ha” of Haibara District!

A well preserved cover but with the old Haibara District sigil!

An even older Haibara District cover!

Similar one but reinforced by an outer rim!

A small valve cover from my old files!

Looking forward to the new Makinohara City manhole cover!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pie
rre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 54: Yoshida Cho (formerly part of Haibara Gun)!

Talking of Yoshida Cho in Shizuoka Prefecture still confuses a lot people here because its former name, Haibara Gun, was changed to the new modern appellation only recently. To make things more difficult there are  more than a half dozen districts/towns of the same name in other Prefectures!
This is probably the main reason that Yoshida Town decided to devise their own manhole cover to advertise/promote their region!
It can be found in front of Yoshida Town Hall bus stop across the street!

A certainly more modern approach to design!

The Town is more known for another color cover installed quite some time ago near the seaside, quite a way far from the Town Hall!

It uncolored version inside a bigger cover!

The uncolored version on its own!

One can find in the same Town all kinds of “ancient” and more recent covers, particular to this area or regularly found all over Japan like this fire hydrant cover!

I found this one in my files but couldn’t locate it during my last trip!

A type found in many places but with a Yoshida Town central sigil!

This sigil was created when Haibara Gun was renamed Yshida Town!

You do have to keep an eye on that central sigil as you might in for some surprises!

Yoshida Cho vigil!

How about this one then?

Shimada City sigil! Apparently they ran short and had to “borrow” this one from neighboring Shimada City!

One can find various valve covers!

Another one with a different rating!

Central Yoshida Cho vigil for this one found everywhere in the country!

A small semi private one with the same design as the classic one!

I found this one in my old files but it might have disappeared!
Oi river water access! It might be found all along the river!

A private one found in my old files privately owned by the Yoshida Flower Park!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pie
rre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 53: Love Line! Sunshine!! Manga Covers in Numazu City! (Complete!)ture

Love Line! Sunshine! manga on buses in Numazu City!

The nationally and internationally popular Love Line! Sunshine! happens to take place in Numazu City as it is a harbour city in Shizuoka Prefecture,Japan!
The city has naturally made it its emblem and the number of Japanese and foreign visitors for the sole purpose of visiting and acquiring memorabilia is ever increasing!

Love Line! Sunshine! Manga on bus stop billboard!

Some time ago the city through crowd funding decided to create color manhole covers depicting the nine heroines of the Manga series.
But not is all rosy under the sky even in Japan. A disgruntled or jealous, but definitely deranged, student decided to destroy all the covers by painting them with highly corrosive liquid. The bad news were of course aired all over the world. The city first took all the covers away to be replaced with plain ones at first.

Love Line! Sunshine! Manga on rental bicycles!

After some reflection the city, through crowd funding again, decided to create new manhole covers with the manga theme. But this time only three characters, the whole group and a Japanese language name graphics were made in colors. These colored covers are unique whereas the black ones are most unique with some exceptions. No need to say that they are protected by the citizens and hidden cameras!

Here is the full collection, which I must admit took some doing at times! LOL

For reference here is photo of the nine original covers!

The whole group facing the sea in color.

The same in black, which cannot be seen on pavements but is sometimes exhibited at local events!

Its mint character makes it a bit difficult to discern the details!

The colored “Harbour Girl” Japanese character cover!

The black version!
Now, this is one is a bit tough to find as it is unique!
First you must either go by car or take a 40-mimute bus trip. Board the bus going to “Enashi/江梨” from the number 8 bus stop in front of Numazu station. Get down at “Nagahama Shiro Ato/長浜城跡). Luckily enough the cover is just a few steps away!

Chika cover, exists only in black!

Harumaru cover, colored!

Harumaru cover, in black!

Dia cover, exists only in black.
Another tough one to discover as it is unique and located among pine trees inside “Senbon Hama Park/千本浜公園”. You need some  luck there!

Kanan cover, exists only in black!

Mari cover, exists only in black!

Riko cover, exists only in black!

Ruby cover, colored version!

Ruby cover, black version!

Yoshiko cover, colored version!

Yoshiko cover, black version!

Good hunting and don’t forget to start very early as it will take you at least a full day with good preparations. Moreover you had better do it all on foot except for the 40-minute bus trip!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pie
rre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 52: Numazu City (except Love Line! Sunshine!! Manga Covers)

The large and medium-sized Numazu Mount Fuji Covers together!

This is a roundup of manhole covers in Numazu City although it does not include the Love Lin! Sunshine!! Manga Covers and places like Heda which were merged into the City. They will appear in future articles!

This is the beautiful color manhole covers they call “Mount Fuji” Cover in Numazu City! hard to find as there is only one to be discovered in the harbor vicinity!

The large sized Mount Fuji cover to be found everywhere in town!

The same, medium-sized!

The brand new one, in black and white!

An older one with the Numazu City sigil in the middle!

An even older one with the same sigil in the middle! It is also diagonally divided!

The same, round and undivided!

This type with the same sigil in the middle can be seen in various colors to follow the patterns on the pavement!

A municipal electricity manhole cover!

Not a manhole cover, but a brand new pavement plaque!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pie
rre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 51: Oyama Ashigara!

Fire Hydrant cover common to many places. You have to check the “logo/sigil”!

This particular search turned into a real adventure! I started with a mistake getting off at Suruga-Oyama Station where I found out that the local Tourism Information had been closed for good for more than a year! I had to take a bus and walk for quite a while to find my target at the Fujinomiya Rest Area!

The circle logo/sigil means it belongs to Oyama Ashigara area!

My target! The only color Oyama manhole cover exhibited inside the information office at the Fujinomiya Rest Area! Great staff there incidentally!

Cute, aren’t they?

Pressurized air valve cover with Oyama Ashigara sigil!

I had found out previously that none of Oyama Ashigara covers could be found around Suruga Oyama Station so I asked the staff where I could find them. They replied theris was the only one to be seen. But I had seen photographs of uncolored ones near a station. So It could be only Ashigara Statio, the one station before!
I ignored the advice and decided to walk all the way to Ahigara Station!

On the way I found this different typeof fire hydrant cover!

The kanji for “water” inside the sigil meant it was a common cver used in many parts of Japan!

After a full hour walk my stubborness was rewrded!

Ashigara (unmanned) Station along the Gootemba Railway Line!

There were not one but half a dozen of them!

I also discovered this old fashioned rectangular fire hydrant cover with the Oyama Ashigara sigil!

Never give up! LOL

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pie
rre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City