When we travel, it’s easy to overlook the quotidian elements of local infrastructure, such as the lowly manhole cover. But visitors to Japan who watch where they walk are treated to a veritable art show.

Japanese manhole covers once looked as monotonous as those in most countries, but about thirty years ago imaginative city planners were encouraged to seek input from local artists, designers and civic organizations on cover design. Now, nearly all of Japan’s 1,780 municipalities have unique and fanciful manhole covers that reflect local culture, environment or history.

There’s even a neat Japanese Manhole Cover flickr group.