Poké Lids in Hokkaido

Hi, I’m Shiho.

You probably know that there are many tourist attractions in Hokkaido. When sightseeing in Hokkaido, take interest not only in the buildings and food, but also in what is at your feet. You will find nice manholes.

 

What are the Poké Lids？

Poké Lids are manholes with illustrations of Pokémon characters. They were started to be installed in 2018 with the aim of attracting tourists and to revitalize cities struck by natural disasters. Currently, more than 200 of them have been installed throughout Japan.

 

Poké Lids in Hokkaido

In this blog, I will introduce five manholes in Hokkaido.

 (ⅰ) Otaru

Stained glass is represented because Otaru is famous for its glasswork. And next to the character is an azalea, the flower of Otaru. The middle character is based on a fox. Talking of foxes, Ezo red fox is Hokkaido's most symbolic animal, so that all manholes in Hokkaido include this character. This manhole is installed in a shopping street just a 9-minute walk from Otaru Station.

Ezo red foxes

Stained glass at the “StainedGlass Museum” in Otaru

Azaleaat Otaru Park

(ii) Asahikawa

Asahikawa has Asahiyama Zoo. The characters of a little bear and the penguin are drawn on it because a baby polar bear was born last year and the penguin walking show is famous there. This manhole is installed in front of a shop called "Roadside Station Asahikawa", a 13-minute walk from Asahikawa Station.

A baby polar bear at Asahiyama Zoo 

The penguin walks at Asahiyama Zoo

(iii) Noboribetsu

A character of bathing bear in a hot spring is drawn because Noboribetsu is famous for Noboribetsu Hot Spring and a bear farm. This manhole is installed in the Noboribetsu Beach Park, a 5-minute walk from Noboribetsu Station.

Noboribetsu Hot Spring

A bear farm in Noboribetsu

(ⅳ) Obihiro

Obihiro is the only city in the world where Banei horse racing is held. In Banei Horse Racing, horses compete in terms of strength and speed while pulling a sledge. For this reason, it shows characters based on horse motifs pulling a sledge on which a fox character rides. This manhole is installed at the north exit of Obihiro Station. By the way, horses that take part in Banei horse racing are known as 'draught horse' and are very large.

Horse competitions at the Obihiro Racecourse

Draught horse size

(v) Mikasa

The entire Mikasa City area is designated as Mikasa Geopark. Various fossils have been discovered there can be seen at the "Mikasa City Museum. For this reason, the manholes are decorated with characters based on sea creatures and dinosaurs found as fossils. This manhole is installed at the front entrance of the Mikasa Municipal Museum. And that museum was exhibiting fossils of an ancient character from the game in coordination with Pokémon. This exhibit can also be viewed online. Click on the link below to take a look.

《Pokémon Fossil Museum Mikasa Venue online- Matterport 3D Showcase》

Dinosaur fossils found in Mikasa

Part of the exhibition of fossilized sea creatures at the Mikasa Municipal Museum

Conclusion

Have you found your favorite one? There are 29 other Poké Lids in Hokkaido that have not yet been introduced. Please look for them when you come on your trip. 

Thank you for reading this blog to the end. Have a nice day.

Places introduced today