Drainspotting – Japanese Manhole get collectible and spotting cards

Street-art sometimes prompt where it is least expected.
In Japan, since the early 1980s, manholes has become art, the drawings being determined with public participation, decorated and painted with designs representing a specialty of the city, a local mascot, local cultural sites where they are installed or honoring workers/civil servants who use them, such as firefighters.
The popularity of these manholes has even spawned a new type of tourism – “drainspotting” – where travelers try to find the 6000+ different models currently in Japan. Then in few days will be collectible cards, with the designs and explanation on one side and the geographical coordinates to find them on the back.