Pikachu Manhole Cover: Unexpected Tokyo Find

Pokémon's Pikachu is slated to appear at the Nintendo Museum in Kyoto's Uji city, but not in the manner you might expect! Read on to learn more about these charming Poké Lids found throughout Japan.

Nintendo Museum Gets Its Own Poké LidPikachu's Peeking Out of the Poké Lid

Get ready to catch ‘em all on the ground—or rather, under it! The forthcoming Nintendo Museum in Kyoto, Japan, has revealed a unique addition to its exterior: a one-of-a-kind Pokémon manhole cover featuring the franchise’s charming mascot, Pikachu.

Poké Lids or Pokéfuta, as they’re affectionately known, are elaborately designed manhole covers featuring Pokémon characters that have become a popular phenomenon, adorning sidewalks in cities across the nation. These artistic street features often depict local Pokémon associated with a specific area. Now, the Nintendo Museum joins this initiative with a Poké Lid that pays tribute to both the museum’s focus on Nintendo’s rich history and the enduring appeal of Pokémon.

The design charmingly references the franchise’s origins, featuring Pikachu and a Pokéball emerging from a classic Game Boy, surrounded by pixelated trails that evoke the nostalgic allure of early gaming.

These manhole covers have even sparked their own legend. As the Poké Lid website explains, "Poké Lids, artistic covers for utility openings, have recently begun to appear in some cities. Who knows if they are of Pokémonopolistic nature? It seems that not all utility openings are man-made; rumor has it that Diglett may be responsible for digging large enough openings to be mistaken for utility openings and some artists took it upon themselves to ‘mark’ the covers to differentiate them from ordinary ones. Where will the next ‘mark’ be?"

The Nintendo Museum’s Poké Lid is not the first of its kind. Several other cities throughout Japan have adopted these colorful manhole covers as a way to enhance local areas and attract visitors. Fukuoka, for example, features a unique Poké Lid depicting Alolan Dugtrio, a regional variant of the classic Pokémon. In Ojiya City, Magikarp takes center stage on a series of manhole covers, alongside its shiny form and evolved form, Gyarados. To further boost tourism, these Poké Lids also function as special PokéStops in Pokémon GO, allowing players to collect postcards to share with friends globally.

Poké Lids are a novel initiative within Japan’s Pokémon Local Acts campaign, where Pokémon act as ambassadors for diverse regions in Japan. Not only do these aim to boost local economies, they also promote a region’s geography.

Poké Lids expand this concept by offering special utility lids, each featuring a unique Pokémon design. With over 250 Poké Lids installed to date, the campaign continues to grow.

The initiative launched in December 2018 as a special Eevee Celebration in Kagoshima Prefecture, featuring Eevee-themed Poké Lids. In July 2019, the campaign expanded nationwide, encompassing a broader range of Pokémon designs.

The Nintendo Museum is scheduled to open October 2nd this year. It celebrates the gaming giant’s century-long history, from its origins as a playing card company, and evokes nostalgia for gamers. If visiting, Nintendo challenges you: find the Pikachu Poké Lid.

For more details on the upcoming Nintendo Museum, see our article below!