If you are following this Blog, then you would know that I am into looking down into pretty, humble street manhole art wherever, and whatever it is that is embedded on the grounds.Looking down into covers of manholes became a habit of mine since I can´t remember anymore.Wherever I am, I try to find unique manholes and if i couldn´t find any, then I just keep on looking for it somewhere else.So of course while in Japan, i started this quest right when we landed and found some worth of sharing.
Most of the time, I am walking or running so finding them is easy.As with many things that interests me, whether it is a strange street graffiti art, signages or local traffic signs, i stay alert on my toes to notice them.You know the feeling when you are in a new place, it seems like everything is unique, or “different” which makes the whole trip quite interesting.Japan is a koleidoscope of strange, quirky, unique and really artsy even kawaii things. Most of the manhole covers that I´ve seen in Kyoto, Osaka, and Tokyo are decorated with graphics of nature, castles, shrines, flowers like the famous “Sakura“, and animations from certain anime series.
Apart from manholes, the street art in Japan is also something else.Most alleys inside their metro stations are also painted with different graphics and cultural paintings which i find so pretty.Normally a walk through the underground alleys are quite boring but they showcase more of the artistic japanese side.Anime is another thing, but looking closely at them, there are hidden meanings and stories which bound to be discovered if you took time to really look at it.
Speaking of walking , this time i needed to look up just to admire this extraordinary huge slippers hanging on the wall at the back of Hozomon Gate in Asakusa and Kamakura, in Kotoku-in .The giant slippers at Sensō-ji Temple in Tokyo are traditional oversized straw sandals known as ōwaraji.This made me think how japanese people walk in these straw slippers or how the Maiko and Geisha walk in their wooden slippers.But i´d like to know their meaning so I´ve read that these serves as symbolic guardian charms ,protection and healthy legs.Visitors can even touch them and pray to have healthy feet and walking endurance.
After seeing them, I think I´ve come to the right place!
Last but not the least, after walking for almost more than 20,000 steps everyday, my feet finds comfort in a warm foot soak or the Japanese “ashi-yu”. ashi-yu (足湯), or communal foot baths. Scattered throughout onsen towns, train stations, and even city streets, ashi-yu offer a quick, free, and profoundly restorative experience aside from the fact that it really feels good after the soak.
Until then, Tschüß!
