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So much to see, so little time. Go for the gold and follow the list below.

Just a few photos of interesting beaches to whet your adventurous whistle.

SKARDU, PAKISTAN

Portugal Beach

Jeddah, Hejaz, the coast of the Red Sea, western Saudi Arabia

The Overseas Highway through the Florida Keys

Antigua

A Maluku Islands beach (a province of Indonesia)

Spas of Saturnia, Italy

Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

When visiting Japan, you may be captivated by the cherry blossom trees, shrine gates, and elegant castles all around you, but look down and you’ll find a unique display of Japanese aesthetics right beneath your feet.

Manhole cover depicting UNESCO World Heritage Shirakawa-go Village

© Tamago Moffle / Flickr

Modern water and sewage systems weren’t popular when they first arrived in Japan, as the cost of installing the below-ground systems were seen as prohibitively expensive by local communities outside of big cities. However, a government plan that allowed communities to create their very own cover designs won over taxpayers and launched a number of local variations throughout the country. Despite the higher cost of these more elaborate, sometimes full-color, manhole covers the effort was a huge success.

Today, these artistic Japanese manhole covers have spawned a worldwide network of manhole cover photographers, a line of collectable cards, and even a book dedicated to their history called Drainspotting.

Here are six gorgeous manhole covers demonstrating the variety of styles and elements found across Japan.

Floral themes

Floral designs are a common motif for Japanese manhole covers. This one from Chikushino City in Fukuoka prefecture features a combination of Japanese camellia, the official ‘city tree’, and scarlet sage, the ‘city flower’.

Manhole cover spotted in Chikushino, Fukuoka

Local landmarks

Local landmarks are frequently incorporated into manhole cover designs. This one from Osaka, Japan, depicts a highly stylized image of Osaka Castle.

Manhole cover from Kanko, Osaka

© Daiju Azuma / Flickr

Local history

Some manhole covers incorporate elements related to the history of the local area, such as this one from Mie prefecture depicting the pilgrimage to Ise Shrine, a tradition that goes back hundreds of years.

Manhole cover spotted in Ise City, Mie prefecture

© Jim O’Neil / Flickr

This manhole cover from Nagano, Japan, commemorates the XVIII Olympic Winter Games, held there in 1998.

Manhole cover spotted in Nagano City

© bryansjs / Flickr

Local delicacies

Famous local food and goods may also be depicted on manhole covers, like this colorful example from Hakodate, Hokkaido. The port city is famous for its seafood, especially squid, and even has a ‘squid dance’ performed at local festivals.

Manhole cover spotted in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi prefecture

© Daiju Azuma / Flickr

Local pride

Manhole covers are a unique way to show off local pride in Japan. This manhole cover from Hiroshima prefecture features the popular baseball team Hiroshima Carp set against a backdrop of maple leaves, another local symbol.

Manhole cover featuring the local baseball team Hiroshima Carp

© Addy Cameron-Huff / Flickr

Source:  theculturetrip.com

(What a fantastic tourist attraction for your community.  What do you think?)

Spain is a fantastic country with amazing food, a rich history, multi-cultural architecture, natural wonders and so much more. There are plenty of bucket list experiences in Spain, and these are the best ones.

Victorian bridge