Poké Lids Featuring Pokémon Installed in Ibaraki Prefecture for the First Time, Sparking Joy Among Fans

Manhole covers featuring Pokémon designs, known as "Poké Lids," which appear in the popular game "Pokémon," were installed for the first time in Ibaraki Prefecture on Thursday, July 10, 2025, generating significant buzz on social media. This long-awaited installation in Ibaraki, which was previously a "Poké Lid-less prefecture," has been met with cries of joy from local fans.

According to the official Pokémon account, the "Poké Lids" unveiled on this day feature popular Pokémon such as Rayquaza, Serperior, and Bellibolt, with designs tailored to each specific region. Notably, the Tsukuba City manhole features Rayquaza, speculated to be linked to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Mito City has a design featuring Ferrothorn, while Chikusei City's design depicts Croagunk, seemingly inspired by the region's association with "Gama no Abura" (toad oil). Illustrator sowsow, who designed the Poké Lids, also expressed joy on social media at seeing their work adorn the local areas.

On X (formerly Twitter), numerous joyful posts were shared, such as "Finally, Poké Lids are being installed in our prefecture (joy)!" "In my town! Poké Lids!!" and "I'm happy we're no longer a Poké Lid-less prefecture." Praise for specific Pokémon designs, like "Ibaraki's Rayquaza Poké Lid is super cool," was also seen. Although some locations may require car access, fans are still eager to confirm the installation spots and visit them in person.

"Poké Lids" are being installed across Japan as an initiative aimed at regional revitalization. As the installed locations often become PokéStops in "Pokémon GO," they garner significant attention from game fans. There are also expressions of anticipation, such as "I wonder how long it will take for the Poké Lid to be installed and become a PokéStop."

With the recent installation in Ibaraki Prefecture, Gunma Prefecture remains the only prefecture in the Kanto region without Poké Lids. Calls for installations are also emerging from other prefectures, with comments like "We want them in Nagano Prefecture too!" and "Please bring them to Hyogo Prefecture, Honshu!" Combining unique regional characteristics with Pokémon, "Poké Lids" provide an opportunity to spark tourism and rediscover local charm, with expectations for their continued expansion into more regions.

The Context

"Pokémon" is a world-renowned media franchise, originally created in Japan, encompassing video games, anime, trading card games, and more. It is celebrated for its diverse creatures called Pokémon, which trainers capture, train, and battle.

"Poké Lids" (or ポケふた, Pokéfuta in Japanese) are specially designed manhole covers featuring unique Pokémon illustrations, often tailored to reflect the local characteristics or famous products of the cities and towns where they are installed. This initiative is part of a broader effort to promote regional tourism and economic revitalization across Japan. Many "Poké Lids" also become "PokéStops" in the popular augmented reality mobile game "Pokémon GO," drawing both Pokémon fans and tourists to specific locations.

JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) is Japan's national aerospace and space agency, responsible for research and development in space exploration, aviation, and related fields. Tsukuba City is known as a science city and houses many research institutions, including JAXA, which explains the choice of Rayquaza, a dragon-like Pokémon associated with the sky, for its design.

"Gama no Abura" (literally "toad oil") is a traditional Japanese ointment or balm, often associated with street performers or traveling merchants, particularly in historical dramas. It's often linked to areas like Tsukuba (though the article links it to Chikusei, which is close by and has similar historical associations), and the connection to Croagunk (a poison-type frog Pokémon) is a playful nod to this regional product.