Today I Learned
Pokémon Manhole Covers in Machida: Six Poké Lids in One Park
Find Machida's six Pokémon manhole covers in Serigaya Park, Tokyo: their local story, official map, station walk and current access restrictions.
Machida’s six Pokémon manhole covers are installed in Serigaya Park, in Tokyo’s Tama area. Known as Poké Lids, or Pokéfuta (ポケふた), they turn a park walk into a search for familiar characters underfoot. Tokyo’s official tourism guide identifies this as the first Poké Lid installation in Tokyo. GO TOKYO visitor guide
Six covers are installed, but that does not guarantee access to all six on your date. The park has current restrictions, described below.
Sources checked October 13, 2026. We have not visited in person or verified an unobstructed route to every cover.
Why Pokémon appeared in this park
Machida unveiled the six designs on August 21, 2020. The city had applied to the Pokémon Company’s programme as part of its city promotion, and the company donated the covers. The installation also marked the programme’s 100th cover: a milestone at the time, rather than a count of today’s nationwide collection. Machida City’s original announcement
There is a local connection beyond the characters’ popularity. Satoshi Tajiri, the creator of Pokémon, spent his childhood in Machida. The city describes his interest in observing and collecting insects in a landscape of fields and woods, and says those experiences are thought to have helped inspire Pokémon. Machida’s explanation
The surprising detail is the scale of the encounter. You are looking for something set into the ground, among the ordinary routes people take through a park.
The six designs to look for
Machida lists these six designs:
| Cover | Pokémon pictured |
|---|---|
| 1 | Bulbasaur |
| 2 | Charmander |
| 3 | Squirtle |
| 4 | Poliwag |
| 5 | Pidgey and Rattata |
| 6 | Oddish, Weedle and Caterpie |
City’s design list and visitor information
The numbers above are a checklist, not a walking order. Use the city’s official Poké Lid map (PDF) for locations, and follow current signs when a path is closed. You can also start with the Pokémon Local Acts directory when researching covers elsewhere in Japan.
The map asks visitors to keep paths and stairs clear, watch for collisions and people appearing in photographs, and share the space with other park users. Take a photograph, then step aside so somebody else’s ordinary walk can continue. Official map’s visiting guidance
Planning the walk from Machida Station
| Planning point | Current city information |
|---|---|
| Place | Serigaya Park, 5-16 Haramachida, Machida, Tokyo |
| Station walk | About 13 minutes from Odakyu Machida Station, or JR Yokohama Line Machida Station’s central exit |
| Park hours | 6am–6pm; until 7pm in June–August |
| Regular closure days | None listed; individual areas can still be restricted |
Serigaya Park’s official information
The station-to-park estimate is not the time needed to find every cover. Give yourself time to consult the map and change course if a route is unavailable. We have not timed the complete walk or verified a continuous step-free route to all six.
Current access notice: The city’s September 24, 2026 update says some areas are closed following a fallen tree. It does not identify which Poké Lids, if any, are affected. Check the park page before leaving and respect barriers on arrival. Park notices and cleaning dates
The separate Poké Lid page warns that cleaning can restrict access near the Squirtle and Pidgey–Rattata covers. A checklist should not become a reason to cross a barrier. City’s cover-specific access warning
A small detail worth building a stop around
This is a good candidate for readers who enjoy spotting design in everyday places. Start with the map, choose the accessible paths and see which characters you find. The background gives the covers a connection to Machida; the practical limits keep the walk grounded in the park as it is on your date.
For another Pokémon destination with a different kind of visit, see our PokéPark KANTO article. For another unexpected subject in Tokyo, read about the Meguro Parasitological Museum. More researched places are gathered in Curious Japan.
Original editorial illustration about looking for designs underfoot. It is not a photograph, an official park map or a reproduction of actual Poké Lid artwork.