The sale of old manhole covers by a city north of Tokyo has attracted many buyers amid the growing popularity in the metal lids featuring designs inspired by local landmarks and specialties.

Maebashi City in Gunma Prefecture became the first municipality to sell its used manhole covers. It came up with the idea as a measure to promote the city.

On Wednesday, the city handed 10 manhole covers to their buyers, who were chosen in a lottery among around 200 applicants.

Each cover measures 60 centimeters in diameter and weighs 40 kilograms. The covers are of 3 different designs, including one with roses, which are designated as the city's symbol flower. Each was priced at 3,000 yen, or around 27 dollars.

The buyers who came to receive their manhole covers at a water purification plant in the city included residents of Tokyo and Aichi, central Japan.

Source: ANNnewsCH