A white heron flying over a field of white orchids is definitely a manhole cover from Himeji… Because the white heron is the symbol bird of the city, and the Himeji flower symbol is Pecteilis radiata, a species of orchid which, since it is considered to look like a heron, is called in Japanese sagi-so, “heron grass".

Also, the Himeji Castle is known as Shirasagi-jō, the “White Heron Castle", because it is said that it looks like a white bird with open wings.

Manhole Cover, Himeji, Hyogo

EXIF Info:

Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Nandaimon, the Great South Gate of Todaiji Nara