Drainspotting by Remo Camerota

Yokkaichi City, Mie: Called the 'windy city', this Yokkaichi City cover represents the city’s port and infamous winds
Photograph: Remo Camerota/Photos courtesy of Mark Batty Publisher

Kinosaki Town, Toyooka City, Hyogo Photograph: Remo Camerota/Photos courtesy of Mark Batty Publisher

Aka Island, Shimajiri-gun, Okinawa Photograph: Remo Camerota/Photos courtesy of Mark Batty Publisher

Yotsuya, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo Photograph: Remo Camerota/Photos courtesy of Mark Batty Publisher

Ikaruga Town, Ikoma-gun, Nara Photograph: Remo Camerota/Photos courtesy of Mark Batty Publisher

Kisarazu City: Based on a local myth, these mischievous raccoons tried to surprise a local Buddhist priest every day, but the priest was never surprised. One day, the raccoons beat their bellies as hard as they could, eventually beating themselves to death. In the end they did get the better of the priest, who was shocked that they had died at their own hand. The raccoons are now the town mascot
Photograph: Remo Camerota/Photos courtesy of Mark Batty Publisher

Shimokitazawa, Setagaya Wards, Tokyo: The firefly and killifish can only survive in clean water, so having them on the cover tells people not to dump pollutants into the water supply
Photograph: Remo Camerota/Photos courtesy of Mark Batty Publisher

Matsumoto City, Nagano: Matsumato City is famous for making temari, which are bouncing balls made from tightly-wound cotton
Photograph: Remo Camerota/Photos courtesy of Mark Batty Publisher

Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Photograph: Remo Camerota/Photos courtesy of Mark Batty Publisher

Yotsuya, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo Photograph: Remo Camerota/Photos courtesy of Mark Batty Publisher

Iizuka City, Fukuoka Photograph: Remo Camerota/Photos courtesy of Mark Batty Publisher

Okinawa Photograph: Remo Camerota/Photos courtesy of Mark Batty Publisher

Yamaguchi City, Yamaguchi Photograph: Remo Camerota/Photos courtesy of Mark Batty Publisher

Fukuchiyama, Hiroshima: This drain cover represents the annual Fukuchiyama festival dance, held in the city’s temple
Photograph: Remo Camerota/Photos courtesy of Mark Batty Publisher

Urayasu City, Chiba Photograph: Remo Camerota/Photos courtesy of Mark Batty Publisher

Takamatsu City, Kagawa: This cover is based on the Tale of the Heike, a medieval epic detailing a war between two clans for control of Japan
Photograph: Remo Camerota/Photos courtesy of Mark Batty Publisher

Hanzan, Marugame City, Kagawa Photograph: Remo Camerota/Photos courtesy of Mark Batty Publisher