Art of Lights Created by Cutting-Edge Technology: Yokkaichi Nighttime Factory Views

Written by Pete Leong

Yokkaichi is a city that has been involved in Japan’s economic development as an industrial city, with the first large-scale petrochemical complex in Japan built here around 1950-60. Since then it has gone on to grow into a mega factory complex known as Yokkaichi Industrial Complex. Although there were some pollution problems such as air and water pollution, the environment has been greatly improved in recent years by the efforts of the people.

The huge industrial complex looks inorganic in the daytime, but at night it comes alive as a massive illuminated jungle of pipes, towers, and tanks. It is almost as if you have entered the world of a science fiction movie or game. There are many fans who are fascinated by this scene, and there is even a word in Japan called “kojo moe” (“factory moe” means to enjoy looking at and taking pictures of factory scenery).

I am one of those who are fascinated by this night view and have visited Yokkaichi several times to take photos of the majestic metal wonderland. The best thing about Yokkaichi’s night views of factories is that there are many different spots to take pictures from, not only near the factories, but also at observation decks and parks a little farther away. And it is interesting to be able to capture different expressions of the scenery.

For even more fun, you can take a cruise ship to see the night view from the sea, which is also very powerful and allows for different views not available from the land. It is also nice to be able to photograph the scenes with the light shimmering on the water.
For more information about Yokkaichi Night View Cruise, visit: http://ykyc.jp/ (Japanese only)

On a recent trip, I checked out three locations around the port area where a couple of photographer enthusiast friends and I stopped to snag some shots.

We first visited the Yokkaichi Port Building, where you can catch an elevator up to the observation deck looking out over the shipping dockyard and factories for an awe-inspiring view. At the exhibition corner, we could learn about the history and role of Yokkaichi Port, with various types of information and large images on display.

In the center of the observation deck floor, there is a huge circular 3D map of Yokkaichi along with various models of the various ships that frequent port here. The 360-degree views over the bay and Yokkaichi City can be enjoyed from up here and also, of course, fantastic photo opportunities for photographers.

Opening hours: 10:00-17:00, until 21:00 on Sat., Sun., and national holidays (admission until 30 min. before closing)
Closed days: Wednesdays (If Wednesday is a national holiday, the deck will close the following weekday), December 29-January 3
Admission fee: 310 yen (high school student and older)
Address: Kasumi 2-1-1, Yokkaichi City, Mie

Tips: Rules for photography here state that when using a tripod it must be set quite low so as not to interfere with others enjoying the views. I highly recommend using either a rubber lens hood pressed against the glass windows or a hat or jacket to block reflections on the windows from the lights behind, which will lower image quality in a big way.

From here we headed off to visit a nearby newly-built bridge that I had seen on Instagram posts before. A tall and curvy bridge that leads from one side of the industrial area across a river to the port area. It is another great spot for photographers, with the bridge’s long curvy lines leading to the huge cranes used to load shipping containers onto cargo ships on the other side. The bridge lends itself to some fun and interesting photo compositions.
Address: Amagasukashinmachi, Yokkaichi City, Mie

Tips: I highly recommend bringing a flashlight for this location as it is quite dark and you wouldn’t want to fall into the water with your camera gear.

Tips: Again, a tripod is a must here to bring out the form of the bridge above along with the glow of the surrounding industrial lights. I also recommend bringing the widest lens you have in order to make the most of the dynamic bridge curves in your images.

We ventured off to check out one more potential location to take photos from. A friend had told us about the Yokkaichi Dome area, and what a fantastic view it is! The Dome is the main location in the city for sporting events and is located alongside one of the large rivers separating the factories from the main city area. Along the riverside is a promenade where people of all ages enjoy walks along the water, hanging out, and enjoying views across the river. From here we saw the river cruises taking people on rides for closer up views. But we opted to stay on land and set up our tripods for some interesting compositions of the steel jungle from across the river.

Tips: There is a large free car park in front of the dome to leave your car.