Known officially as the Keihin Industrial Zone (京浜工業地帯), the factory skyline of Kawasaki transforms into a post-apocalyptic cyberpunk wonderland at night. The reflected factory lights and the crimson flare stacks create a mesmerizing and futuristic scene of the coastal industrial city. While some local buses take you within close range of the factory zone located near Tokyo and Yokohama, public transport to the area is scarce. So one of the best ways to view the otherworldly industrial structures is to take a night cruise along Kawasaki’s canals.
We booked this two-hour cruise that runs every Saturday from May to November. It costs 4,000 yen per adult (3,000 yen for elementary school children), with a capacity of 45 people. The tour takes passengers on a yakatabune (traditional Japanese houseboat) through the following canals:
- Shiohama Canal
- Ikegami Canal
- Tanabe Canal
- Minami-Toda Canal
- Keihin Canal
- Daishi Canal
- Chidori Canal
Since it was July, we met the tour operator at 6:20pm in front of Kawasaki Nikko Hotel at the east exit of Kawasaki Station. A bus then transported us, together with dozens of other participants, to the port where a boat awaited our arrival.
Enjoying the Kawasaki factory night cruise
With the sun not having fully set during the gorgeous summer months, the factories near the start may not be lighted up yet. But never fear, the boat will loop back at the end so you can see them in their full glory.
After the boat departs, you can go up to the rooftop deck to get an unobscured view of the mesmerizing industrial skyline. You are asked, however, not to stand in the middle of the deck to avoid blocking the captain’s view. The guide talks almost nonstop (Japanese only), providing insights into each of the power plants and factories.
While food is not included in the fare, you are welcome to bring your own snacks and non-alcoholic beverages onboard. As you won’t return to the station until around 9pm, it may be a good idea to do so if you tend to eat dinner early.
Getting those Instagrammable shots
Unfortunately, the constant movement of the boat makes taking long exposures impossible. Which means you will be hard pressed to get shots with silky smooth water and dreamy lights. I did bring my tripod along and was able to set it up, but getting non-blurry shots still proved to be a challenge.
Here are some of the better snaps I managed to get during our Kawasaki factory night cruise.
Other attractions on the cruise include an refinery belonging to Japanese petroleum giant ENEOS Corp. and a factory of its subsidiary Tonen Chemical Corp., as well as plants belonging to Asahi Kasei Corp. and JFE Steel Corp. Given the proximity to Haneda Airport, we also saw countless planes flying low after take off. But of course, photographing them was impractical.
Japan has plenty of other Instagrammable spots to offer. See the archives for more ideas!