We will introduce Yokkaichi's factory night view photography spots such as Yokkaichi Port Building Umiterasu 14 with a map

Introducing Yokkaichi's factory night view photography spots! I actually went to take a photo.

Let's start with the night view from the most popular spot, Yokkaichi Port Building Umiterasu 14 (Map ①), which has been certified as a Japan Night View Heritage Site. The night view of the Yokkaichi Industrial Complex spreading out from a height of about 90 meters is truly spectacular! Since you can take pictures from inside the observation room, you can take stable pictures regardless of the temperature or wind. On Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, the museum is open until 21:00.

You will be filming through glass, but you can borrow a blackout curtain if you ask the person in charge. There may be reflections from the glass surface, so be careful when taking pictures. *Please note that the number of blackout curtains is limited. If you have one, we recommend that you bring it with you. By the way, there were not only couples, couples, and families in the observation gallery, but also many people who came alone to take photos.

When shooting, a wide-angle to standard lens is best, but a telephoto lens is also recommended. In addition to taking photos with a panoramic view, why not try taking photos that capture part of the factory? It is convenient to have a zoom lens such as 28-300mm. Beautiful photos are posted on the Yokkaichi Port Building Umiterasu 14 homepage. Events are also being held, so please check them out.
Opening hours: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm, until 9:00 pm on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays *Last admission 30 minutes before closing
Admission fee: General (high school students and above) 300 yen, junior high school students and below
Free parking: Yes
URL: Yokkaichi Port Building

Next is Map ② Kasumigaura Ryokuchi Park and spots around Yokkaichi Dome. There is a road on the sea side of Yokkaichi Dome, and it is a canal about 200 meters long. There are several spots to take photos, but you can also take advantage of the lights reflected on the canal. If you put a round tank in it, it will be a cute (?) photo.

There is a parking lot so you can take photos while enjoying the night view. This is a spacious spot where you can take photos, so if you use a wide-angle lens, you can take beautiful photos where the lights line up horizontally. I shot it with 24mm, but there was a handrail in it (I noticed it after I got home...). I think it would be better to have a higher tripod.

The next photo was taken from the embankment next to Taisho Bridge on Map ③, right next to National Route 23. It's quite a major spot, and you can take beautiful pictures even though it's easy to take pictures. The photos, which clearly show each and every pipe, look like something out of a science fiction movie.

The light reflected on the Mitaki River is also impressive. There is an embankment, so if you have a mini tripod placed on top of it, you can take pictures at the angle of view you are aiming for. When using a regular tripod, you need something quite expensive. There is no parking lot, so please park at Mitaki Park before walking. Please be careful as National Route 23 has a lot of traffic even at night.

Map ④ Aioi Bridge within walking distance from Taisho Bridge. You can also take photos of boats moored on the river. Shoot in the same direction as when shooting from Taisho Bridge.

The boats and lights reflected on the water are also beautiful. Mie Tourism regularly holds photo contests, and this is a popular spot where photos are often posted. Tourism Mie Photo Contest

Map ⑤ Photo spot from Showa Yokkaichi Oil Minami in Shiohama area. If you take photos from the embankment, you can take pictures of the entire factory, so this is a recommended photo spot.

When a car passes by, you can also take a photo of the lights, so if you stick with it, you might be able to get a good photo. It's at the mouth of the river, so there's a lot of wind, and even with a tripod, it's easy to shake. We recommend using a tripod that is large and heavy. Although not shown in the photo, you can also take photos from near the factory. There is a lot of traffic from the factory, so be careful when taking pictures.

Map ⑥ Photo from Tarusaka Park. The photo will be taken from the mountain side instead of the seaside, so the atmosphere will be quite different from the previous photos.

The photo will be taken from the observation deck, but the road to the photo spot is dark, so bring a handy light.

*Precautions when taking photos: Please do not enter the premises of industrial complexes or private land.
・If you go by car, be careful where you park to avoid illegal parking.
・Activities late at night can be dangerous, so if possible, take photos before 9pm.
・Since there are many photo spots along the coast, please take precautions against the cold, especially in winter.

Simple methods for photographing factory night views
-Use a digital single-lens reflex camera or mirrorless camera. You can easily decide on the composition by shooting in live view (a shooting method that allows you to check the shooting method on the LCD).
- Set the focus to a bright area. Autofocus may not work in dark conditions, so use manual focus in such cases.
・Aperture priority (A) is easy to set the camera mode. If you want to make the image brighter, you can increase the exposure, but be careful as it can cause blurring.
- Set the ISO value between 100 and 800. Anything above this will result in noise and grainy photos.
・The aperture varies depending on the camera, but it should be set to around F8 to F11.
-Use a timer for the shutter, and setting it to 2 to 6 seconds will reduce camera shake.
- Once you get used to it, start shooting in RAW. You can adjust the hue, exposure, saturation, etc.

This time's photography equipment Nikon D750, OLYMPUS E-M5 Mark II