WILLER EXPRESS is running a limited-time “Night to Enjoy Japanese Cuisine, Kawasaki Factory Night View, and Drone Show” tour. With the cooperation of the local government and local companies, this special tour offers a fantastic night view of the industrial area on the Kawasaki waterfront and a drone show at the Kawasaki Race Course. The popular “Kawasaki Factory Night View Course” has been offered in the past, but it is rare that a tour that also includes a drone show can be enjoyed. I accompanied this tour on its first day. The first day of the tour was packed not only with the press, but also with the general public as usual.
Note that tours using WILLER’s double-decker open-top restaurant buses have been in operation since 2017.
The tour fee, which includes a drone show and a Japanese course meal, starts at 15,800 yen per adult (3,000 yen discount for children). Drinks will be charged separately. The drone show is susceptible to wind, and may be cancelled immediately before the show if the wind speed exceeds 5 mph. In that case, the drone show fee will be refunded.
Tickets for the drone show only are also available (1,200 yen on weekdays, 1,500 yen on weekends and holidays, 800 yen for junior high and high school students, and free for elementary school students and younger), but these tickets do not include a post-show photo opportunity with the drones, but simply watch the show. Please note that the tour will meet at Tokyo Station and disperse at Kawasaki Station, which is a different location.
The short trip began with an evening departure at 16:45 in front of the Marunouchi Building at Tokyo Station. The view from the double-decker bus was extraordinary and uplifting.
They will proceed while looking up at the skyscrapers of central Tokyo, and Tokyo Tower will pass right next to us. At this time, the roof will be open so you can take full advantage of the view. Since winter nights are cold, the operation is to open the roof at key points.
After that, we enter the Metropolitan Expressway and head toward the Rainbow Bridge; the line of sight from the second floor is beyond the retaining wall of the Metropolitan Expressway, so it is nice to be able to fully enjoy the night view of the surrounding area.
When you arrive at the Kawasaki Industrial Complex Chidoricho Yard, you can get off the train and enjoy the night view from the recommended photo points of the factory night view. Return to the Metropolitan Expressway and take the Kawasaki Line around Ukishima. From here, you can see ENEOS’s oil refinery and other combineries in the distance, with their daytime lighting and smoke emissions. This sequence of steps is the highlight of the Night Views of Factories Tour.
The bus got off at Daishi JCT and proceeded to Kawasaki Racecourse, where the drone show would be held. We entered the Kawasaki Racecourse parking lot through an aisle that was originally used as an exit, but the aisle was just barely wide enough to enjoy a slightly thrilling ride.
Although we got off the bus to take pictures this time, they open the ceiling so that you can watch the drone show while eating in the car. You can also relax and enjoy the second half of the course, as the meal of boiled conger eel nigiri sushi, sweet and sour ginger, soup and dessert and after-meal drinks will be served here.
The drone show lasts about 10 minutes and features specially designed illustrations, such as the WILLER bus, in the night sky. The regular movements of the drones and the animated light effects were so interesting that we forgot about the cold weather and enjoyed the show. We recorded a video of the show, but it would be a spoiler, so if you want to participate in the tour, you may not want to watch it until the day of the tour.
The show is performed by Kanazawa-based Drone Show Japan, which has staged shows at concert venues and in various locations. They have developed “unika,” an aircraft specially designed for domestic drone shows, and use it for all of their shows. When you hold it, it is unexpectedly light (weighing 530g). Tour participants can touch the drone after the show and take commemorative photos. This is a very valuable experience. However, drones are expensive, so please be careful when touching them.
Heading toward Kawasaki Station in the afterglow of the show. The party will be held next to La Cittadella in front of the east exit of Kawasaki Station. It is still around 8:30 p.m., but it is still possible to have a second party if there is not enough to drink.
The second half of this tour will be held in February from the 10th to the 14th, coinciding with Valentine’s Day. This is an extraordinary short trip with a romantic and slightly mysterious atmosphere, where you can enjoy the beautiful night view from the train window, delicious Japanese food, and even a drone show as an added attraction. It is especially recommended for those with a curious mind. We hope you will invite your loved ones to enjoy this special night.
© Source travel watch
Auto Amazon Links: No products found.
Auto Amazon Links: No products found.