As I was waiting with all the other guests to board, I didn't know what to expect, especially since the little boat wasn't quite what I had imagined at first. But actually, this made things more exciting, and the cruise would lose much of its impact were it a boring large ship. On board, there's room for 30 guests, and the crowd was really mixed, with couples and groups of friends of all ages. I got a place on a bench close to the back railing and enjoyed the swaying of the boat. Then we finally put out to sea. The motor made the vessel vibrate so much where I was sitting, it really felt like some funny, weird massage. The wind was strong and it was freezing, so many of the guests quickly went below deck where they enjoyed a "warmer" view from the windows. The boat was rocking up and down so hard, I felt sorry for those prone to seasickness.

Slowly the sun started setting over Yokohama's bay and I have never seen this city in such a beautiful sunset light before. I'm taken between capturing every moment with the camera and trying to burn the breathtaking view it into my mind's eye. A pleasant solitude wraps around me as the view and the winter's iciness enter my body. The Yokohama Bay Bridge comes closer on the right side and suddenly looks so small compared to the factory premises we are about to enter. The lights of the big round tanks are reflected in the water and the smell of petrol just makes this all even more perfect. More and more factory buildings appear on both sides of the shores and seem to envelop us suddenly, leading us to a different world… and somehow the dark atmosphere reminds me of George Orwell's "1984". We're alone on a silent black sea and nobody knows what comes next.

A dramatic view is spread out before me and it's as if a requiem plays as background music. All of a sudden the boat slows down and just sways. As I stand up to take pictures of the enormous worksite in front of me, I have to take care not to fall off the boat as the railing isn't that high, and the water, accompanied by darkness and factory lights, pulls you down hypnotically if you stare too long.
The adventure requires its first victims as one guy surrenders to seasickness and leans over the railing for relief while one of his friends pats his back in comfort.

The next stop we make is in a no-man's-land of buildings - these giants that are frightening and friendly all at once and seem to be looking down on us. The journey continues as we pass an enormous ship, the Holy Victoria, and as if mockingly, you can read "NO SMOKING" in large red letters on her. More and more stars come out and the night gets chillier by the second. My fingers are shaking so hard by now that I can hardly steady myself while holding the camera. But the chilliness feels strangely good. The bigger part of your senses is completely lost; there's only the sea and your eyes that take in the lights. These construction sites that are so gloomy and gray during the day and don't attract anybody's attention, become a breathtaking spectacle at night – a different world, a different planet. This wouldn't be Japan if it weren't for the typical trees peeking out between the warehouses from time to time.

As the boat slowly makes its way back to the shores, we get to have the final, most impressive encounter with a site, emanating fume like clouds of an apocalypse – the curtain call to act one of this drama.
Sadly, this piece had to come to an end after a mere 90 minutes – so long and yet too short. A small lighthouse welcomes us, as we get closer to Yokohama city, which offers such a beautiful view with the lights of the city and the big Ferris wheel.

After the cruise I was able to talk to the manager of the KMC Yokohama Marina, Mr. Imai, for a while and he told me that in fact, Ridley Scott, the famous director, saw the night view of the sites in the past as well, and it's said that they became an inspiration for his movie "Blade Runner". It's also said that "Gotham City" was inspired by the very same scenery. And it just seemed too clear and logical, since I felt exactly the same when I saw it.

Maybe it's due to my love for the sea, that it became such a liberating experience for me. It might also be because I love boats and get excited by the mere thought of stepping onto one. All I can say is that, if ever you should get the chance to come to Yokohama, this is an adventure you really shouldn't miss out on. A completely different and dramatic dimension of a place usually unnoticed.