The brilliant lights of the "White Castle" recycling factory against the night sky add to the enigmatic atmosphere of the industrial landscape of Kawasaki.
The coastal area of Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki City is renowned for its factory night views. And one of the buildings has captured the attention of onlookers. Standing at an impressive height of around 60 meters (197 feet), equivalent to a 20-story building, is the factory of the major chemical manufacturer Resonac. Factory enthusiasts call the building "White Castle" for the striking contrast of its brilliant white glow against the night sky.
Despite its imposing appearance, the factory is making a positive impact on the environment. In fact, it operates as a recycling facility. By using heat, it breaks down plastic and extracts carbon dioxide and hydrogen. The carbon dioxide is then put to use in various applications, including dry ice production. The hydrogen serves as a valuable raw material for chemical products.
If you're looking for an interesting weekend outing, factory sightseeing might just be the ticket.
工場夜景で有名な川崎市川崎区の沿岸部で、異彩を放つ建物に目を奪われた。大手化学メーカー「レゾナック」のプラントで、高さは20階建てのビルに相当する約60メートルもある。
リサイクル事業として、使用済みプラスチックを熱で分解し、二酸化炭素と水素を取り出している。二酸化炭素はドライアイスなどに、水素は薬品の原料に活用されているという。
夜空に白く輝くその様子から、一部の工場夜景ファンから「ホワイト・キャッスル」(白い城)と呼ばれているという。物々しい見た目とは裏腹に、地球環境に優しい施設だ。