Yokosuka's "Hidden" Soccer Park

An interesting and unique park, combining a soccer field and walking/jogging track with scenic greenery, is located in the middle of a residential area with narrow streets (Iriyamazu-Cho).  In a way it is "hidden", located off the beaten track, so to speak.

The name of the park is Hamayu Koen (はまゆう公園).

The reason for its unusual/isolated location is because the park was developed on what used to be the site of a large Japanese Imperial Army hospital.  In fact, the Iriyamazu district, back in the pre-World War II years, was the location for a large number of Army artillery and other units which were deployed to Yokosuka for coastal defense of Tokyo Bay.

The site was first used in 1890 for medical facilities which supported an Army Heavy Artillery Regiment.  The facilities were improved and expanded in 1907, and in 1936 construction of a large full-service Army Hospital was completed.

After the end of World War II, the hospital was used by civilian medical organizations until 1966.  Afterwards, the old Army Hospital building were torn down and plans were eventually made to build a public park on the cleared land.  Hamayu Koen was opened in 1988.

There are many places/parks in Yokosuka which have been converted from military to civilian use...