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There is a very nice and large park located on a bluff along the west coast of Yokosuka City. It is called "Soleil no Oka", which can be translated as "Sunshine Hill". The park has wide open green areas, fields of flowers, amusement facilities, restaurant, etc., and also a large (pay) parking lot. Its location is a bit off the beaten track, so to speak, but once you learn the way to get there, it is a quick and convenient drive. Of interest, one of the reasons why such an expansive park like Soliel No Oka exists in the otherwise-crowded Yokosuka & Miura Peninsula area, is due to the site's unique history. Towards the end of World War II, in 1945, Japan's Imperial Navy decided to build an air base on top of the Nagai bluff, which was a strategic location overlooking the Pacific Ocean approaches to Sagami Bay. So, a long runway, hangars, and other airfield buildings and facilities were built at Nagai Air Base. Its mission was to launch aircraft (including "Kamikaze" bombers) defend Japan from U.S. & Allied forces trying to land on Japanese soil. But, as things turned out, Japan surrendered before that happened, so Nagai Air Base was never actually used for combat operations. Instead, after being taken over by U.S. Occupation authorities, many wooden-frame, Western-style, dwellings were built there, as the Japanese naval air base was converted into the U.S. Navy's "Nagai Family Housing Area". Nagai was used by American military-associated families until 1983, when it was finally closed and returned to the government of Japan. In the years that followed, it was eventually decided that the area would be converted into a park, and Soleil No Oka was built and then opened for business in April 2005. Of note, the park is currently undergoing a major renovation and will be reopened this coming April. In a future article we will look in more detail at park and its facilities/attractions. We hope you will be able to visit and enjoy Soleil No Oka park while you live here! 　　

written by Goodfield

Link: https://us.iino.cc/sp/blog/blog.html?eid=00031