Narimasu American High School was located in Grant Heights.  It's also where many of us lived.  The map at the left is one of the few remaining artifacts of the base layout. Click on it for a larger view.  After all the Americans left, it became Hikarigaoka Housing Complex and Park.  There's no way you can recognize anything that used to be, so just enjoy what it's become ..  a spectacular park that is home to thousands of birds .. and a few weird ducks.

 
 

	102. Hikarigaoka Housing Complex and Park.  Grant Heights was here. 103. Shakuji Park 104. Kamishakujii Apt. House 105. Oizumi Chuo Park 147. Musashi University 148. Toshimaen
These are all of the wards (-ku) of Tokyo.  Grant Heights was in Nerima-ku (northwest section). Washington Heights was in Shibuya-ku, an hour's school bus ride away.

Click on any picture outlined in red for a larger version.

Hikarigaoka Park: 1.5 km south of either Narimasu Station on Tobu Tojosen Line or Subway Narimasu Station.	Apartments for local citizens were built at the former site of the U.S. military housing area called Grant Heights. People started moving into here in 1983.	The entire apartment complex of 11,000 units was completed in 1992.  Almost half of the space within the complex is made up of parks and public gardens.

The Toei subway line No. 12 has been extended to Shinjuku, which caused debate on the environmental effect .. the park is a major bird sanctuary.	Local residents of neighboring Doshida, where there is still a lot of farmland left, have formed a group to lobby in favor of the further extension of the subway line.	At the same time, there are some people in this area who are dead against it. There are NIMBY's (not in my backyard!) everywhere.

Click on any picture outlined in red for a larger version.

More and more people have started coming here from all different places ever since the Toei subway line No. 12 opened. The subway is convenient and the fare is inexpensive.	The viewing of the flowering of the cherry blossoms during springtime is similar to Ueno Park in Tokyo .. lots of blue plastic .. it's just not as crazy. The lifestyle is more relaxed in the suburbs.	The visitors to Hikarigaoka Park are not like those thronging to Yoyogi Park .. a lot less people .. who are a lot less exhibitionist.  Like kids everywhere, they just want to have fun.

Sakura and high rises.	Sakura - cherry blossoms.	A tree in full bloom.

Click on any picture outlined in red for a larger version.

Let's take a leisurely little trip through the seasons at this amazing preserve.  What you can't hear now is the stereo sound inside the greenery of the thousands of birds in the sanctuary.	Spring	The flowers, plants and trees of Hikarigaoka Park are a wonder in any season.  Where we once learned math and literature, Japanese children now learn nature.

	Spring

Click on any picture outlined in red for a larger version.

	Spring

	Summer

Click on any picture outlined in red for a larger version.

	Summer

	Summer

Click on any picture outlined in red for a larger version.

	Fall

	Fall

Click on any picture outlined in red for a larger version.

	Fall

	Fall

Click on any picture outlined in red for a larger version.

	Fall

	Winter

Click on any picture outlined in red for a larger version.

	Winter

King Henry V, Act 5, Scene 2 - Wm. Shakespeare

Contents