Yodobashi Dai 4's Secret?

Question

I'm visiting @Tokyo next month and stumbled upon this school while planning my itinerary. It's not exactly a tourist spot, which intrigues me. My grandpa, who lived in Shinjuku his whole life, always spoke of Yodobashi Dai 4 with a twinkle in his eye, whispering about some legendary playground equipment...or maybe it was a school legend? He never quite explained. Anyone know anything about the actual playground or any hidden school traditions? Or is it just regular school stuff?

jennyjuergens · Answer

honestly i think your grandpa might have been talking about the old "monkey bars" that used to be there back in the 70s. they were these massive concrete structures that looked like giant spider webs, not the standard metal ones. a few old-timers in the neighborhood still mention them when they talk about the school's renovation in the 80s. the current playground is pretty generic now, just slides and swings like any other school in shinjuku. your grandpa prob just had fond memories of climbing those things as a kid

nina · Answer

theres a small shrine tucked behind the school, like literally in the back corner of the playground. most people walk right past it but if you duck behind the storage shed youll see it. old folks in the neighborhood say students used to leave little offerings there before exams, like coins or candy. your grandpa mightve been talking about that, its not really a school thing but more of a local secret. the playground itself is nothing special now though, just standard stuff from the 90s renovation

sanna · Answer

Huh, Yodobashi Dai 4... My old sensei used to teach near there. Never heard playground legends, though. It's a pretty standard school, from what I remember, lots of after-school clubs, though. Maybe your grandpa was thinking of something else entirely? Maybe a different school nearby? Old timers sometimes get their wires crossed, especially with place names. Or... maybe he was just pulling your leg. Grandpas are notorious for that. Good luck finding out though! Let me know if you uncover anything interesting.

christl · Answer

I've heard from a buddy who went there that the real secret is the rooftop. Apparently you can see Mt. Fuji on a clear day if you know the exact spot, and students would sneak up there during lunch to hang out. Not sure if it's still accessible now with all the safety stuff, but your grandpa might have been one of those kids.

anna · Answer

yeah the spider web monkey bars thing is probably it. i remember my dad talking about some "dinosaur bones" playground at a school in shinjuku, turned out to be these huge concrete tunnel things they tore down in the 90s. old schools here had wild stuff before safety regulations kicked in

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