Throwing shade: Japan's urban tree coverage dwindles, bucking global trend

Green shade is becoming harder to find in Japan, especially in major cities such as Tokyo, as multi-unit housing replaces homes with gardens and local governments favor low-maintenance tree species.

Tokyo lags behind desert-enclosed Phoenix, Arizona, in green canopy cover

TOKYO -- Tokyo and other sprawling Japanese cities still boast a number leafy oases offering locals and visitors alike respite from the sun's scorching rays and the hustle and bustle of life. But verdant spots such as the capital's Imperial Palace and Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden belie an alarming trend: Urban tree shade is shrinking around the East Asian nation, even as it increases in many other countries.