While most people might envision a concrete jungle when they think of the towering skyscrapers of Tokyo, I was surprised to find just how much nature fills every available nook and cranny within the city. In order to preserve the sanctity of parks and other natural areas in Tokyo and beyond, great measures have been taken to prevent litter and other byproducts of an urban environment from invading these green spaces.
Though Tokyo might be seen as a grey metropolis, nature is still a large aspect of life and culture in Japan. In order to provide a temporary escape from the hustle and bustle of city life, shrines, parks and other green areas are interspersed throughout Tokyo's various neighborhoods. No matter where you are, it's almost impossible to completely separate a natural area from the urban environment that surrounds it; litter, graffiti and garbage are present in almost every park that I've been to in America. With a population of nine million people just in Tokyo, the people of Japan are constantly working to keep their natural spaces free of refuse.
