Making the streets in the nation's capital more accessible ahead of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2020 — particularly for those with disabilities — will come at a cost.
And for Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward, that means 70 platanus trees are on the chopping block as part of a plan to expand sidewalks, prompting strong protests from local residents.
If Chiyoda Ward goes ahead with its plan, the trees lining Meidai Street surrounded by Meiji University and other university campuses will be cut down and replaced by magnolia trees.