Rain gardens offer a balanced solution for managing urban stormwater near Tokyo

Urban flooding is becoming a growing concern in densely developed neighborhoods, where paved surfaces limit infiltration and intense rainfall can overwhelm drainage systems. Low impact development measures, such as rain barrels (RBs) and rain gardens (RGs), help manage stormwater close to where it falls. RBs collect rooftop runoff for later nonpotable use, while RGs use vegetated depressions and soil to encourage infiltration.