ISO 3166 code JP-43 Area 7,404 km² | Region Kyushu Area rank 16th Districts 9 | |
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Population 1.822 million (31 Mar 2012) Weather 7°C, Wind NE at 6 km/h, 79% Humidity Colleges and Universities Kumamoto University, Kumamoto Gakuen University, Prefectural University of Kuma, Sojo University, Kumamoto Health Science Points of interest | ||
hd aso kumamoto prefecture mount aso nabegataki falls
Kumamoto Prefecture (熊本県, Kumamoto-ken) is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyushu. The capital is the city of Kumamoto.
Contents
- hd aso kumamoto prefecture mount aso nabegataki falls
- Map of Kumamoto Prefecture Japan
- History
- Geography
- Cities
- Towns and villages
- Demographics
- Economy
- Tourism
- National
- Public
- Private
- Rail
- Tramway
- Expressways and toll roads
- National highways
- Ferry routes
- Airport
- Sports
- Sister cities
- Notable people
- References
Map of Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan
History
Historically, the area was called Higo Province; and the province was renamed Kumamoto during the Meiji Restoration. The creation of prefectures was part of the abolition of the feudal system. The current Japanese orthography for Kumamoto literally means "bear root/origin", or "origin of the bear".
Geography
Kumamoto Prefecture is in the center of Kyushu, the southernmost of the four major Japanese islands. It is bordered by the Ariake inland sea and the Amakusa archipelago to the west, Fukuoka Prefecture and Ōita Prefecture to the north, Miyazaki Prefecture to the east, and Kagoshima Prefecture to the south.
Mount Aso (1592 m), an extensive active volcano, is in the east of Kumamoto Prefecture. This volcano is located at the centre of the Aso caldera.
As of March 31, 2008, 21% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as natural parks: the Aso Kujū and Unzen-Amakusa National Parks; Kyūshū Chūō Sanchi and Yaba-Hita-Hikosan Quasi-National Parks; and Ashikita Kaigan, Itsuki Gokanoshō, Kinpōzan, Misumi-Ōyano Umibe, Okukuma, Shōtaisan, and Yabe Shūhen Prefectural Natural Parks.
Cities
Fourteen cities are located in Kumamoto Prefecture:
Towns and villages
These are the towns and villages in each district:
Demographics
The population is 1,812,255. The prefecture ranks 23rd in Japan. The population density is 244.76 people per square kilometer.
Economy
There is a Honda automobile plant.
Tourism
National
Public
Private
Rail
Tramway
Expressways and toll roads
National highways
Ferry routes
Airport
Sports
These sports teams are based in the prefecture:
Sister cities
Kumamoto Prefecture is the 'sister state/prefecture' of Montana in the United States.
Kumamoto has a sister city located in Texas named San Antonio, which holds an annual fall festival 'akimatsuri' for its Japanese citizens. In 2015 the mascot, 'Kumamon' visited as an honorary ambassador during the festival located at the Japanese Tea Gardens.