Kumamoto Prefecture

Kumamoto is a prefecture on Kyushu island in southwestern Japan, covering about 2,860 square miles (7,400 square kilometers) from the active Mount Aso volcano to the coastline. Dense forests alternate with valleys where rice and vegetables grow.

The region was formerly called Higo Province and was renamed during the Meiji Restoration when it officially became a prefecture in 1871. This reorganization was part of a nationwide modernization of administrative systems.

The prefecture maintains traditional festivals throughout its cities, while Kumamoto Castle represents traditional Japanese military architecture with stone walls and multiple keeps.

The central position allows easy connections to other cities on Kyushu, with trains to Fukuoka in about 35 minutes and to Kagoshima in about 45 minutes. Local buses and rail lines reach towns and natural areas within the prefecture.

The Aso caldera within the prefecture is one of the largest volcanic craters in the world, measuring about 16 miles (25 kilometers) across and about 80 miles (128 kilometers) around. People live and farm fields directly inside this giant basin.

Location: Japan

Capital city: Kumamoto

Reference: 430005

Shares border with: Kagoshima Prefecture, Miyazaki Prefecture, Oita Prefecture, Fukuoka Prefecture

Website: https://pref.kumamoto.jp

GPS coordinates: 32.78972,130.74139

Latest update: December 15, 2025 00:12