Shimomashiki district

Shimomashiki is an administrative district located in Kumamoto Prefecture in the southern part of Honshu. Today it encompasses Misato town, which serves as the main municipality within this regional division.

The district was established in 1879 as part of Japan's administrative reorganization during the Meiji modernization period. It has undergone several territorial changes since then, most notably a major merger in 2010 that significantly reduced the number of municipalities.

The district's name, written as 下益城郡 in Japanese characters, reflects the traditional naming conventions used in Japanese administrative divisions.

The district is accessible through Kumamoto Prefecture's local transportation network and road connections. Visitors will find standard facilities and services typical of rural Japanese communities in the area.

Multiple territorial reorganizations since 2004 have transformed Shimomashiki from a multi-town district into a single-municipality administrative region with 11,164 residents.

Location: Kumamoto Prefecture

Inception: January 20, 1879

GPS coordinates: 32.61500,130.86900

Latest update: December 10, 2025 15:53