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Kyushu Island in Japan

Monday, 16 October 2017 - 11:00 am (CET/MEZ) Berlin | Author/Destination: Asia / Asien
Category/Kategorie: General Reading Time:  25 minutes

🔊 Listen to this Post Kyushu or Kiushu is the third biggest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternative ancient names include Kyūkoku, Chinzei, and Tsukushi-no-shima. The historical regional name Saikaidō referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands. As of 2016, Kyushu has a population of 13 million and covers 36,782 square kilometres (14,202 sq mi). The island is mountainous, and Japan’s most active volcano, Mount Aso at 1,591 metres (5,220 ft), is on Kyushu. There are many other signs of tectonic activity, including numerous areas of hot springs. The most famous of these are in Beppu, on the east shore, and around Mt. Aso, in central Kyushu. The island is separated from Honshu by the Kanmon Straits. Today’s Kyushu Region is a politically defined region that consists of the seven prefectures on the island of Kyushu (which also includes the former Tsushima and Iki as part of Nagasaki), plus Okinawa Prefecture to the south. The region, without the Okinawa Prefecture, includes 2159 islands with a total area of 5450 km².

Most of Kyushu’s population is concentrated along the northwest, in the cities of Fukuoka and Kitakyushu, with population corridors stretching southwest into Sasebo and Nagasaki and south into Kumamoto and Kagoshima. Excepting Oita and Miyazaki cities, the eastern seaboard shows a general decline in population. Parts of Kyushu have a subtropical climate, particularly Miyazaki prefecture and Kagoshima prefecture. Major agricultural products are rice, tea, tobacco, sweet potatoes, and soy; silk is also widely produced. The island is noted for various types of porcelain, including Arita, Imari, Satsuma, and Karatsu. Heavy industry is concentrated in the north around Fukuoka, Kitakyushu, Nagasaki, and Oita and includes chemicals, automobiles, semiconductors, and metal processing. The island is linked to the larger island of Honshu by the Kanmon Tunnels, which carry both the Sanyō Shinkansen and non-Shinkansen trains of the Kyushu Railway Company, as well as vehicular, pedestrian, and bicycle traffic. The Kanmon Bridge also connects the island with Honshu. Railways on the island are operated by the Kyushu Railway Company, and Nishitetsu Railway. Read more on WelcomeKyushu.com, japan-guide.com – Kyushu, LonelyPlanet.com – Kyushu, Wikitravel Kyushu, Wikivoyage Kyushu and Wikipedia Kyushu (Smart Traveler App by U.S. Department of State - Weather report by weather.com - Global Passport Power Rank - Travel Risk Map - Democracy Index - GDP according to IMF, UN, and World Bank - Global Competitiveness Report - Corruption Perceptions Index - Press Freedom Index - World Justice Project - Rule of Law Index - UN Human Development Index - Global Peace Index - Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index). Photos by Wikimedia Commons. If you have a suggestion, critique, review or comment to this blog entry, we are looking forward to receive your e-mail at comment@wingsch.net. Please name the headline of the blog post to which your e-mail refers to in the subject line.





Content

• Fukuoka Prefecture
• Kagoshima Prefecture
• Kumamoto Prefecture
• Miyazaki Prefecture
• Nagasaki Prefecture
• Ōita Prefecture
• Okinawa Prefecture
• Saga Prefecture

Fukuoka Prefecture
The prefecture has a population of 5.1 million, Fukuoka City 1.6 million. The capital of the prefecture is the city of Fukuoka. Fukuoka is the economic center of the Kyushu region, with an economy largely focused on the service sector. Fukuoka city is also the largest startup city in Japan, and is the only economic zone for startup. They have various services for startups like startup visa, tax reduction and free business consultations for startups. Fukuoka city has the No.1 opening business rate in Japan. Fukuoka hosts more than 2 million foreign visitors annually, with the majority coming from neighboring South Korea and China. From the early 2010s Hakata became the beneficiary of significant growth in cruise ship tourism; particularly with visitors from China. After expansion and redevelopment of the Hakata Port international passenger ship terminal, the number of cruise ship port calls in 2016 is expected to exceed 400. Nearly ten thousand international students attend universities in or near the Fukuoka prefecture each year. Nearly 200 international conferences are held each year in Fukuoka. Sky Dream Fukuoka, located in Fukuoka City’s western ward, was one of the world’s largest Ferris wheels at a height of 120 meters. It was closed on September 2009. Fukuoka Castle located adjacent to Ohori Park in Maizuru Park features the remaining stone walls and ramparts left after a devastating fire during the upheaval of the Meiji Restoration. It has now been preserved along with some reconstructed prefabricate concrete towers constructed during the 1950s and 1960s, when there was a trend across Japan to rebuild damaged castles as tourist attractions. Ōhori Park is also the location of one of Fukuoka City’s major art galleries. There is a newly opened Kyushu National Museum in nearby Dazaifu. The Marine Park Uminonakamichi is located on a narrow cape on the northern side of the Bay of Hakata. The park has an amusement park, petting zoo, gardens, beaches, a hotel, and a large marine aquarium which opened in 1989. For tourists from other parts of Japan, local foods such as mentaiko, Hakata ramen and motsunabe are associated with Fukuoka. Yatai (street stalls) serving ramen can be found in Tenjin and Nakasu most evenings. Fukuoka Tower is near the beach in Momochi. Itoshima, which can be found to the west of Fukuoka city, has recently become a very popular tourist destination. There are many beaches along the coast, notably Futamigaura beach, where there is a famous Shinto shrine in the ocean, and Keya beach, which hosts the annual Sunset Live festival every September. Inland, there is the Shingon Buddhist temple called Raizan Sennyoji, where there are many Buddhist statues and stunning autumn foliage. The most popular place for tourism is Fukuoka City, especially at the time of the Dontaku festival, and Dazaifu, although Kitakyūshū has tried to attract tourists. Fukuoka prefecture’s main cities form one of Japan’s main industrial centers, accounting for nearly 40% of the economy of Kyūshū. Major industries include automobiles, semiconductors, and steel. Fukuoka prefecture is where tire manufacturer Bridgestone and consumer electronics chain Best Denki were founded. Read more on Fukuoka Prefecture, Fukuoka Tourism, Wikivoyage Fukuoka Prefecture and Wikipedia Fukuoka Prefecture.

Kagoshima Prefecture
Kagoshima is the capital city of Kagoshima Prefecture at the south western tip of the island of Kyushu in Japan, and the largest city in the prefecture by some margin. It has been nicknamed the “Naples of the Eastern world” for its bay location (Aira Caldera), hot climate, and emblematic stratovolcano, Sakurajima. Kagoshima Prefecture is located on the Satsuma Peninsula and Ōsumi Peninsula. This prefecture also includes a chain of islands stretching further to the southwest of Kyushu for a few hundred kilometers. The most important group is the Amami Islands. The prefecture boasts a chain of active and dormant volcanoes, including the great Sakurajima, which towers out of the Kagoshima bay opposite Kagoshima city. A steady trickle of smoke and ash emerges from the caldera, punctuated by louder mini-eruptions on an almost daily basis. On active days in Kagoshima city an umbrella is advisable to ward off the ash. Sakurajima is one of Japan’s most active volcanoes. Major eruptions occurred in 1914, when the island mountain spilled enough material to become permanently connected to the mainland, and a lesser eruption in 1960. Volcanic materials in the soil make Sakurajima a source for record daikon radishes, roughly the size of a basketball. Many beaches around the Kagoshima Bay are littered with well-worn pumice stones. A crater lake in the southwestern tip of the prefecture, near the spa town of Ibusuki, is home to a rare species of giant eel. Most of the economic sector is focused in Kagoshima City and the surrounding area, corresponding to the extent of the former Satsuma Province. The eastern part of the prefecture, the former Ōsumi Province, is mostly rural and shows a general population decline. The prefecture has strong agricultural roots, which are reflected in its most well-known exports: green tea, sweet potato, radish, Pongee rice, Satsuma ware and Berkshire pork (“kurobuta”). Kagoshima prefecture’s production of bonito flakes is second only to that of Shizuoka. In addition it produces Japan’s largest volume of unagi eels. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has several facilities within the prefecture, including the country’s main launch facility on Tanegashima and the Uchinoura Space Center. The prefecture has 1.6 million inhabitants, of whom 600,000 live in Kagoshima City. Read more on Kagoshima Prefecture, Kagoshima Tourism, Wikivoyage Kagoshima Prefecture und Wikipedia Kagoshima Prefecture.

Kumamoto Prefecture
The capital is the city of Kumamoto. The city’s most famous landmark is Kumamoto Castle, a large and, in its day, extremely well fortified Japanese castle. The donjon (castle central keep) is a concrete reconstruction built in the 1970s, but several ancillary wooden buildings remain of the original castle, which was assaulted during the Satsuma Rebellion and sacked and burned after a 53-day siege. It was during this time that the tradition of eating basashi (raw horse meat) originated. Basashi remains popular in Kumamoto and, to a lesser extent, elsewhere in Japan, though these days it is usually considered a delicacy. Within the outer walls of Kumamoto Castle is the Hosokawa Gyobu-tei, the former residence of the Higo daimyo. This traditional wooden mansion has a fine Japanese garden located on its grounds. Miyamoto Musashi lived the last part of his life in Kumamoto. His tomb and the cave where he resided during his final years (known as Reigandō, or “spirit rock cave”) is situated close by. He penned the famous Go Rin no Sho (The Book of Five Rings) whilst living here. Kumamoto is also home to Suizen-ji Jōju-en, a formal garden neighboring Suizenji Temple approximately 3 kilometers southeast of Kumamoto Castle. A notable shrine is Takahashi Inari Shrine. The downtown area has a commercial district centred on two shopping arcades, the Shimotori and Kamitori, which extend for several city blocks. The main department stores are located here along with a vast number of smaller retailers, restaurants, and bars. Many local festivals are held in or near the arcades. Cultural venues include the Kumamoto Prefectural Museum of Art and Kumamoto Prefectural Theater. Historically, the Kumamoto Prefecture 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”. Sites of interests are Mount Aso (one of the world’s largest active volcanoes), Kumamoto Castle, Suizenji Park, and Tsūjun Bridge, the largest stone aqueduct in Japan is in Yamato. The prefecture has 1.8 million inhabitants, of whom 740,000 live in Kumamoto City. Other important cities are Yatsushiro, Hitoyoshi, Minamata, and Kikuchi. Read more on Kumamoto Prefecture, Kumamoto Tourism, Kumamoto Guide, Wikivoyage Kumamoto Prefecture and Wikipedia Kumamoto Prefecture.

Miyazaki Prefecture
The capital is the city of Miyazaki. Located on the coast and crossed by several rivers, Miyazaki City enjoys scenic views of both ocean and nearby, verdant mountains. A popular resort destination for Japanese tourists, the city offers many attractions, including the SeaGaia event center (though the indoor ocean facility is no longer operational), the Phoenix Zoo, and many large hotels and onsens (public baths). The city is the primary shopping destination for eastern Kyushu residents in smaller towns around the prefecture. Miyazaki Airport and Miyazaki seaport serve the city. Points of interest are Miyazaki-jingū, a shrine in the city’s center, is one of Miyazaki’s sacred dedications to Japan’s first emperor, Jinmu. Heiwadai Tower or “Peace Tower” (also known as the Hakkō ichiu monument), in the expansive Heiwadai park, is a must-see for tourists. Originally the “Tower of the Emperor,” symbolizing Japanese imperial expansion, it was renamed for peace after the events of World War II. Aoshima Island and shrine, only minutes south of the city, boasts some rare rock formations known as the Devil’s Washboard among a peaceful beach setting, and is a popular relaxation and play destination for locals and travelers alike. The fascinating Aoshima Subtropical Botanical Garden is also located nearby. The Citizen’s Forest. a Large park near Phoenix Zoo. Located on its grounds is the Misogi-ike, Pound of Purification, that according to legend is the birthplace of the sun goddess Amaterasu. The Ikimen Burial Mounds are located in Miyzaki and include the Ikime-no-mori Yukokan, Activity Centre, where visitors learn the history of the burial mounds and learn about ancient activities. Miyazaki City is known for its excellent surfing conditions year-round, and Kisakihama Beach, Aoshima Beach, and Shirahama Beach are popular surfing spots all within the city limits. The prefecture has 1.1 million inhabitants, of whom 400,000 live in Miyazaki City. Other important cities are Ebino, Nichinan, Nobeoka and Saito. Read more on Miyazaki Prefecture, Miyazaki Tourism and Wikipedia Miyazaki Prefecture.

Nagasaki Prefecture
Nagasaki borders Saga Prefecture on the east, and is otherwise surrounded by water, including Ariake Bay, the Tsushima Straits, and the East China Sea. It also includes a large number of islands such as Tsushima and Iki. Most of the prefecture is near the coast and there are a number of ports such as Nagasaki and a United States Navy base at Sasebo. The capital is the city of Nagasaki. It became a centre of Portuguese and Dutch influence in the 16th through 19th centuries, and the Churches and Christian Sites in Nagasaki have been proposed for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Part of Nagasaki was home to a major Imperial Japanese Navy base during the First Sino-Japanese War and Russo-Japanese War. Its name means “long cape”. During World War II, the American atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki made Nagasaki the second and, to date, last city in the world to experience a nuclear attack. The city was rebuilt after the war, albeit dramatically changed. The pace of reconstruction was slow. The first simple emergency dwellings were not provided until 1946. The focus on redevelopment was the replacement of war industries with foreign trade, shipbuilding and fishing. This was formally declared when the Nagasaki International Culture City Reconstruction Law was passed in May 1949. New temples were built, as well as new churches owing to an increase in the presence of Christianity. Some of the rubble was left as a memorial, such as a one-legged torii at Sannō Shrine and an arch near ground zero. New structures were also raised as memorials, such as the Atomic Bomb Museum. Nagasaki remains first and foremost a port city, supporting a rich ship building industry and setting a strong example of perseverance and peace. The prefecture has 1.4 million inhabitants, of whom 420,000 live in Nagasaki City. Other important cities are Sasebo, Shimabara, Isahaya, Ōmura, Hirado, and Tsushima. Read more on Nagasaki Prefecture, Nagasaki Tourism and Wikipedia Nagasaki Prefecture.

Ōita Prefecture
The prefectural capital is the city of Ōita. On January 1, 2005, the town of Notsuharu (from Ōita District) and the town of Saganoseki (from Kitaamabe District) were merged into Ōita. During the 1960s and 1970s, an industrial region was formed along the Beppu Gulf coast. Among the plants in the region were flagship plants of Nippon Steel and Showa Denko. In the 1970s, Toshiba and Canon built and expanded their plants in inland area. By then, the city emerged as a major production center of electronics products such as LSIs and digital cameras. The downtown and shopping districts are located to the north of Oita Station. Recently, however, the area has been gradually declining, because the main commercial areas have been dispersed due to the construction of big shopping malls in the suburbs. Takasaki mountain that borders Beppu is famous for wild monkeys, specifically the Japanese macaque. At the entrance to the Takasaki-yama park is the “Marine Palace” aquarium, also known as “Umi Tamago”, or “Sea Egg”. The Ōita Stadium, also known as Big Eye or Kyushu Oil Dome, is situated along the city expressway. It is the home field of the J.League football club Oita Trinita and is used for large local events. In the middle of the city, there are many shops and department stores. Some major departmental stores include Tokiwa, Parco, Frespo Kasugaura, and D Plaza. There are also shopping malls in the suburbs, such as Tokiwa Wasada Town and Park Place Oita. Outside the city, scenic spots include mountain plateaus, seaside villages and towns renowned for onsen (geothermal hot springs). Ōita is also famous for the intestines of puffer fish. Toriten is another famous food in this city. The prefecture has 1.2 million inhabitants, of whom 480,000 live in Ōita City. Other important cities are Beppu, Nakatsu, Saiki, Hita, Usa und Kitsuki. Read more on Ōita Prefecture, Ōita Tourism, Wikivoyage Ōita Prefecture and Wikipedia Ōita Prefecture.

Okinawa Prefecture
Okinawa Prefecture is the southernmost prefecture of Japan. It comprises hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands in a chain over 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) long. The Ryukyus extend southwest from Kyushu (the southwesternmost of Japan’s four main islands) to Taiwan. The Okinawa Prefecture encompasses the southern two thirds of that chain. Although Okinawa comprises just 0.6 percent of Japan’s total land mass, about 75 percent of all U.S. military installations stationed in Japan are assigned in Okinawa. Currently about 26,000 of the U.S. troops deployed in Japan are based in the prefecture. Despite widespread destruction during World War II, there are many remains of a unique type of castle or fortress known as gusuku; the most significant are now inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List (Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu). In addition, twenty-one Ryukyuan architectural complexes and thirty-six historic sites have been designated for protection by the national government. Whereas most homes in Japan are made from wood and allow free-flow of air to combat humidity, typical modern homes in Okinawa are made from concrete with barred windows to protect from flying plant debris and to withstand regular typhoons. Roofs are designed with strong winds in mind, where each tile is cemented on and not merely layered as seen with many homes in Japan. Many roofs also display a lion-dog statue, called a shisa, which is said to protect the home from danger. Roofs are typically red in color and are inspired by Chinese design. Karate originated in Okinawa. Over time, it developed into several styles and sub-styles. On Okinawa, the three main styles are considered to be Shōrin-ryū, Gōjū-ryū and Uechi-ryū. Internationally, the various styles and sub-styles include Matsubayashi-ryū, Wadō-ryū, Isshin-ryū, Shōrinkan, Shotokan, Shitō-ryū, Shōrinjiryū Kenkōkan, Shorinjiryu Koshinkai, and Shōrinji-ryū. Naha, Okinawa’s capital, is located in the southern part of Okinawa Island. Naha is the political, economic and education center of Okinawa Prefecture. In the medieval and early modern periods, it was the commercial center of the Ryūkyū Kingdom. The prefecture has 1.4 million inhabitants, of whom 300,000 live in Naha. Other important cities are Ginowan, Ishigaki, Itoman, Miyakojima, Nago, Nanjō, Okinawa, Tomigusuku, Urasoe and Uruma. Read more on Okinawa Prefecture, Okinawa Tourism, Wikivoyage Okinawa Prefecture and Wikipedia Okinawa Prefecture.

Saga Prefecture
Saga Prefecture touches both the Sea of Japan and the Ariake Sea. Agriculture, forestry, and coastal fisheries form a large portion of the prefectural economy. Regional agricultural specialties include Saga beef, onions, and strawberries. The prefecture is the largest producer of mochigome (sticky rice) and greenhouse mandarin oranges in Japan. The western part of the prefecture is a region famous for producing ceramics and porcelain, particularly the towns of Karatsu, Imari, and Arita. The capital is the city of Saga. Karatsu, with its fine castle, is a popular tourist destination in Saga. The remains of a Yayoi village in Yoshinogari also attract large numbers of sightseers. Another place to visit is Yūtoku Inari Shrine, one of Japan’s three biggest Inari shrines. The Saga International Balloon Fiesta is held at the beginning of November every year just outside Saga City along the Kase River. This is a very popular event and attracts competitors from all over the world. The Karatsu Kunchi is held at the beginning of November in Karatsu City. This is Saga’s most famous festival and attracts around 500,000 visitors every year. The Imari Ton-Ten-Ton Festival is held for 3 days every year near the end of October. Located in Imari City, the festival is one of the three great fighting festivals in Japan. In the festival a crashing battle takes place between the two huge portable shrines, the Ara-mikoshi and the Danjiri. The name “Ton-Ten-Ton” represents the sound of drums used in the festival. The prefecture has 820.000 inhabitants, of whom 230,000 live in Saga City. Other important cities are Ogi, Karatsu, Taku and Kanzaki. Cities in the nearby Fukuoka Prefecture are Fukuoka, Itoshima, Ōkawa and Yanagawa. Read more on Saga Prefecture, JapanTravel.com – Saga Prefecture and Wikipedia Saga Prefecture.

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