Kumamoto Prefecture

is a prefecture in the Kyūshū region of Japan on the island of Kyushu.Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2002)."Kumamoto prefecture" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 572; Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Kumamoto Prefecture, Regional Information. Retrieved 2012-4-6.  The capital city is Kumamoto.Nussbaum, "Kumamoto" at p. 572.

 History 
The area of Higo Province was renamed Kumamoto during the Meiji Restoration.Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" at p. 780.

Timeline
 1607-1614 (Keichō 12-19): Kumamoto Castle, construction lasted 7 yearsTrends in Japan, "Kumamoto, Famed for Its Castle and Caldera". Retrieved 2012-2-7.
 December 1637 (Kan'ei 14): Shimabara RebellionNussbaum, "Shimabara no Ran" at pp. 857-858;  Visit Kumamoto,  Kumamoto history. Retrieved 2012-2-7.
 May 21, 1792 (Kansei 4, 1st day of the 4th month): Earthquake centered at Mount Unzen caused tsunami which hit HigoNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Geophysical Data Center, Significant Earthquake. Retrieved 2012-2-7

 Geography 
Kumamoto Prefecture is in the middle of Kyūshū  The western border of Kumamoto is the Ariake Sea and the Amakusa Islands.  Fukuoka Prefecture and Ōita Prefecture are in the north. Miyazaki Prefecture is in the east. Kagoshima Prefecture is in the south.

Mount Aso (1592 m) is an active volcano in the eastern part of the prefecture.Nussbaum, "Aso-san" at p. 58.

Cities
Amakusa
Arao
Aso
Hitoyoshi
Kami-Amakusa
Kikuchi
KōshiKumamoto (capital)
Minamata
Tamana
Uki
Uto
Yamaga
Yatsushiro

National Parks
National Parks are established in about 21% of the total land area of the prefecture,Japan Ministry of the Environment, "General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture". Retrieved 2012-3-13. including
 Aso Kujū National Park

Shrines and Temples
Aso-jinja is the chief Shinto shrine (ichinomiya) in the prefecture.  
"Nationwide List of Ichinomiya," p. 3 . Retrieved 2012-2-7.

Related pages
 Provinces of Japan
 Prefectures of Japan
 List of regions of Japan
 List of islands of Japan
 Roasso Kumamoto

References

 Other websites 

 http://www.pref.kumamoto.jp/english/list.html ,