Kumamoto ( 熊本市 , Kumamoto-shi ) is the capital city of Kumamoto Prefecture on the island of Kyushu , Japan . As of June 1, 2019, the city has an estimated population of 738,907 and a population density of 1,893 people per km. The total area is 390.32 km.
31-485: Greater Kumamoto ( 熊本都市圏 ) had a population of 1,461,000, as of the 2000 census. As of 2010, Kumamoto Metropolitan Employment Area has a GDP of US$ 39.8 billion. It is not considered part of the Fukuoka–Kitakyushu metropolitan area, despite their shared border. The city was designated on April 1, 2012, by government ordinance . Katō Kiyomasa , a contemporary of Toyotomi Hideyoshi , was made daimyō of half of
62-429: A Peace Pagoda atop Mount Hanaoka in the city to commemorate all those lost in war and to promote peace. Inaugurated in 1954, it was the first of over 80 Peace Pagodas built by Fujii and his followers all over the world. On February 1, 1991, the towns of Akita , Kawachi , Tenmei , and Hokubu (all from Hōtaku District ) were merged into Kumamoto. On October 6, 2008, the town of Tomiai (from Shimomashiki District )
93-610: 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, although 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 daimyō . This traditional wooden mansion has
124-428: A fine Japanese garden located on its grounds. The first of many peace pagodas around the world was erected by Japanese Buddhist monk Nichidatsu Fujii atop Mount Hanaoka beginning 1947. Inaugurated in 1954, it was the first of over 80 built by Fujii and his followers all over the world. Kumamoto is also the location of Takahashi Inari Shrine and Fujisaki Hachimangū . Kumamoto is home to Suizen-ji Jōju-en ,
155-634: A formal garden neighboring Suizenji Temple approximately 3 kilometers southeast of Kumamoto Castle. Suizenji Park is also home to the Suizenji Municipal Stadium, where the city's football team, Roasso Kumamoto , used to play regularly. The team now uses the larger KKWing Stadium in Higashi Ward. 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") are situated close by. He penned
186-764: Is a definition of metropolitan areas used in Japan , defined by the Center for Spatial Information Service of the University of Tokyo . Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry defined 233 areas for the UEAs of Japan. It is different from the definition of metropolitan areas defined in census by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications . For the latter scheme, see the List of metropolitan areas in Japan article. The basic principle of UEA
217-493: Is an extension of the San'yō Shinkansen from Honshu connecting the city of Fukuoka ( Hakata Station ) in the north of Japan's Kyushu Island to the city of Kagoshima ( Kagoshima-Chuo Station ) in the south. The line runs parallel to the existing Kagoshima Main Line and is operated by Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu). The southernmost 127 km (79 mi) section of the track
248-552: Is significant precipitation throughout the year, especially during June and July. The average annual temperature in Kumamoto is 17.2 °C (63.0 °F). The average annual rainfall is 2,007.0 mm (79.02 in) with June as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 28.4 °C (83.1 °F), and lowest in January, at around 6.0 °C (42.8 °F). The highest temperature ever recorded in Kumamoto
279-703: Is similar to that of the Statistics Bureau definition; a central city and its associated outlying municipalities with certain numbers of commuters. A UEA with at least 50,000 DID (Densely Inhabited District) population is called Metropolitan Employment Area ( 大都市雇用圏 , Dai-toshi Koyō-ken ) or MEA for short in English. A UEA with at least 10,000 and less than 50,000 DID population is called Micropolitan Employment Area ( 小都市雇用圏 , Shō-toshi Koyō-ken ) or McEA for short in English. Source: Urban Employment Area (UEA) Code Table , "地域経済の将来動向分析に関する調査研究" [A study on
310-500: Is standard gauge. The line's Sakura and Mizuho services often operate through to Shin-Ōsaka Station via the San'yō Shinkansen . All-stop trains are named Tsubame ("Swallow"), the name of the former Hakata-Kagoshima limited express service, and are solely truncated to the Kyushu Shinkansen. In September 2011, six months after the line's completion, JR Kyushu reported a year-over-year increase in ridership of 64% to
341-546: The 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami . The Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen route to Nagasaki (from Takeo-Onsen to Nagasaki ) opened on 23 September 2022. A cross-platform interchange to a relay service called 'Relay Kamome' at Takeo-Onsen station offers a connection to Hakata. Construction of the Kagoshima Route ( 鹿児島ルート ) began in 1991, and the first segment between Kagoshima and Shin-Yatsushiro opened on 13 March 2004. This initial section cut travel times between
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#1732848698231372-622: The Hosokawa clan . Hosokawa Tadatoshi , the third lord of Kumamoto, was the patron of the artist and swordsman Miyamoto Musashi The current administrative body of the City of Kumamoto was founded on April 1, 1889. On July 1, 1945, near the end of World War II, Kumamoto was bombed in an Allied air raid that destroyed one square mile, which was 20% of the city's area. After the war, the Japanese Buddhist monk Nichidatsu Fujii decided to construct
403-613: The Kumamoto Prefectural Museum of Art and Kumamoto Prefectural Theater . The Kumamoto Castle Marathon is a yearly event in Kumamoto City. It was established in commemoration of Kumamoto becoming a designated city in 2012. The city also hosted the 1997 World Men's Handball Championship and the 2019 World Women's Handball Championship . Kumamoto is twinned with the following cities. Urban Employment Area Urban Employment Area ( 都市雇用圏 , Toshi Koyō-ken )
434-465: The (old) administrative region of Higo in 1588. Afterwards, Kiyomasa built Kumamoto Castle . Due to its many innovative defensive designs, Kumamoto Castle was considered impenetrable, and Kiyomasa enjoyed a reputation as one of the finest castle-builders in Japanese history. After Kiyomasa died in 1611, his son, Tadahiro, succeeded him. In 1632, Tadahiro was removed by Tokugawa Iemitsu and replaced with
465-450: The Kagoshima Route was shut down after the first of two powerful earthquakes struck Kumamoto prefecture. There was extensive damage along the route, including cracks in elevated support structures at 25 locations and collapsed sound insulation walls in nearly 80 locations. An 800 series train was derailed near Kumamoto Station after the first tremor, while the train was deadheading . On 18 April, JR Kyushu began attempts to return
496-797: The Shinkansen Basic Plan laid out in 1973, two other routes would accompany the Kagoshima and West Kyushu (Nagasaki) routes: the East Kyushu Shinkansen , from Hakata to Kagoshima-Chūō via Ōita and Miyazaki , paralleling the Nippō Main Line ; and the Trans-Kyushu Shinkansen , linking Kumamoto and Ōita, and connecting with the also-planned Shikoku Shinkansen to Matsuyama , Takamatsu and Osaka . These plans have been shelved indefinitely and are unlikely to be reconsidered until
527-621: The Shinkansen lines that are already under construction are completed. Legend: Services not leaving the Kyushu Shinkansen are operated by 6-car 800 Series trains, with a maximum speed of 260 km/h (160 mph). The trains were developed by Hitachi , and based on the 700 series trains already in service on the Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen line. 8-car N700-7000 and N700-8000 series trains are used on through-running services between Shin-Osaka and Kagoshima-Chūō. The first set (S1)
558-406: The all-stations shuttle service between Hakata and Kumamoto once to twice per hour, with some services operating to/from Kagoshima-Chūō. Mizuho trains can be used by foreign passengers traveling with a Japan Rail Pass only upon payment of a supplement. Services are operated by 6-car N700S series trains with a service type named Kamome . On the evening of 14 April 2016, the entire length of
589-404: The derailed train to the tracks. On 27 April 2016, the line reopened with reduced speed and service frequency. On the morning of 8 November 2021, a 69-year old man from Fukuoka attempted to set a Sakura Shinkansen service on fire. The train, Sakura #401, was travelling between Kumamoto and Shin-Yatsuhiro stations at the time of the attempted arson. No casualties were reported. According to
620-467: The famous Go Rin no Sho ( The Book of Five Rings ) whilst living here. 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 large number of smaller retailers, restaurants, and bars. Many local festivals are held in or near the arcades. Cultural venues include
651-457: The future trend analysis of the regional economy] (in Japanese). These areas have multiple central cities. Municipal names are as of 2015. These areas changed their names between 1980 and 2000, as the most populated central cities have changed. Kyushu Shinkansen The Kyushu Shinkansen ( 九州新幹線 , Kyūshū Shinkansen ) is a Japanese Shinkansen high-speed railway network. It
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#1732848698231682-673: The now-discontinued conventional express Relay Tsubame ), falling short of estimates. A Shinkansen line from Fukuoka to Nagasaki, initially known as the Nagasaki Shinkansen ( 長崎新幹線 ) , was laid out in the 1973 Basic Plan. Renamed as the Nagasaki Route ( 長崎ルート ) , then changed to the Nishi Kyushu Route ( 西九州ルート , Nishi Kyūshū rūto ) in 1995, the segment between Takeo-Onsen and Nagasaki , Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen , opened for service on 23 September 2022. According to
713-463: The only 24-hour public transport in the city. The city's most famous landmark is Kumamoto Castle , a large and once extremely well fortified Japanese castle. The donjon (castle central keep) is a concrete reconstruction built in the 1970s, but several ancillary wooden buildings from the original castle remain. The castle was assaulted during the Satsuma Rebellion and sacked and burned after
744-425: The southern part of Kyushu (between Kumamoto and Kagoshima), easily surpassing the 40% increase projected by the company. By the first anniversary, ridership had increased, mainly from tourists from Kansai and Chugoku. In northern Kyushu, where there is fierce competition with conventional JR rapid service, the private Nishi-Nippon Railroad , and expressway buses, Shinkansen ridership increased by only 38% (compared to
775-410: The two cities from 2 hours and 10 minutes to 35 minutes and reduced the time between Hakata and Kagoshima from 4 hours to 2 hours. When the entire line was completed, the travel time from Hakata to Kagoshima was further reduced to about an hour and 20 minutes. As of 2012, the maximum line speed is 260 km/h (160 mph) between Hakata and Kagoshima. Like all Shinkansen lines, the Kyushu Shinkansen
806-464: Was 38.8 °C (101.8 °F) on 17 July 1994; the coldest temperature ever recorded was −9.2 °C (15.4 °F) on 11 February 1929. Since April 1, 2012, Kumamoto has five wards (ku) : [REDACTED] Per Japanese census data, the population of Kumamoto in 2020 is 738,865 people. Kumamoto has been conducting censuses since 1920. Kazufumi Ōnishi has been the city's mayor since December 2014. In November 2017, Kumamoto politician Yuka Ogata
837-477: Was completed, establishing a direct high-speed rail link to Tokyo via Fukuoka 's Hakata station. The JR Kumamoto station provides rail links to Japan's extensive rail network. Trams run to a few suburbs near the downtown area. A large bus terminus, called the Kotsu Centre , provides access to both local and intercity destinations. Several local taxi companies serve the Kumamoto metropolitan area and are
868-607: Was constructed first, opening on 13 March 2004. The dual-track offered a significant improvement in transit time over the equivalent single-track section of the Kagoshima Main Line, despite the need for passengers to change to a Relay Tsubame narrow gauge train at Shin-Yatsushiro, and the remainder of the journey to Hakata Station . The northernmost 130 km (81 mi) section opened on 12 March 2011, enabling through-services to Shin-Osaka (and with an interchange, to Tokyo). However, opening ceremonies were cancelled due to
899-697: Was delivered to Hakata Depot in October 2008. Three services operate on the line, in order of speed: Mizuho , Sakura , and Tsubame . The Mizuho makes two return trips between Shin-Osaka and Kagoshima-Chūō during the morning hours, and two return trips during the evening, with an end-to-end journey time of 3 hours 45 minutes. Sakura services run once per hour throughout the day between Shin-Osaka and Kagoshima-Chūō making additional stops, with an end-to-end travel time of 4 hours 10 minutes. There are also one to two Sakura services every hour between Hakata and either Kumamoto or Kagoshima-Chūō. Tsubame trains operate
930-484: Was forced to leave the Kumamoto municipal assembly because she had brought her baby. The incident was reported by international media as an example of the challenges facing women in Japan . Local public transport is provided by the Kumamoto City Transportation Bureau . Kumamoto Airport is located in nearby Mashiki . On March 12, 2011, work on the shinkansen (high-speed bullet train) network
961-463: Was merged into Kumamoto. On March 23, 2010, the town of Jōnan (also from Shimomashiki District) and the town of Ueki (from Kamoto District ) were merged into Kumamoto. A series of earthquakes struck the area beginning April 14, 2016, including a tremor with moment magnitude 7.1 early in the morning of April 16, 2016. Kumamoto has a humid subtropical climate ( Köppen climate classification Cfa ) with hot, humid summers and cool winters. There