Kumamoto City is located in the center of Kyushu Island in southern Japan. With a population of 730,000
and a greater metro area population of about one million, it is the capital city of Kumamoto Prefecture. With
historic Kumamoto Castle as its symbol, the city has inherited a great deal of traditional culture and
historical legacies as well as a rich natural environment, including our pure groundwater that supplies 100%
of our citizens’ drinking water. The castle and shopping arcade streets are located in the city center, and the
Light Rail System, with its low-floor and retro-themed trams, is an important form of transportation for our
citizens. Kumamoto City is a very comfortable and convenient place to live due to the increase of
government offices, institutes of higher learning and medical facilities as well as a low cost of living and low
crime rate.