A historic city on Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan’s four main islands, Kumamoto is renowned for its imposing castle, rich regional food culture and friendly, welcoming inhabitants.

Musashi was a legendary swordsman said to have gone undefeated in the numerous duels he fought across Japan, many using only a wooden sword. He saw out his final years in Kumamoto and lived as a ...

KUMAMOTO—Kumamoto Prefecture experienced the highest growth rate of foreign tourism of any prefecture in Japan, helped by popular statues of characters from “One Piece,” the iconic manga and ...

Around 2,000 workers have gathered from around Japan for three shifts at the site that keep operations running 24 hours a day. Locals said the work stopped only on New Year’s Day. Kumamoto’s ...

KUMAMOTO -- A former high school classroom where literary giants Soseki Natsume (1867-1916) and Lafcadio Hearn (1850-1904) used to teach has been preserved in southwest Japan. An eave with ...