Kyūshū Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Kyushu
Geography
Satellite picture of Kyushu
Kyushu region of Japan and the current prefectures on the island of Kyushu
Location	East Asia
Archipelago	Japanese Archipelago
Area	36,782 km² (14,202 sq mi)
Area rank	37th
Coastline	12,221 km (7,593.8 mi)
Highest elevation	1,791 m (5,876 ft)
Highest point	Mount Kujū
Administration
Japan
Largest settlement	Fukuoka
Demographics
Population	12,970,479 (2016)
Pop. density	307.13 /km² (795.46 /sq mi)
Ethnic groups	Japanese

Kyushu is the third largest island in Japan. Its name means "Nine Provinces". About 13 million people live on Kyushu. It covers an area of 36,782 square kilometers (about 14,200 square miles). This island is a very important part of the Japanese archipelago.

Exploring Kyushu's Geography
- Prefectures of Kyushu Island
Kyushu's Economy and Environment
Getting Around Kyushu
Related pages
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See also

Exploring Kyushu's Geography

Kyushu is a very mountainous island. It is home to Mt Aso, which is Japan's most active volcano. Mt Aso stands tall at 1,591 meters (5,220 feet). You can find many hot springs across the island. These show that there is a lot of tectonic activity happening underground. The most famous hot springs are in Beppu and around Mt. Aso.

The Kanmon Straits separate Kyushu from Honshu, Japan's largest island. Kyushu is also the closest Japanese island to the Asian continent. This makes it a key gateway to Japan.

Prefectures of Kyushu Island

The Kyushu Region is made up of seven prefectures. These are like states or provinces in other countries. They include:

Kyushu's Economy and Environment

Some parts of Kyushu have a subtropical climate. This means they are warm and humid for most of the year. This is especially true in Miyazaki and Kagoshima.

Farmers on Kyushu grow many important crops. These include rice, tea, tobacco, sweet potatoes, and soy. Silk is also produced here. The island is also famous for its beautiful porcelain. Heavy industries are mostly in the northern part of the island. These industries make chemicals, cars, computer chips, and process metals.

You can find special mud hot springs in northern Kyushu, near Beppu. These springs are home to tiny living things called extremophiles. These amazing organisms can survive in extremely hot places!

Getting Around Kyushu

Kyushu is well-connected to Honshu island. They are linked by the Kanmon Tunnels. These tunnels carry both high-speed trains (called Shinkansen) and regular trains. Cars, pedestrians, and bicycles can also use these tunnels.

The Kanmon Bridge also connects Kyushu with Honshu. This bridge offers another way to travel between the islands. The main railway lines on Kyushu are run by the Kyushu Railway Company and Nishitetsu Railway.