The prefecture is located in the center of the Kyushu region of Japan. It is divided into 11 regions: Kikuchi, Tamana, Kanamoto, Aso, Kumamoto, Ugi, Kamimashiki, Yashiro, Ashikita, Kuma, and Amakusa. The Kumamoto region has an inland climate with hot and humid summers and cold winters, centered on the Kumamoto Plain. The eastern part of the Kumamoto region is surrounded by the Aso Outer Rim Mountains and has a mountainous climate with an elevation of over 400 meters above sea level. The climate varies from region to region, and in the summer, there is a phenomenon called "Higo no Yunagi" (evening calm), when the entire area is windless at dusk. In Kumamoto Prefecture, you can enjoy "horse sashimi," which is low in fat and calories, high in protein, and rich in minerals such as iron, calcium, and zinc, as well as "Kumamoto ramen" topped with charred or fried garlic chips and ma-oil. Kumamoto is also famous for traditional crafts such as "Higo Zogan," which is said to have originated about 400 years ago when gunsmiths in the service of the feudal lord applied zogan to gun barrels and sword brims. The "Greenland" amusement facility, which attracts about 3 million visitors annually, and "Kumamoto Castle," one of the three most famous castles in Japan, are not to be missed when sightseeing in Kumamoto.