| Of Japan's four major islands, Kyushu is located closest to the Asian mainland; the distance between Kyushu and Tokyo is approximately equivalent to the distance between Kyushu and Dalian, Shanghai, or Taipei.
Kitakyushu City, which boasts Kyushu's largest port, Kitakyushu Port, is one of the major international trade cities in the region. It plays a major role as a base for the distribution and exchange of information between Kyushu and Honshu, and as the gateway to Asia. |