Kyushu, located at the southwest end of the Japanese archipelago, consists of the Kyushu mainland and the chain of Southwest Islands. The Kyushu region includes seven prefectures: Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Oita, Kumamoto, Miyazaki and Kagoshima. Blessed with the richness of nature and a warm climate, Kyushu accounts for approximately 10 percent of Japan's GNP, and forms the fourth economic zone following the main metropolitan areas of Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya, all of which are found on the main island of Honshu. The natural environment shows its complexity and remarkable diversity here. Gigantic caldera volcanoes line up one after another, and appropriately Kyushu is called "Land of Fire." Here, too, are numerous hot springs. From the land, one can see that the Kyushu region is surrounded by the sea, including characteristic coastlines and various isolate islands. Kyushu is also blessed with a variety of foods and materials thanks to the abundance of nature, and the characteristic local dishes rooted in each area are unique and wide-ranging. Kyushu is a relatively inexpensive place, and that contributes to its attractiveness among tourists. The newly constructed Kyushu Shinkansen allows one to travel around Kyushu very conveniently, and further development is expected throughout the area.