[DiscourseFan]

Kumamoto is barely finished rebuilding from the last quake, you can still see cracks in structures as you drive down the road. This is really horrible; not to mention the city is already beginning to depopulate as the youth move north to Fukuoka.

[walrus01]

It's my understanding that small to medium sized cities (and rural areas) depopulating is going on now throughout almost all of Japan. One of the things that really surprised me recently is how low the cost of real estate is for an older, normal middle class home in some sparsely populated areas of Japan.

Apparently the declining population and younger people not wanting to live in their parents' rural countryside home is having a significant effect on property values.

[spike021]

I wouldn't let this get in the way of going there though. Kumamoto is a very nice prefecture to see. They will rebuild (again) and it'll continue to be a great place.

[DiscourseFan]

No I mean of course, I thought Kumamoto was very nice and I especially enjoyed visiting Mt Aso, I was lucky enough to see into the crater and hike around the peaks

[spike021]

I get it. Same here. Aso is probably one of my favorite places in Kyushu. Also, the michi-no-eki at the bottom is fantastic.