Arao City is located in the northwestern tip of Kumamoto Prefecture, facing the Ariake Sea. It is located halfway between the Fukuoka and Kumamoto metropolitan areas, and is a city with an excellent living environment in terms of medical care, welfare, and shopping. Arao City is home to various attractions, including Greenland, an amusement park with the most attractions in Japan; the Manda Tunnel, a modern industrial heritage site; and the Arao Tidal Flats, a Ramsar Convention-registered wetland. Other popular tourist spots include Nohara Hachiman Shrine and Ultraman Land. Famous local products include Arao pears, Shodai ware, Ariake nori seaweed, and melon bread. Shodai ware dates back to the Edo period and was designated a national traditional craft in 2003.