Nara Prefecture
Encyclopedia
is a prefecture
in the Kansai
region on Honshū
Island, Japan. The capital is the city of Nara
.
.
Historically, Nara Prefecture was also known as Yamato-no-kuni
or Yamato Province.
in the east of Nara Basin, seeking unification of most parts in Japan from the third century until the fourth century, though the process was not well documented. At the dawn of history, Yamato was clearly the political center of Japan.
Ancient capitals of Japan were built on the land of Nara, namely Asuka-kyō
, Fujiwara-kyō
(694–710) and Heijō-kyō (most of 710–784). The capital cities of Fujiwara and Heijō are believed to have been modeled after Chinese capitals at the time, incorporating grid layout patterns. The royal court also established relations with Sui
and then Tang Dynasty
China and sent students to the Middle Kingdom to learn high civilization. By 7th century, Nara accepted the many immigrants including refugees of Baekje
who had escaped from war disturbances of the southern part of the Korean peninsula
. The first high civilization with royal patronage of Buddhism
flourished in today's Nara city (710–784 AD).
In 784, Emperor Kammu
decided to relocate the capital to Nagaoka-kyō in Yamashiro Province
, followed by another move in 794 to Heian-kyō
, marking the start of the Heian period
.
The temples in Nara remained powerful beyond the move of political capital, thus giving Nara a synonym of Nanto
(meaning "South Capital") as opposed to Heian-kyō, situated in the north. Close at the end of Heian period, Taira no Shigehira
, a son of Taira no Kiyomori
, was ordered by his father to depress the power of mainly Kōfuku-ji
and Tōdai-ji
, who were backing up an opposition group headed by Prince Mochihito
. The movement has led into a collision between the Taira
and the Nara temples in 1180, when eventually Kōfuku-ji
and Tōdai-ji
were set on fire, resulting in the vast loss of its architectures.
At the rise of the Minamoto
to its ruling seat and the opening of Kamakura Shogunate
, Nara enjoyed the support of Minamoto no Yoritomo
toward restoration. Kōfuku-ji
, being the "home temple" to the Fujiwara since its foundation, not only regained the power it had before but became a de facto regional chief of Yamato Province. With the recovery of Kōfuku-ji
and Tōdai-ji
, there was a town growing near the two temples.
The Nanboku-chō
period, starting in 1336, brought more instability to Nara. As Emperor Go-Daigo
chose Yoshino as his base, a power struggle arose in Kōfuku-ji with a group supporting the South and another siding the North court. Likewise, local clans were split into two. Kōfuku-ji recovers its control over the province for a short time at the surrender of the South Court in 1392, while the internal power game of the temple itself opened a way for the local samurai clans to spring up and fight with each other, gradually acquire their own territories, thus diminishing the influence of Kōfuku-ji overall.
Later the whole province of Yamato got drawn into the confusion of the Sengoku period
. Tōdai-ji was once again set on fire in 1567, when Matsunaga Hisahide
, who was later appointed by Oda Nobunaga
to the lord of Yamato Province, fought for supremacy against his former master Miyoshi family
. Followed by short appointments of Tsutsui Junkei
and Toyotomi Hidenaga
by Toyotomi Hideyoshi
to the lord, the Tokugawa Shogunate
ultimately ruled the city of Nara directly, and most parts of Yamato province with a few feudal lords allocated at Kōriyama, Takatori
and other places. With industry and commerce developing in the 18th century, the economy of the province was incorporated into prosperous Osaka
, the commercial capital of Japan at the time.
The economic dependency to Osaka characterizes even today's Nara Prefecture, for many inhabitants commute to Osaka to work or study there.
Nara Prefecture is part of the Kansai
, or Kinki, region of Japan, and is located in the middle of the Kii Peninsula
on the western half of Honshū. Nara Prefecture is landlocked. It is bordered to the west by Wakayama Prefecture
and Osaka Prefecture
; on the north by Kyoto Prefecture
and on the east by Mie Prefecture
.
Nara Prefecture is 78.5 km from East to West and 103.6 km from North to South.
The prefecture is covered by mountains and forests for most of its part, leaving only an inhabitable area of 851 km², smallest of the 47 prefectures of Japan. The ratio of inhabitable area over total area is 23%, ranked 43rd nationwide.
Geologically, Nara Prefecture is bisected by the Japan Median Tectonic Line
(MTL) running through its territory East-West, along Yoshino River
. On the north side is located the so-called Inner Zone, where North-South active faults
are shaping the landscape. There is Ikoma Mountains in the north-west forming a border line between Osaka, then the Nara Basin laid out next to it in the east, where the highest population of Nara Prefecture concentrates. Further to the east is the Kasagi Mountains separating the basin from Yamato Highlands. In the south of the MTL, the Outer Zone, is the Kii Mountains. This mountainous area occupies about 60% of the prefecture's land. The Ōmine Mountain Range is in the center of the Kii Mountains running North-South, with steep valleys on its both sides. The 1915 m high tallest mountain of Nara and Kansai, the Mount Hakkyō
is in this range. In the west side separating Nara from Wakayama is the Obako Mountain Range, with its 1300 m class mountains. On the east end bordering Mie is the Daikō Mountain Range, including the 1695 m high Mount Ōdaigahara. This wide mountain area is also home to the World Heritage Site
collectively inscribed as the "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range
" by UNESCO
.
The climate of Nara Prefecture is overall warm, while there are important differences between the north-western basin area and the rest of the prefecture, that is, in the mountains.
In the basin area the climate has an inland characteristics, as represented in the bigger temperature variance within the same day, and the difference of summer and winter temperatures. Winter temperatures average about 3 to 5 °C, and 25 – 28 °C in the summer with highest reaching close to 35 °C. There is not a single year over the last decade (since 1990, up to 2007) with more than 10 days of snowfall recorded by Nara Local Meteorological Observatory.
The climate in the rest of the prefecture are mountainous, and especially in the south, with below −5 °C being the extreme minimum in winter. Heavy rainfall is observed in summer. The annual accumulated rainfall ranges as much as 3000 to 5000 mm, which is among the heaviest in Japan.
Spring and fall are both temperate and beautiful. The mountainous region of Yoshino
has been popular both historically and presently for its beautiful cherry
blossoms in the spring. In the fall, the southern mountains are equally beautiful with the changing of the oak
trees.
:
According to the 2005 Census of Japan, Nara Prefecture has a population of 1,421,310, which is a decrease of 1.5%, since the year 2000.
The decline continued in 2006, with another decrease of 4,987 people compared to 2005. This includes a natural decrease from previous year of 288 people (11,404 births minus 11,692 deaths) and a decrease due to net domestic migration of 4,627 people outbound from the prefecture, and a decrease of 72 registered foreigners. Net domestic migration has turned into a continuous outbound trend since 1998. The largest destinations of migration in 2005 were the prefectures of Kyoto, Tokyo and Hyōgo, with respectively a net of 1,130, 982 and 451 people moving over. The largest inbound migration was from Niigata Prefecture
, contributing to a net increase of 39 people. 13.7% of its population were reported as under 15, 65.9% between 15 and 64, and 20.4% were 65 or older. Females made up approximately 52.5% of the population.
As of 2004, the average density of the prefecture is 387 people per km². By districts, the so-called Yamato flat inland plain holds as much as about 90% of total population within the approximately 23% size of area in the north-west, including the Nara
Basin, representing a density of 1,531 people per km². To the contrast, the combined district Gojō
and Yoshino District
occupies almost 64% of the land, while only 6% of people lives there, resulting in a density of 39 people km².
Nara prefecture had the highest rate in Japan of people commuting outbound for work, at 30.9% in 2000. A similar tendency is seen in prefecutes as Saitama
, Chiba
and Kanagawa
, all three of them having over 20% of people commuting for other prefectures.
The 2004 total gross prefecture product (GPP) for Nara was ¥3.8 trillion, an 0.1% growth over previous year. The per capita income was ¥2.6 million, which is a 1.3% decrease from previous year. The 2004 total gross prefecture product (GPP) for Nara was ¥3.8 trillion, an 0.1% growth over previous year. Manufacturing has the biggest share in the GPP of Nara with 20.2% of share, followed by services (19.1%) and real estates (16.3%). The share of agriculture including forestry and fishery was a mere 1.0%, only above mining, which is quasi-inexistent in Nara.
Because of its background, the better part of Nara's culture can only be described through learning the history of Japan, notably in Nara Period
.
Nara is currently in its preparation to celebrate the 1300th anniversary of the opening of Heijō Palace
.
Football(Soccer)
exist in Nara Prefecture, and it is a centre for tourism. Moreover, many world heritage sites, such as the temple Tōdai-ji
and Kasuga Shrine
, exist in the capital city of Nara.
Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara
Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range
Buddhist temples
Shinto shrines
Kofun and heritage
Hot springs
Mountains
Other attractions
'Departure from Yamato Yagi and Gose'
'National Highways'
Prefectures of Japan
The prefectures of Japan are the country's 47 subnational jurisdictions: one "metropolis" , Tokyo; one "circuit" , Hokkaidō; two urban prefectures , Osaka and Kyoto; and 43 other prefectures . In Japanese, they are commonly referred to as...
in the Kansai
Kansai
The or the lies in the southern-central region of Japan's main island Honshū. The region includes the prefectures of Mie, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyōgo, and Shiga. Depending on who makes the distinction, Fukui, Tokushima and even Tottori Prefecture are also included...
region on Honshū
Honshu
is the largest island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait...
Island, Japan. The capital is the city of Nara
Nara, Nara
is the capital city of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. The city occupies the northern part of Nara Prefecture, directly bordering Kyoto Prefecture...
.
History
The present-day Nara Prefecture was created in 1887, making it independent of Osaka PrefectureOsaka Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the Kansai region on Honshū, the main island of Japan. The capital is the city of Osaka. It is the center of Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto area.- History :...
.
Historically, Nara Prefecture was also known as Yamato-no-kuni
Yamato Province
was a province of Japan, located in Kinai, corresponding to present-day Nara Prefecture in Honshū. It was also called . At first, the name was written with one different character , and for about ten years after 737, this was revised to use more desirable characters . The final revision was made in...
or Yamato Province.
Up to Nara Period
It is certain that a political force established at the foot of Mount MiwaMount Miwa
or is a mountain located in the city of Sakurai, Nara Prefecture, Japan. It has been an important religious and historical mountain in Japan, especially during its early history, and serves as a holy site in Shinto. The entire mountain is considered sacred, and is home to one of the earliest...
in the east of Nara Basin, seeking unification of most parts in Japan from the third century until the fourth century, though the process was not well documented. At the dawn of history, Yamato was clearly the political center of Japan.
Ancient capitals of Japan were built on the land of Nara, namely Asuka-kyō
Asuka, Yamato
was one of the Imperial capitals of Japan during the Asuka period , which takes its name from this place. It is located in the present-day village of Asuka, Nara Prefecture....
, Fujiwara-kyō
Fujiwara-kyo
was the Imperial capital of Japan for sixteen years, between 694 and 710. It was located in Yamato Province , having been moved from nearby Asuka. However, in the Nihon Shoki, the name Fujiwara-kyō had never been used...
(694–710) and Heijō-kyō (most of 710–784). The capital cities of Fujiwara and Heijō are believed to have been modeled after Chinese capitals at the time, incorporating grid layout patterns. The royal court also established relations with Sui
Sui Dynasty
The Sui Dynasty was a powerful, but short-lived Imperial Chinese dynasty. Preceded by the Southern and Northern Dynasties, it ended nearly four centuries of division between rival regimes. It was followed by the Tang Dynasty....
and then Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
China and sent students to the Middle Kingdom to learn high civilization. By 7th century, Nara accepted the many immigrants including refugees of Baekje
Baekje
Baekje or Paekche was a kingdom located in southwest Korea. It was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla....
who had escaped from war disturbances of the southern part of the Korean peninsula
Korean Peninsula
The Korean Peninsula is a peninsula in East Asia. It extends southwards for about 684 miles from continental Asia into the Pacific Ocean and is surrounded by the Sea of Japan to the south, and the Yellow Sea to the west, the Korea Strait connecting the first two bodies of water.Until the end of...
. The first high civilization with royal patronage of Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
flourished in today's Nara city (710–784 AD).
Nara in the Heian period
Emperor Kammu
was the 50th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Kammu reigned from 781 to 806.-Traditional narrative:Kammu's personal name was . He was the eldest son of Prince Shirakabe , and was born prior to Shirakabe's ascension to the throne...
decided to relocate the capital to Nagaoka-kyō in Yamashiro Province
Yamashiro Province
was a province of Japan, located in Kinai. It overlaps the southern part of modern Kyoto Prefecture on Honshū. Aliases include , the rare , and . It is classified as an upper province in the Engishiki....
, followed by another move in 794 to Heian-kyō
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
, marking the start of the Heian period
Heian period
The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. The period is named after the capital city of Heian-kyō, or modern Kyōto. It is the period in Japanese history when Buddhism, Taoism and other Chinese influences were at their height...
.
The temples in Nara remained powerful beyond the move of political capital, thus giving Nara a synonym of Nanto
Nanto
Nanto may refer to:in geography* Nanto, Veneto, an Italian municipality in the Province of Vicenza* Nanto, Toyama , a city in Japan* Nanto , a historical synonym for Nara, Nara, Japan...
(meaning "South Capital") as opposed to Heian-kyō, situated in the north. Close at the end of Heian period, Taira no Shigehira
Taira no Shigehira
' was one of the sons of Taira no Kiyomori, and one of the Taira Clan's chief commanders during the Heian period of the 12th century of Japan...
, a son of Taira no Kiyomori
Taira no Kiyomori
was a general of the late Heian period of Japan. He established the first samurai-dominated administrative government in the history of Japan.After the death of his father Taira no Tadamori in 1153, Kiyomori assumed control of the Taira clan and ambitiously entered the political realm in which he...
, was ordered by his father to depress the power of mainly Kōfuku-ji
Kofuku-ji
is a Buddhist temple in the city of Nara, Nara Prefecture, Japan. The temple is the national headquarters of the Hossō school and is one of the eight Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.-History:...
and Tōdai-ji
Todai-ji
, is a Buddhist temple complex located in the city of Nara, Japan. Its Great Buddha Hall , the largest wooden building in the world, houses the world's largest bronze statue of the Buddha Vairocana, known in Japanese simply as Daibutsu . The temple also serves as the Japanese headquarters of the ...
, who were backing up an opposition group headed by Prince Mochihito
Prince Mochihito
' , also known as the Takakura Prince, and as Minamoto Mochimitsu, was a son of Emperor Go-Shirakawa. He is noted for his role in starting the Genpei War....
. The movement has led into a collision between the Taira
Taira clan
The was a major Japanese clan of samurai in historical Japan.In reference to Japanese history, along with Minamoto, Taira was a hereditary clan name bestowed by the emperors of the Heian Period to certain ex-members of the imperial family when they became subjects...
and the Nara temples in 1180, when eventually Kōfuku-ji
Kofuku-ji
is a Buddhist temple in the city of Nara, Nara Prefecture, Japan. The temple is the national headquarters of the Hossō school and is one of the eight Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.-History:...
and Tōdai-ji
Todai-ji
, is a Buddhist temple complex located in the city of Nara, Japan. Its Great Buddha Hall , the largest wooden building in the world, houses the world's largest bronze statue of the Buddha Vairocana, known in Japanese simply as Daibutsu . The temple also serves as the Japanese headquarters of the ...
were set on fire, resulting in the vast loss of its architectures.
Middle age Nara
Minamoto clan
was one of the surnames bestowed by the Emperors of Japan upon members of the imperial family who were demoted into the ranks of the nobility. The practice was most prevalent during the Heian Period , although its last occurrence was during the Sengoku Era. The Taira were another such offshoot of...
to its ruling seat and the opening of Kamakura Shogunate
Kamakura shogunate
The Kamakura shogunate was a military dictatorship in Japan headed by the shoguns from 1185 to 1333. It was based in Kamakura. The Kamakura period draws its name from the capital of the shogunate...
, Nara enjoyed the support of Minamoto no Yoritomo
Minamoto no Yoritomo
was the founder and the first shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate of Japan. He ruled from 1192 until 1199.-Early life and exile :Yoritomo was the third son of Minamoto no Yoshitomo, heir of the Minamoto clan, and his official wife, a daughter of Fujiwara no Suenori, who was a member of the...
toward restoration. Kōfuku-ji
Kofuku-ji
is a Buddhist temple in the city of Nara, Nara Prefecture, Japan. The temple is the national headquarters of the Hossō school and is one of the eight Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.-History:...
, being the "home temple" to the Fujiwara since its foundation, not only regained the power it had before but became a de facto regional chief of Yamato Province. With the recovery of Kōfuku-ji
Kofuku-ji
is a Buddhist temple in the city of Nara, Nara Prefecture, Japan. The temple is the national headquarters of the Hossō school and is one of the eight Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.-History:...
and Tōdai-ji
Todai-ji
, is a Buddhist temple complex located in the city of Nara, Japan. Its Great Buddha Hall , the largest wooden building in the world, houses the world's largest bronze statue of the Buddha Vairocana, known in Japanese simply as Daibutsu . The temple also serves as the Japanese headquarters of the ...
, there was a town growing near the two temples.
The Nanboku-chō
Nanboku-cho
The , spanning from 1336 to 1392, was a period that occurred during the formative years of the Muromachi bakufu of Japan's history.During this period, there existed a Northern Imperial Court, established by Ashikaga Takauji in Kyoto, and a Southern Imperial Court, established by Emperor Go-Daigo in...
period, starting in 1336, brought more instability to Nara. As Emperor Go-Daigo
Emperor Go-Daigo
Emperor Go-Daigo was the 96th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession....
chose Yoshino as his base, a power struggle arose in Kōfuku-ji with a group supporting the South and another siding the North court. Likewise, local clans were split into two. Kōfuku-ji recovers its control over the province for a short time at the surrender of the South Court in 1392, while the internal power game of the temple itself opened a way for the local samurai clans to spring up and fight with each other, gradually acquire their own territories, thus diminishing the influence of Kōfuku-ji overall.
The Sengoku, Edo periods and beyond
Sengoku period
The or Warring States period in Japanese history was a time of social upheaval, political intrigue, and nearly constant military conflict that lasted roughly from the middle of the 15th century to the beginning of the 17th century. The name "Sengoku" was adopted by Japanese historians in reference...
. Tōdai-ji was once again set on fire in 1567, when Matsunaga Hisahide
Matsunaga Hisahide
Matsunaga Hisahide was a daimyo of Japan following the Sengoku period of the 16th century.A companion of Miyoshi Chokei, he was a retainer of Miyoshi Masanaga from the 1540s. He directed the conquest of the province of Yamato in the 1560s and by 1564 had built a sufficient power-base to be...
, who was later appointed by Oda Nobunaga
Oda Nobunaga
was the initiator of the unification of Japan under the shogunate in the late 16th century, which ruled Japan until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was also a major daimyo during the Sengoku period of Japanese history. His opus was continued, completed and finalized by his successors Toyotomi...
to the lord of Yamato Province, fought for supremacy against his former master Miyoshi family
Miyoshi clan
The Miyoshi clan is a Japanese family descended from Emperor Seiwa and the Minamoto clan . They were a cadet branch of the Ogasawara clan and the Takeda clan....
. Followed by short appointments of Tsutsui Junkei
Tsutsui Junkei
son of Tsusui Junshō, and a Daimyo of the province of Yamato.Very early on, Junkei had his castle taken away by Matsunaga Hisahide, one of the most powerful warriors of the region in feudal Japan at that time. Later by joining forces of Oda Nobunaga, Junkei defeated Hisahide at Mount Shigi in 1577...
and Toyotomi Hidenaga
Toyotomi Hidenaga
, formerly known as was a half-brother of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, one of the most powerful warlords of Japan's Sengoku period. He was also known by his court title, . After participating in and helping Hideyoshi win the battle at Kii, Hidenaga oversaw the construction of Wakayama Castle in 1585,...
by Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
was a daimyo warrior, general and politician of the Sengoku period. He unified the political factions of Japan. He succeeded his former liege lord, Oda Nobunaga, and brought an end to the Sengoku period. The period of his rule is often called the Momoyama period, named after Hideyoshi's castle...
to the lord, the Tokugawa Shogunate
Tokugawa shogunate
The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the and the , was a feudal regime of Japan established by Tokugawa Ieyasu and ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family. This period is known as the Edo period and gets its name from the capital city, Edo, which is now called Tokyo, after the name was...
ultimately ruled the city of Nara directly, and most parts of Yamato province with a few feudal lords allocated at Kōriyama, Takatori
Takatori, Nara
is a town located in Takaichi District, Nara, Japan.As of October 1, 2007, the town has an estimated population of 7,894. The total area is 25.77 km².-Geography:...
and other places. With industry and commerce developing in the 18th century, the economy of the province was incorporated into prosperous Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
, the commercial capital of Japan at the time.
The economic dependency to Osaka characterizes even today's Nara Prefecture, for many inhabitants commute to Osaka to work or study there.
Geography
Kansai
The or the lies in the southern-central region of Japan's main island Honshū. The region includes the prefectures of Mie, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyōgo, and Shiga. Depending on who makes the distinction, Fukui, Tokushima and even Tottori Prefecture are also included...
, or Kinki, region of Japan, and is located in the middle of the Kii Peninsula
Kii Peninsula
The is the largest peninsula on the island of Honshū in Japan. The area south of the “Central Tectonic Line” is called Nankii , and includes the most poleward living coral reefs in the world due to the presence of the warm Kuroshio Current, though these are threatened by global warming and human...
on the western half of Honshū. Nara Prefecture is landlocked. It is bordered to the west by Wakayama Prefecture
Wakayama Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the Kii Peninsula in the Kansai region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Wakayama.- History :Present-day Wakayama is mostly the western part of the province of Kii.- 1953 Wakayama Prefecture flood disaster :...
and Osaka Prefecture
Osaka Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the Kansai region on Honshū, the main island of Japan. The capital is the city of Osaka. It is the center of Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto area.- History :...
; on the north by Kyoto Prefecture
Kyoto Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Kyoto.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Kyoto prefecture was known as Yamashiro....
and on the east by Mie Prefecture
Mie Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan which is part of the Kansai regions on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Tsu.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, Mie prefecture was known as Ise Province and Iga Province....
.
Nara Prefecture is 78.5 km from East to West and 103.6 km from North to South.
The prefecture is covered by mountains and forests for most of its part, leaving only an inhabitable area of 851 km², smallest of the 47 prefectures of Japan. The ratio of inhabitable area over total area is 23%, ranked 43rd nationwide.
Geologically, Nara Prefecture is bisected by the Japan Median Tectonic Line
Japan Median Tectonic Line
, also Median Tectonic Line , is Japan's longest fault system. It connects with the Itoigawa-Shizuoka Tectonic Line , the left blue line on the map, and the Fossa Magna, the pink shaded region....
(MTL) running through its territory East-West, along Yoshino River
Kinokawa River
The is a river in Nara and Wakayama Prefecture in Japan. It is called in Nara. It is 136 km long and has a watershed of 1,660 km².The river rises from Mount Ōdaigahara and flows to the west. It pours into the sea at Wakayama city.-Geography:...
. On the north side is located the so-called Inner Zone, where North-South active faults
Geologic fault
In geology, a fault is a planar fracture or discontinuity in a volume of rock, across which there has been significant displacement along the fractures as a result of earth movement. Large faults within the Earth's crust result from the action of tectonic forces...
are shaping the landscape. There is Ikoma Mountains in the north-west forming a border line between Osaka, then the Nara Basin laid out next to it in the east, where the highest population of Nara Prefecture concentrates. Further to the east is the Kasagi Mountains separating the basin from Yamato Highlands. In the south of the MTL, the Outer Zone, is the Kii Mountains. This mountainous area occupies about 60% of the prefecture's land. The Ōmine Mountain Range is in the center of the Kii Mountains running North-South, with steep valleys on its both sides. The 1915 m high tallest mountain of Nara and Kansai, the Mount Hakkyō
Mount Hakkyo
is a mountain of Omine Mountains, which is located on the border of Tenkawa and Kamikitayama , Yoshino District, Nara Prefecture, Japan.-Outline:...
is in this range. In the west side separating Nara from Wakayama is the Obako Mountain Range, with its 1300 m class mountains. On the east end bordering Mie is the Daikō Mountain Range, including the 1695 m high Mount Ōdaigahara. This wide mountain area is also home to the World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
collectively inscribed as the "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range
Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range
Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located on the Kii Peninsula in Japan.- Selection criteria :...
" by UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
.
Climate
In the basin area the climate has an inland characteristics, as represented in the bigger temperature variance within the same day, and the difference of summer and winter temperatures. Winter temperatures average about 3 to 5 °C, and 25 – 28 °C in the summer with highest reaching close to 35 °C. There is not a single year over the last decade (since 1990, up to 2007) with more than 10 days of snowfall recorded by Nara Local Meteorological Observatory.
The climate in the rest of the prefecture are mountainous, and especially in the south, with below −5 °C being the extreme minimum in winter. Heavy rainfall is observed in summer. The annual accumulated rainfall ranges as much as 3000 to 5000 mm, which is among the heaviest in Japan.
Spring and fall are both temperate and beautiful. The mountainous region of Yoshino
Yoshino
Yoshino may refer to:* Somei Yoshino, a flowering cherry tree Prunus × yedoensis* Japanese cruiser Yoshino- Places :* Yoshino, Nara, a town located in Yoshino District, Nara Prefecture, Japan...
has been popular both historically and presently for its beautiful cherry
Cherry
The cherry is the fruit of many plants of the genus Prunus, and is a fleshy stone fruit. The cherry fruits of commerce are usually obtained from a limited number of species, including especially cultivars of the wild cherry, Prunus avium....
blossoms in the spring. In the fall, the southern mountains are equally beautiful with the changing of the oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
trees.
Cities
|
Nara, Nara is the capital city of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. The city occupies the northern part of Nara Prefecture, directly bordering Kyoto Prefecture... (capital) Sakurai, Nara is a city in Nara, Japan.As of 2007, the city had an estimated population of 63,321 with a density of 630.01 persons per km². The total area is 98.92 km².The city was founded on September 1, 1956.... Tenri, Nara is a city located in Nara, Japan. Tenri is the only city in Japan to be named after a religious group, the new religious movement Tenrikyo which has its headquarters in the city and believes it to be one among other energy centers of the world. Tenrikyo had recommended the name Yamabe, which is the... Uda, Nara is a city located in northeastern Nara, Japan.On January 1, 2006, the towns of Haibara, Ōuda and Utano, and the village of Murō, all from Uda District, were merged to form Uda City. As of December 29, 2005 the population was 38,648 people. The total area is 247.62 km².Each former town became a ward... Yamatokoriyama, Nara is a city located in Nara, Japan.As of August 31, 2006, the city has an estimated population of 93,280 and the density of 2,185.56 persons per km². The total area is 42.68 km².-Geography:... Yamatotakada, Nara is a city located in Nara Prefecture, Japan.The city continues to develop as a local business and government center in the center of Nara Prefecture.- History :... |
Towns and villages
Towns and villages in each districtDistricts of Japan
The was most recently used as an administrative unit in Japan between 1878 and 1921 and is roughly equivalent to the county of the United States, ranking at the level below prefecture and above city, town or village. As of 2008, cities belong directly to prefectures and are independent from...
:
|
Shiki District, Nara is a district located in Nara Prefecture, Japan.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 50,009 and a density of 1,607.49 persons per km². The total area is 31.11 km².- Towns and villages :* Kawanishi* Miyake* Tawaramoto...
Takaichi District, Nara Takaichi is a district located in Nara Prefecture, Japan.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 14,624 and a density of 293.36 persons per km². The total area is 49.85 km².-Towns and villages:*Asuka*Takatori...
Uda District, Nara Uda is a district located in Nara Prefecture, Japan.As of 2005, the district has an estimated population of 42,752 and a density of 113.98 persons per km². The total area is 375.09 km².- Merger :...
Yamabe District, Nara Yamabe is a district located in Nara Prefecture, Japan.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 11,427 and a density of 103.46 persons per km². The total area is 110.45 km².- Merger :...
|
Yoshino District, Nara Yoshino is a district located in Nara Prefecture, Japan.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 59,020 and a density of 26.14 persons per km²...
|
Demographics
| Population by districts | |||
| District | Area Size (km²) |
Population | Density per km² |
| Yamato flat inland plain | 837.27 | 1,282 | 1,531 |
| (Share in %) | 22.7% | 89.7% | |
| Yamato highland | 506.89 | 56 | 110 |
| (Share in %) | 13.7% | 3.9% | |
| Gojō, Yoshino | 2,346.84 | 92 | 39 |
| (Share in %) | 63.6% | 6.4% | |
| Total Prefecture | 3,691.09 | 1,430 | 387 |
| (Share in %) | 100.0% | 100.0% | |
According to the 2005 Census of Japan, Nara Prefecture has a population of 1,421,310, which is a decrease of 1.5%, since the year 2000.
The decline continued in 2006, with another decrease of 4,987 people compared to 2005. This includes a natural decrease from previous year of 288 people (11,404 births minus 11,692 deaths) and a decrease due to net domestic migration of 4,627 people outbound from the prefecture, and a decrease of 72 registered foreigners. Net domestic migration has turned into a continuous outbound trend since 1998. The largest destinations of migration in 2005 were the prefectures of Kyoto, Tokyo and Hyōgo, with respectively a net of 1,130, 982 and 451 people moving over. The largest inbound migration was from Niigata Prefecture
Niigata Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Honshū on the coast of the Sea of Japan. The capital is the city of Niigata. The name "Niigata" literally means "new lagoon".- History :...
, contributing to a net increase of 39 people. 13.7% of its population were reported as under 15, 65.9% between 15 and 64, and 20.4% were 65 or older. Females made up approximately 52.5% of the population.
As of 2004, the average density of the prefecture is 387 people per km². By districts, the so-called Yamato flat inland plain holds as much as about 90% of total population within the approximately 23% size of area in the north-west, including the Nara
Basin, representing a density of 1,531 people per km². To the contrast, the combined district Gojō
Gojo
- Names :—a Japanese kuge family descended from the Sugawara clan* Gojo Takeshi, a character in Kodocha—see List of Kodocha characters- Places :...
and Yoshino District
Yoshino District, Nara
Yoshino is a district located in Nara Prefecture, Japan.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 59,020 and a density of 26.14 persons per km²...
occupies almost 64% of the land, while only 6% of people lives there, resulting in a density of 39 people km².
Nara prefecture had the highest rate in Japan of people commuting outbound for work, at 30.9% in 2000. A similar tendency is seen in prefecutes as Saitama
Saitama Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Saitama.This prefecture is part of the Greater Tokyo Area, and most of Saitama's cities can be described as suburbs of Tokyo, to which a large amount of residents commute each day.- History...
, Chiba
Chiba Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region and the Greater Tokyo Area. Its capital is Chiba City.- History :Chiba Prefecture was established on June 15, 1873 with the merger of Kisarazu Prefecture and Inba Prefecture...
and Kanagawa
Kanagawa Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the southern Kantō region of Japan. The capital is Yokohama. Kanagawa is part of the Greater Tokyo Area.-History:The prefecture has some archaeological sites going back to the Jōmon period...
, all three of them having over 20% of people commuting for other prefectures.
Politics
- A governor and members of prefectural assembly is elected by citizens in accordance with the Local Autonomy LawLocal Autonomy LawThe Local Autonomy Law of Japan was passed as Law No. 67 on April 17, 1947, an Act of Devolution that established most of Japan's contemporary local government structures, including prefectures, municipalities and other entities....
. - As of 2007, there are 44 seats in the Nara Prefectural Assembly, voted through 16 electoral blocks.
- There was a clear tendency seen through the results of Lower House election in 2005, that the younger generation executes its voting right much less compared to the older. Only 48.8% of citizens age 20–29 voted, whereas all older generations (grouped by decades) votes more than its younger, reaching the highest voting rate of 86.3% at ages 60–69. The only exception was the 72.1% voting right executed by citizens of 70 or older. The overall average of the prefecture who voted was yet higher, at 70.3%, than that of nationwide average, 67.5%.
Economy
- Tourism is treated by the prefectural government as one of the most important features of Nara, because of its natural beauty and historical significance.
- Nara is famed for its Kaki persimmonPersimmonA persimmon is the edible fruit of a number of species of trees in the genus Diospyros in the ebony wood family . The word Diospyros means "the fire of Zeus" in ancient Greek. As a tree, it is a perennial plant...
. StrawberryStrawberryFragaria is a genus of flowering plants in the rose family, Rosaceae, commonly known as strawberries for their edible fruits. Although it is commonly thought that strawberries get their name from straw being used as a mulch in cultivating the plants, the etymology of the word is uncertain. There...
and tea are some other popular products of the prefecture, while rice and vegetables, including spinach, tomato, eggplants and others are the dominant in terms of amount of production. - Nara is a center for the production of instruments used in conducting traditional Japanese artforms. Brush and ink (sumi) are the best known products from Nara for calligraphyCalligraphyCalligraphy is a type of visual art. It is often called the art of fancy lettering . A contemporary definition of calligraphic practice is "the art of giving form to signs in an expressive, harmonious and skillful manner"...
. Wooden or bamboo instruments, especially from Takayama area (in Ikoma city) are famous products for tea ceremonyJapanese tea ceremonyThe Japanese tea ceremony, also called the Way of Tea, is a Japanese cultural activity involving the ceremonial preparation and presentation of matcha, powdered green tea. In Japanese, it is called . The manner in which it is performed, or the art of its performance, is called...
. - GoldfishGoldfishThe goldfish is a freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae of order Cypriniformes. It was one of the earliest fish to be domesticated, and is one of the most commonly kept aquarium fish....
from Yamatokoriyama in Nara have been a traditional aquacultural product since the 18th century. - Due to its rich history, Nara is also the location of many archeological digs, with many famous ones being located in the villageVillages of JapanA is a local administrative unit in Japan.It is a local public body along with , , and . Geographically, a village's extent is contained within a prefecture....
of AsukaAsuka, Narais a village located in Takaichi District, Nara, Japan.As of September 1, 2007, the village has an estimated population of 6,146 and a density of 255.23 persons per km². The total area is 24.08 km².Asuka is the land where ancient palaces were located...
.
Culture
Nara period
The of the history of Japan covers the years from AD 710 to 794. Empress Gemmei established the capital of Heijō-kyō . Except for 5 years , when the capital was briefly moved again, it remained the capital of Japanese civilization until Emperor Kammu established a new capital, Nagaoka-kyō, in 784...
.
Nara is currently in its preparation to celebrate the 1300th anniversary of the opening of Heijō Palace
Heijo Palace
' in Nara, was the Imperial Palace of Japan , during most of the Nara period. The Palace was located in the north end of the capital city, Heijō-kyō...
.
Universities
- Nara Women's UniversityNara Women's UniversityNara Women's University , is one of two national women's universities in Japan, located in Nara. The other one is the Ochanomizu University.-Overview:...
- Nara Medical UniversityNara Medical Universityis a public university in Kashihara, Nara, Japan. The predecessor of the school was founded in 1945.-External links:*...
- Nara University of EducationNara University of Educationis a national university at Nara, Nara, Japan. The predecessor of the school was founded in 1888, and it was chartered as a university in 1949.-External links:*...
- Nara UniversityNara Universityis a private university of approximately 3,700 students, in Misasagi-cho, Nara, Japan.It is approximately a 20-minute walk from the Kintetsu train line's Takanohara Station.1500 Misasagi-cho,Nara 631-8105,Japan...
- Nara Prefectural University
- Nara Sangyo UniversityNara Sangyo Universityis a private university in the town of Sangō in Nara Prefecture, Japan, established in 1984.-External links:*...
(Nara Industrial University) - Nara Institute of Science and TechnologyNara Institute of Science and Technology, abbreviated to NAIST, , or , is a national university consisting solely of graduate schools in Ikoma, Nara, Japan, founded in 1991. In 2010, NAIST ranked first overall among the 86 Japanese national universities in the first-ever six-year assessment of national university standards and...
- Kio UniversityKio Universityis a private university in the town of Kōryō in Nara Prefecture, Japan. The predecessor of the school was founded in 1946, and it was chartered as a university in 2003.-External links:*...
- Tezukayama UniversityTezukayama Universityis a private university in Nara Prefecture, Japan.Tezukayama University has two campuses--one in Higashi Ikoma 東生駒 and the other in Gakuenmae 学園前. Tezukayama University has many facilities in a beautiful historical setting....
- Tenri UniversityTenri Universityis a Japanese private university in Tenri, Nara Prefecture, an independent part of the secular mission of Tenrikyo. It was established in February 1925 as the coeducational , enrolling 104 students, and was reorganised as a university in April 1949...
Sports
The sports teams listed below are based in Nara.Football(Soccer)
- Nara ClubNara Clubis a Japanese football club based in Nara, Nara Prefecture. They play in Kansai Regional League Division 1.-History:The Club originally established in Nara in 1991 under the name and it became a member of Football Association of Nara. The club went up to the top division in 1997.It renamed to...
(NaraNara, Narais the capital city of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. The city occupies the northern part of Nara Prefecture, directly bordering Kyoto Prefecture...
)
Tourism
Many Jinja (Shinto shrines) and Buddhist temples, and kofunKofun
Kofun are megalithic tombs or tumuli in Japan, constructed between the early 3rd century and early 7th century. They gave their name to the Kofun period . Many of the Kofun have a distinctive keyhole-shaped mound , unique to ancient Japan...
exist in Nara Prefecture, and it is a centre for tourism. Moreover, many world heritage sites, such as the temple Tōdai-ji
Todai-ji
, is a Buddhist temple complex located in the city of Nara, Japan. Its Great Buddha Hall , the largest wooden building in the world, houses the world's largest bronze statue of the Buddha Vairocana, known in Japanese simply as Daibutsu . The temple also serves as the Japanese headquarters of the ...
and Kasuga Shrine
Kasuga Shrine
is a Shinto shrine in the city of Nara, in Nara Prefecture, Japan. Established in 768 AD and rebuilt several times over the centuries, it is the shrine of the Fujiwara family...
, exist in the capital city of Nara.
World Heritage sites
Buddhist Monuments in the Hōryū-ji AreaBuddhist Monuments in the Hōryū-ji Area
The UNESCO World Heritage Site Buddhist Monuments in the Hōryū-ji Area includes a variety of buildings found in Hōryū-ji and Hokki-ji in Nara Prefecture, Japan. They were designated in 1993 along with the surrounding landscape, under several criteria. The structures inscribed are some of the...
| Hōryū-ji Hōryū-ji is a Buddhist temple in Ikaruga, Nara Prefecture, Japan. Its full name is Hōryū Gakumonji , or Learning Temple of the Flourishing Law, the complex serving as seminary and monastery both.... |
法隆寺 |
| Hokki-ji Hokki-ji — formerly known as and is a Buddhist temple in Okamoto, Ikaruga, Nara, Japan. The temple's honorary sangō prefix is , although it is rarely used. The temple was constructed to honor Avalokitesvara, and an 11-faced statue of the goddess is the primary object of worship in the temple... (Hōki-ji) |
法起寺 |
Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara
Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara
The UNESCO World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara encompasses eight places in the old capital Nara in Nara Prefecture, Japan. Five are Buddhist temples, one is a Shinto shrine, one is a Palace and one a primeval forest. The properties include 26 buildings designated by the Japanese...
| Tōdai-ji Todai-ji , is a Buddhist temple complex located in the city of Nara, Japan. Its Great Buddha Hall , the largest wooden building in the world, houses the world's largest bronze statue of the Buddha Vairocana, known in Japanese simply as Daibutsu . The temple also serves as the Japanese headquarters of the ... |
東大寺 |
| Kōfuku-ji Kofuku-ji is a Buddhist temple in the city of Nara, Nara Prefecture, Japan. The temple is the national headquarters of the Hossō school and is one of the eight Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.-History:... |
興福寺 |
| Kasuga Shrine Kasuga Shrine is a Shinto shrine in the city of Nara, in Nara Prefecture, Japan. Established in 768 AD and rebuilt several times over the centuries, it is the shrine of the Fujiwara family... |
春日大社 |
| Gangō-ji Gango-ji is an ancient Buddhist temple, that was once one of the powerful Nanto Shichi Daiji, in Nara, Japan.-History:The original foundation of the temple was by Soga no Umako in Asuka, as Asuka-dera... |
元興寺 |
| Yakushi-ji Yakushi-ji is one of the most famous imperial and ancient Buddhist temples in Japan, located in Nara. The temple is the headquarters of the Hossō school of Japanese Buddhism... |
薬師寺 |
| Tōshōdai-ji Toshodai-ji Tōshōdai-ji is a Buddhist temple of the Ritsu sect in the city of Nara, in Nara Prefecture, Japan. The Classic Golden Hall, also known as the kondō, has a single story, hipped tiled roof with a seven bay wide facade. It is considered the archetype of "classical style."It was founded by a Chinese... |
唐招提寺 |
| Heijo Palace remains Heijo Palace ' in Nara, was the Imperial Palace of Japan , during most of the Nara period. The Palace was located in the north end of the capital city, Heijō-kyō... > 平城宮跡 |
|
| Shōsō-in | 正倉院 |
Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range
Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range
Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located on the Kii Peninsula in Japan.- Selection criteria :...
| Area | |
| Mt. Yoshino Mount Yoshino is a mountain located in the town of Yoshino in Yoshino District, Nara Prefecture, Japan. In 2004, It was designated as part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the name Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range.... |
Kinpusen-ji |
| Yoshino Mikumari Shrine Yoshino Mikumari Shrine is a Shinto shrine located on Mount Yoshino in Yoshino district, Nara, Japan. It is closely associated with Emperor Go-Daigo.The Shrine is dedicated to mikumari, a female Shinto kami associated with water... |
|
| Kinpu Shrine Kinpu Shrine (Yoshino) is a Shinto shrine located in Yoshino district, Nara Prefecture, Japan. The honden, or main hall, is constructed in the nagare-zukuri style.... |
|
| Yoshimizu Shrine Yoshimizu Shrine is a Shinto shrine located on Mount Yoshino in Yoshino district, Nara, Japan. It is dedicated to Emperor Go-Daigo, and the samurai Kusunoki Masashige.... |
|
| Mount Omine Mount Omine , is a sacred mountain in Nara, Japan, famous for its three tests of courage.Officially known as , it is more popularly known as Mount Ōmine due to its prominence in the Ōmine mountain range... |
Ominesan-ji |
Buddhist temples
| Asuka-dera Asuka-dera ', also known as ', is a Buddhist temple in Asuka, Nara. Asuka-dera is regarded as one of the oldest in Japan.-Temple complex:A number of records refer to the origin of the temple, such as the Nihongi and Fusō-ryakuki... |
飛鳥寺 |
| Hase-dera Hase-dera thumb|240px|The Main Hall is the main temple of the Buzan sect of Shingon Buddhism. The temple is located in Sakurai, Nara, Japan.-Overview:According to the description on , the temple was first built in 686 and dedicated to Emperor Temmu, who was suffering from a disease... |
長谷寺 |
| Hōrin-ji Horin-ji (Nara) , or is a Buddhist temple in Mii, Ikaruga, Nara, Japan. The temple's honorary sangō prefix is . The temple is located about a kilometer north of Hōryū-ji's Tō-in... |
法輪寺 |
| > 大峯山龍泉寺 | |
| Saidai-ji Saidai-ji Saidai-ji or the "Great Western Temple" is a Buddhist temple in the city of Nara, Nara Prefecture, Japan. The temple was established in AD 765 as a counterpart to Tōdai-ji and it is the main temple of the Shingon Risshu sect of Buddhism after the sect's founder, Eison, took over administration in... |
西大寺 |
| Southern Hokke-ji | 南法華寺 |
| Chūgū-ji Chūgū-ji is a temple in Nara Prefecture, Japan, that was founded as a nunnery in the seventh century by Shōtoku Taishi. Located immediately to the northeast of Hōryū-ji, its statue of Miroku and Tenjukoku mandala are National Treasures.-History:... |
中宮寺 |
Shinto shrines
| > 石上神宮 | |
| Kashihara Shrine Kashihara Shrine The is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Kashihara, Nara Prefecture, Japan.Kashihara Shrine was built in 1889 at the site of the Kashihara-gū where Japan's first emperor, Emperor Jimmu, is said to have acceded to the throne.-Access:... > 橿原神宮 |
|
| Danzan Shrine | 談山神社 |
| Ōmiwa Shrine Ōmiwa Shrine , also known as , is a Shinto shrine located in Sakurai, Nara, Japan. The shrine is noted because it contains no sacred images or objects because it is believed to serve Mount Miwa, the mountain on which it stands. For the same reason, it has a , but no . In this sense, it is a model of what the... |
大神神社 |
| Ōyamato Shrine Ōyamato Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Tenri, Nara in Japan.The shrine became the object of Imperial patronage during the early Heian period. In 965, Emperor Murakami ordered that Imperial messengers were sent to report important events to the guardian kami of Japan... |
大和神社 |
Kofun and heritage
| Ishibutai Tomb Ishibutai Kofun is a kofun in Asuka, Nara, JapanIshibutai has a rectangular chamber measuring 25 ft by 11 ft by 15 ft high approached by a passage 38 ft in length and roofed by two capstones each weighing between 60 and 70 tons. Modern estimates place the largest stone at approximately 75 tons.... |
石舞台古墳 |
| Kitora Tomb Kitora Tomb The is an ancient tumulus located in the village of Asuka, Nara Prefecture, Japan. The tomb is believed to have been constructed some time between the 7th and early 8th centuries, but was only discovered in 1983.... |
キトラ古墳 |
| Takamatsuzuka Tomb Takamatsuzuka Tomb The or "Tall Pine Tree Ancient Burial Mound" in Japanese is an ancient circular tomb in Asuka village, Nara prefecture, Japan.The tomb is thought to have been built at some time between the end of the 7th century and the beginning of the 8th century. It was accidentally discovered by a local... > 高松塚古墳 |
|
| Hashihaka Tomb | 箸墓古墳 |
| Umami Kofun Group | 馬見古墳群 |
| Sakafuneishi Heritage | 酒船石遺跡 |
Hot springs
| Dorogawa | 洞川温泉 |
| Shionoha | 入之波温泉 |
| Kamiyu | 上湯温泉 |
| > 十津川温泉 |
Mountains
| Mount Amanokagu* | 天香具山 |
| > 耳成山 | |
| Mount Unebi* | 畝傍山 |
| Mount Wakakusa Mount Wakakusa , also known as Mount Mikasa , is an high mountain located in Nara, Nara Prefecture, Japan, beyond to the east from Nara Park.... |
若草山 |
Other attractions
| Nara Park Nara Park is a public park located in the city of Nara, Japan, at the foot of Mount Wakakusa, established in 1880. Administratively, the park is under the control of Nara Prefecture. The park is one of the "Places of Scenic Beauty" designated by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and... |
奈良公園 |
| Yoshino-Kumano National Park Yoshino-Kumano National Park is a national park in the Kansai region, Honshū, Japan. It was accredited on February 1, 1936.Part of it was accredited World Heritage Site in 2004.Northernmost of mountain lands in it called Yoshino is famous site of cherry blossoms.-External links:... |
吉野熊野国立公園 |
| > 金剛生駒紀泉国定公園 | |
| > |
Railroad
- JR WestWest Japan Railway Company, also referred to as , is one of the Japan Railways Group companies and operates in western Honshū. It has its headquarters in Kita-ku, Osaka.-History:...
- Yamatoji LineYamatoji LineThe is the common name of the western portion of the Kansai Main Line, and the name has been used since March 13, 1988. The electrified portion is one of commuter rail lines and services in Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto Metropolitan Area, owned and operated by West Japan Railway Company...
- Kansai Line
- Manyo Mahoroba LineSakurai LineThe is a railway line in Nara Prefecture, operated by West Japan Railway Company . It runs from Nara on the Yamatoji Line to Takada on the Wakayama Line, with some service continuing on the Wakayama Line to Ōji Station, and then to JR Namba on the Yamatoji Line...
- Wakayama LineWakayama LineThe is a railway line that links Nara Prefecture to Wakayama Prefecture in Japan, operated by West Japan Railway Company . It runs from Ōji Station on the Yamatoji Line to Wakayama Station on the Hanwa Line and Kisei Main Line, with through train service to JR Namba via the Yamatoji Line and to...
- Yamatoji Line
- KintetsuKintetsu, named Kinki Nippon Railway Co., Ltd. in English until June 27, 2003, is a Japanese rail transit corporation commonly known as . It is the largest non-JR railway in Japan. Its complex network of lines connects Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Nagoya, Tsu and Ise...
- Nara Line
- Keihanna LineKintetsu Keihanna Lineis a railway line owned by Kintetsu Corporation. There are through trains to the Chūō Line of Osaka Municipal Subway. The line name derives from a kanji acronym formed from Kyoto , Osaka , and Nara , however the line is written in hiragana.The line is the sole Kintetsu line with a third rail...
- Kyoto Line
- Kashihara LineKintetsu Kashihara Lineof Kintetsu Corporation is a north-south bound railway line between Yamato-Saidaiji Station and Kashiharajingu-mae Station in Nara Prefecture, in Japan...
- Ikoma LineKintetsu Ikoma LineThe is a railway line of Kintetsu Corporation in Nara Prefecture, Japan between Ikoma Station in the city of Ikoma and Ōji Station in the town of Ōji. Having a total length of 12.4 km, the entirely electrified standard gauge line is partially double-tracked...
- Ikoma Cable
- Tenri LineKintetsu Tenri LineThe is a railway line of Kintetsu Corporation in Nara Prefecture, Japan connecting Hirahata Station in Yamato-Kōriyama and Tenri Station in Tenri.The line has four stations including the terminal Tenri and the transfer station Hirahata...
- Osaka Line
- Tawaramoto LineKintetsu Tawaramoto LineThe is a railway line of the Japanese private railway company Kintetsu, connecting Shin-Ōji Station and Nishi-Tawaramoto Station in Japan....
- Minami Osaka Line
- Gose LineKintetsu Gose LineThe is a railway line of Kintetsu Corporation in Nara Prefecture, Japan connecting Shakudo Station in Katsuragi and Kintetsu Gose Station in Gose.The line has four stations including the terminal Gose and the transfer station Shakudo. It is mainly used by commuters to Osaka, as well as those who...
- Yoshino LineKintetsu Yoshino Lineof Kintetsu Corporation is a railway line in Japan between Kashihara-Jingūmae Station in Kashihara and Yoshino in Yoshino. All Express and Limited Express trains terminate at the Ōsaka Abenobashi Station in Minami-Osaka Line.-Statistics:* Length: 25.2km...
Bus
'Departure from Nara and Tenri- Shinjuku of Tokyo
- Tokyo StationTokyo Stationis a train station located in the Marunouchi business district of Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan, near the Imperial Palace grounds and the Ginza commercial district....
- YokohamaYokohamais the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
- Tokyo DisneylandTokyo Disneylandis a 115 acre theme park at the Tokyo Disney Resort located in Urayasu, Chiba, Japan, near Tokyo. Its main gate is directly adjacent to both Maihama Station and Tokyo Disneyland Station. It was the first Disney park to be built outside of the United States and opened on April 15, 1983...
in Urayasu - MakuhariMakuhari Messeis a Japanese convention center outside Tokyo, located in the Mihama-ku ward of Chiba city, in the northwest corner of Chiba prefecture. Designed by Fumihiko Maki, it is easily accessible by Tokyo's commuter rail system. Makuhari is the name of the area, and Messe is a German word meaning "trade...
of ChibaChiba-Places:* Chiba, Chiba, capital city of Chiba Prefecture, Japan* Chiba Prefecture, a sub-national jurisdiction in the Greater Tokyo Area on the eastern coast of Honshū Island, Japan* Chiba Station, a train station in Chiba, Chiba... - Nagoya
- Osaka International AirportOsaka International Airportor Osaka-Itami International Airport is the primary domestic airport for the Kansai region of Japan, including the major cities of Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe. It is classified as a first class airport....
- Kansai International AirportKansai International Airportis an international airport located on an artificial island in the middle of Osaka Bay, southwest of Ōsaka Station, located within three municipalities, including Izumisano , Sennan , and Tajiri , in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. The airport is off the Honshu shore. The airport serves as an...
'Departure from Yamato Yagi and Gose'
- Shinjuku of Tokyo
- Shingu
- TotsukawaTotsukawa, Narais a village located in the Yoshino District of Nara Prefecture, Japan. It's recognized as the largest village in Japan in terms of land area.As of 2009, the village has an estimated population of 4,029 and a density of 5.99 persons per km². The total area is 672.35 km².-History:In 1889, a...
Road
'Expressway and Toll Road'- Nishi-Meihan ExpresswayNishi-Meihan Expresswayis a national expressway in the Kinki region of Japan. It is owned and operated by West Nippon Expressway Company.- Naming :Meihan is a kanji acronym of two characters. The first character represents Nagoya and the second character represents Osaka...
- Meihan Road
- Keinawa Expressway
- Second Hanna(OsakaOsakais a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
-Nara) Road - South Hanna Road
'National Highways'
- Route 24
- Route 25 (Osaka-Tenri-Nabari-Yokkaichi)
- Route 163
- Route 165
- Route 166
- Route 168 (Hirakata-Ikoma-Kashiba-Gojo-Totsukawa-Shingu)
- Route 169 (Nara-Tenri-Oyodo-Yoshino-Shingu)
- Route 308
- Route 309
- Route 310
- Route 311
- Route 368
- Route 369
- Route 370
- Route 371
- Route 422
- Route 425
External links
- Official Nara Prefecture homepage
- Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area (UNESCO)
- Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara (UNESCO)
- Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range (UNESCO)
- Map of Nara City
- Photos of Nara's temples & shrines
- Nara Tourist Information Center
- Commemorative Events of the 1300th Anniversary of Nara Heijo-kyo Capital