Nara (city)

Nara
奈良市
Nara City
Todai-ji temple
Toshodai-ji temple
Yakushi-ji temple
Deer in Nara Park
The garden of the former Daijyo-in temple
Kasuga-taisha shrine
From top left: Todai-ji, Toshodai-ji, Yakushi-ji, the sika deer in Nara Park, the garden of the former Daijyo-in and Kasuga-Taisha
Flag of Nara
Official seal of Nara
Map
Location of Nara in Nara Prefecture
Nara is located in Japan
Nara
Nara
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 34°41′04″N 135°48′18″E / 34.68444°N 135.80500°E / 34.68444; 135.80500
CountryJapan
RegionKansai
PrefectureNara Prefecture
Government
 • MayorGen Nakagawa
Area
 • Total
276.84 km2 (106.89 sq mi)
Population
 (2022)
 • Total
367,353[1]
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address1-1-1 Nijō-ōji, Nara-shi, Nara-ken
630-8580
WebsiteCity of Nara
Symbols
BirdJapanese bush warbler
FlowerNara yaezakura
TreeQuercus gilva
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official nameHistoric Monuments of Ancient Nara
Includes
CriteriaCultural: (ii)(iii)(iv)(vi)
Reference870
Inscription1998 (22nd Session)
Area617 ha (1,520 acres)
Buffer zone1,962.5 ha (4,849 acres)

Nara (奈良市, Nara-shi, [naꜜɾa] ) is the capital city of Nara Prefecture, Japan. As of 2022, Nara has an estimated population of 367,353 according to World Population Review, making it the largest city in Nara Prefecture and sixth-largest in the Kansai region of Honshu. Nara is a core city located in the northern part of Nara Prefecture bordering the Kyoto Prefecture.

Nara was the capital of Japan during the Nara period from 710 to 794 as the seat of the Emperor before the capital was moved to Kyoto. Nara is home to eight temples, shrines, and ruins, specifically Tōdai-ji, Saidai-ji, Kōfuku-ji, Kasuga Shrine, Gangō-ji, Yakushi-ji, Tōshōdai-ji, and the Heijō Palace, together with Kasugayama Primeval Forest, collectively form the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

  1. ^ "Population of Cities in Japan (2022)".