Nara Prefecture

Nara Prefecture
奈良県
Prefecture
Japanese transcription(s)
 • Japanese奈良県
 • RōmajiNara-ken
Tōdai-ji
Cherry blossom in Mount Yoshino
Kōfuku-ji
Miwa Sōmen
Takamatsuzuka Tomb
Fujinoki Tomb
Daigokuden in Heijyō Palace
Hōryū-ji
Flag of Nara Prefecture
Flag
Official logo of Nara Prefecture
Symbol
Anthem: Nara kenmin no uta
Location of Nara Prefecture
Country Japan
RegionKansai
IslandHonshu
CapitalNara
SubdivisionsDistricts: 7, Municipalities: 39
Government
 • GovernorMakoto Yamashita
Area
 • Total3,691.09 km2 (1,425.14 sq mi)
 • Rank40th
Population
 (1 December 2020)
 • Total1,321,805
 • Rank30th
 • Density358.10/km2 (927.5/sq mi)
 • Dialects
Nara・Okuyoshino
GDP
[1]
 • TotalJP¥ 3,925 billion
US$ 36.0 billion (2019)
ISO 3166 codeJP-29
Websitewww.pref.nara.jp
Symbols of Japan
BirdJapanese robin (Erithacus akahige)
FishGoldfish ( Carassius auratus auratus )[2]
Ayu (Plecoglossus altivelis altivelis)[2]
Amago (Oncorhynchus masou ishikawae)[2]
FlowerNara yae zakura
(Prunus verecunda cultivar)
TreeSugi (Cryptomeria japonica)
Hōryū-ji, a World Heritage Site in Ikaruga Town, Ikoma District, Nara Prefecture

Nara Prefecture (奈良県, Nara-ken) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of Honshu.[3] As of 2020, Nara Prefecture has a population of 1,321,805[4] and has a geographic area of 3,691 square kilometres (1,425 sq mi). Nara Prefecture borders Kyoto Prefecture to the north, Osaka Prefecture to the northwest, Wakayama Prefecture to the southwest, and Mie Prefecture to the east.

Nara is the capital and largest city of Nara Prefecture, with other major cities including Kashihara, Ikoma, and Yamatokōriyama.[5] Nara Prefecture is located in the center of the Kii Peninsula on Japan's Pacific Ocean coast, and is one of only eight landlocked prefectures. Nara Prefecture has the distinction of having more UNESCO World Heritage listings than any other prefecture in Japan.[6]

  1. ^ "2020年度国民経済計算（2015年基準・2008SNA） : 経済社会総合研究所 - 内閣府". 内閣府ホームページ (in Japanese). Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "金魚・アユ・アマゴを「奈良県のさかな」に – MSN産経west" [Goldfish, Ayu, and Amago elected "Fish of Nara prefecture".]. Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). June 27, 2012. Archived from the original on June 27, 2012. Retrieved June 27, 2012.
  3. ^ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Nara-ken" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 699, p. 699, at Google Books; "Kansai" at p. 477, p. 477, at Google Books.
  4. ^ "推計人口調査/奈良県公式ホームページ". www.pref.nara.jp. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  5. ^ Nussbaum, "Nara" at p. 698, p. 698, at Google Books.
  6. ^ "Nara". GoJapanGo. Archived from the original on June 27, 2012. Retrieved June 19, 2012.