Nara (city) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nara 奈良市
Core city
Nara City
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 Seal
Nara Location in Japan
Country	Japan
Region	Kansai
Prefecture	Nara Prefecture
Area
• Total	276.84 km2 (106.89 sq mi)
Population  (2022)
• Total	367,353
• Density	1,326.951/km2 (3,436.79/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address	1-1-1 Nijō-ōji, Nara-shi, Nara-ken 630-8580
Website	City of Nara
Symbols Bird Japanese bush warbler Flower Nara yaezakura Tree Quercus gilva

Nara (奈良市, Nara-shi, [naꜜɾa]) is the capital city of Nara Prefecture, Japan. It's a big city in the Kansai region of Honshu. As of 2022^[update], Nara has about 367,353 people. This makes it the largest city in Nara Prefecture.

Nara was once the capital of Japan. This was during the Nara period, from 710 to 794. The Emperor lived here before the capital moved to Kyoto. Nara is famous for its eight temples, shrines, and old ruins. These include Tōdai-ji, Saidai-ji, Kōfuku-ji, Kasuga Shrine, Gangō-ji, Yakushi-ji, Tōshōdai-ji, and the Heijō Palace. These places, along with Kasugayama Primeval Forest, are known as the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara. They are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

What's in a Name? The Meaning of "Nara"

The name "Nara" has been written in many ways over time. People have used different Japanese characters for it. For example, some old writings used characters that mean "flat" or "peaceful."

There are a few ideas about where the name "Nara" came from. The most popular idea today comes from a famous folklorist named Kunio Yanagita.

"Flat Land" Theory

This idea says that "Nara" comes from a word meaning "flat land" or "gently sloping." In some parts of Japan, a gentle slope on a mountain is called naru. This word is related to narasu, which means "to flatten."

Many old documents support this idea. They show that the character for "flat" (平) was often used to write "Nara." This makes the "flat land" theory the most likely one.

Other Ideas for the Name

• Some think "Nara" comes from nara, the Japanese word for "oak tree." Oak trees were common in the area.
• Another idea is that "Nara" might be an old loanword from Old Korean. In Korean, nara means "country" or "kingdom."
• There's also a theory that it's linked to a Tungusic word na, meaning "earth" or "land."

Nara's Rich History

Early Nara and Its Beginnings

Nara has many ancient burial mounds called kofun. These are huge tombs built a long time ago.

In 708 AD, Empress Genmei decided to move the capital to Nara. The city was called Heijō or Heijō-kyō back then. It became Japan's first permanent capital in 710 CE. It was the center of government until 784 CE. After that, the capital moved to Nagaoka-kyō and then to Heian-kyō (Kyoto). Kyoto remained the capital for over 1,100 years.

The city of Nara (Heijō) was designed like the Chinese capital of Tang China, called Chang’an. It was laid out in a grid pattern. This design helped show the ruler's power. Nara also became a major center for Buddhism. Many temples were built, and some, like Yakushiji and Todaiji, are still standing today.

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  Gosashi tomb

Religion and Famous Temples

When Nara became the capital, the important temple of Asuka-dera was moved here. Emperor Shōmu ordered the building of Tōdai-ji Temple. This temple has the world's largest wooden building and the world's largest bronze Buddha statue.

The temples of Nara are very important. They are known as the Nanto Shichi Daiji. Even after the capital moved to Kyoto in 794, these temples remained spiritually significant. This is why Nara is sometimes called Nanto, meaning "the southern capital."

In 724 AD, the government asked wealthy people to make their homes look grander. They wanted them to fix up roofs, pillars, and walls. This was to make the city look even more magnificent.

Visiting Nara became popular during the Edo period. Many maps for visitors were printed. Later, during the Meiji Period, some temples like Kofukuji lost land. This was because Buddhism was linked to the old government.

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  Tōdai-ji is a Buddhist temple and the world's largest wooden building (8th century)

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  Yakushi-ji was completed in 680

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  Kōfuku-ji was built in 669

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  Houtokuji (Yagyu Clan Tomb)

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  Himuro Shrine, established in 710

Modern Nara Today

Even though Nara was Japan's capital for a long time, it wasn't officially called a "city" until February 1, 1898. Since then, Nara has grown into a modern tourist city. People come from all over to see its many historical temples, landmarks, and national monuments.

In December 1998, Nara was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list. Many shops, traditional inns (ryokans), and art galleries in Nara have kept their old Japanese style.

Nara hosts many traditional festivals every year. One is the Neri-Kuyo Eshiki, a spring festival at Todaiji temple that's over 1,000 years old. Another is the Kemari Festival, where people wear old costumes and play traditional games.

In 1909, Tatsuno Kingo designed the Nara Hotel. It mixed modern ideas with traditional Japanese architecture.

On July 8, 2022, former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe passed away in Nara.

Nara's Geography and Climate

Nara city is in the northern part of Nara Prefecture. It shares a border with Kyoto Prefecture to the north. The city is about 22.22 kilometers from north to south and east to west. Since 2005, Nara also borders Mie Prefecture to its east. The total area of the city is 276.84 square kilometres (106.89 square miles).

Nara city is located in the Nara Basin. This basin is a flat area where many important towns are found. It's the most crowded part of Nara Prefecture.

The main part of Nara city is east of the old Heijō Palace site. Many government offices are on a street called Nijō-ōji. Major banks are on Sanjō-ōji. Both of these streets run east to west.

The highest point in Nara is Kaigahira-yama, which is 822.0 m (2,696.85 ft) high. The lowest point is in Ikeda-cho district, at 56.4 m (185.04 ft) above sea level.

Nara's Weather

Nara Prefecture generally has a mild climate. However, the weather is different in the flat basin area compared to the mountains.

The basin area has an inland climate. This means there are bigger differences between day and night temperatures. There are also bigger differences between summer and winter. In winter, temperatures are usually around 3 to 5 °C (37 to 41 °F). In summer, they are from 25 to 28 °C (77 to 82 °F), sometimes reaching close to 35 °C (95 °F). It doesn't snow much in Nara city.

The mountainous areas have cooler temperatures. In winter, it can get as cold as −5 °C (23 °F). These areas also get a lot of rain in the summer. The yearly rainfall can be as much as 3,000 to 5,000 mm (118.11 to 196.85 in). This is one of the highest rainfall amounts in Japan.

Spring and fall are mild and pleasant. Many people visit the Yoshino mountains in spring to see the cherry blossoms. In autumn, the southern mountains are popular for their beautiful fall leaves.

City Views and People

Nara city in Nara Basin viewed from Byakugō-ji

Nara's Population

As of April 1,  2017 (2017 -04-01)^[update], Nara city had about 359,666 people. This means there were about 1,300 people per square kilometer. Most people live in newer areas along the Kintetsu line that goes to Osaka.

About 3,000 foreigners live in Nara. The largest groups are from Korea and China.

Famous Places and Culture in Nara

Tōshōdai-ji temple

Saidai-ji main hall

Buddhist Temples to Explore

Nara is home to many beautiful Buddhist temples. Some of the most well-known include:

• Tōdai-ji, which has the famous Nigatsu-dō and Shōsōin buildings.
• Saidai-ji
• Kōfuku-ji
• Gangō-ji
• Yakushi-ji
• Tōshōdai-ji
• Shin-Yakushi-ji
• Akishino-dera
• Byakugō-ji
• Daian-ji
• Enjō-ji
• Enshō-ji
• Futai-ji
• Hannya-ji
• Hokke-ji
• Kikō-ji
• Ryōsen-ji
• Shōryaku-ji

Shinto Shrines to Visit

Nara also has important Shinto shrines:

Kasuga Shrine

• Himuro Shrine
• Kasuga Shrine
• Tamukeyama Hachiman Shrine

The Old Imperial Palace

• Heijō Palace was once the home of the Emperor.

Museums for Learning

Nara National Museum

You can learn a lot at Nara's museums:

• Nara National Museum
• Nara Municipal Buried Cultural Properties Research Centre
• Nara City Historical Materials Preservation House
• Nara Prefectural Museum of Art
• Irie Taikichi Memorial Museum of Photography Nara City
• Nakano Museum of Art
• Neiraku Museum
• Shōhaku Art Museum
• Yamato Bunkakan

Beautiful Gardens

Isuien Garden

Ukimidou Pavilion in Nara Park

Sunazuri-no-Fuji (wisteria flower) in Kasuga-taisha

Nara has many peaceful gardens:

• Former Daijō-in Gardens (旧大乗院庭園)
• Isuien Garden
• Kyūseki Teien
• Manyo Botanical Garden, Nara
• Yoshiki-en
• Yagyū Iris Garden, Nara (柳生花しょうぶ園)

Other Interesting Places

• Naramachi (an old merchant district)
• Nara Park (home to many deer)
• Nara Hotel
• Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties
• Yagyū
• Zutō (頭塔)

Music and Events

• The rock band Tipsy night from Nara made a theme song for a Naruto video game.

Nara also has special events:

Burning the dead grass of Mount Wakakusa and Suzakumon of Heijō Palace

• Nara Marathon
• Nara Centennial Hall
• Nara Kasugano International Forum Iraka
• Shuni-e (a Buddhist ceremony)

• Gallery
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  Tōdai-ji Temple Daibutsuden Hall, the world's largest wooden building

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  Kōfuku-ji in the center of Nara

The Famous Deer of Nara

Deer roaming in Nara city. 2010

Nara is famous for its wild sika deer. These deer roam freely, especially in Nara Park. A legend says that a god arrived in Nara on a white deer. Because of this, the deer are seen as special, heavenly animals that protect the city.

In 2015, there were over 1,200 sika deer in Nara. You can buy sika senbei (deer crackers) from vendors to feed them. Some deer have even learned to bow to get a cracker!

Deer Health and Diet

A study in 2009 looked at the health of deer in Nara Park. It found that many deer were not getting enough nutrients. This was because they ate too many rice crackers and other human food. Rice crackers don't have enough fiber or other things deer need. Eating too many can upset their stomachs.

The study showed that deer in Nara Park were smaller than deer outside the park. This was a sign of poor nutrition. Rice crackers made up about one-third of the deer's diet in the park. The rest was grass.

There isn't enough grass in Nara Park for all the deer. This makes them rely on humans for food. They might even eat trash or plants they normally wouldn't.

Overpopulation and Its Effects

The deer in Nara Park have become very numerous. This is because people feed them often, and there are few predators. This large number of deer has caused problems. They damage trees by eating the bark and bamboo by eating the shoots.

Also, the deer can become aggressive when they want food. This can sometimes lead to people getting hurt. They also fight with each other for crackers. Because they are so used to humans, they have lost their natural fear of predators.

Because of these issues, it's a good idea for visitors to observe the deer instead of feeding them.

• Gallery
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  Deer in Nara Park (2012).

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  Deer approaching tourists in Nara Park in summer.

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  Deer in Nara Park

Education in Nara

As of 2005^[update], Nara city has 16 high schools and 6 universities.

Universities for Higher Learning

Nara Women's University former main building

• Nara Women's University is one of only two national women's universities in Japan.
• Nara Institute of Science and Technology is a university for advanced research. It focuses on biology, information, and materials science.

Schools for Kids

• Public elementary and junior high schools are run by Nara city.
• Public high schools are run by Nara Prefecture.
• Private high schools include Todaiji Gakuen, which was started by a temple in 1926.

Getting Around Nara: Transportation

Kintetsu Nara Station

JR Nara Station

Kintetsu Limited Express passing through the Heijo Palace ruins. Mt.Wakakusa and Todaiji Temple are in the background.

The main train station in Nara is Kintetsu Nara Station. The JR Nara station is about 500 meters to the west.

Train Lines

• West Japan Railway Company
  • Kansai Main Line (Yamatoji Line): Narayama Station – Nara Station
  • Sakurai Line (Manyō-Mahoroba Line): Nara Station – Kyōbate Station – Obitoke Station
• Kintetsu Railway
  • Nara Line: Tomio Station – Gakuen-mae Station – Ayameike Station – Yamato-Saidaiji Station – Shin-Ōmiya Station – Kintetsu Nara Station
  • Kyoto Line: Takanohara Station – Heijō Station – Yamato-Saidaiji Station
  • Kashihara Line: Yamato-Saidaiji Station – Amagatsuji Station – Nishinokyō Station
  • Keihanna Line: Gakken Nara-Tomigaoka Station

Major Roads

• Expressways
  • Keinawa Expressway (Still being built)
  • Hanshin Expressway Dainihanna Route
• Japan National Route 24
• Japan National Route 25
• Japan National Route 169
• Japan National Route 308
• Japan National Route 369
• Japan National Route 370

Nara's Sister Cities

Nara has special friendships with cities around the world and in Japan. These are called "sister cities" or "twin towns."

International Sister Cities

Japanese Sister Cities

See also

In Spanish: Nara (Nara) para niños