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Nara Prefecture facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
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Kōfuku-ji
Kouyou of Yoshinoyama
The red autumn leaves in Yoshino
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The restored turret of Kōriyama Castle

Nara Prefecture (奈良県, Nara-ken) is a special area in Japan. It is one of Japan's prefectures. You can find it in the Kansai region on the island of Honshu. The main city and capital of Nara Prefecture is Nara.

A Look at Nara's Past

Nara Prefecture has a long and interesting history. Long ago, this area was known as Yamato Province. During a time called the Meiji period, Japan changed how it was organized. That's when Yamato Province became what we now call Nara Prefecture. This change helped Japan become a more modern country.

Exploring Nara's Location

Nara Prefecture is located in the middle of Japan. It shares its borders with several other prefectures. To the west, Nara is next to Wakayama Prefecture and Osaka Prefecture. If you go north from Nara, you will reach Kyoto Prefecture. On the eastern side, Nara borders Mie Prefecture. This central location makes Nara an important part of the Kansai region.

Main Cities in Nara

Nara Prefecture has many important cities. The capital city, Nara, is famous for its history and temples. Other major cities include:

Smaller Towns and Villages

Besides the big cities, Nara Prefecture also has many smaller towns and villages. These are grouped into different districts.

Horyuji Nara Cherry
Hōryū-ji during cherry blossom season in Ikaruga Town

Here are some of the towns and villages in each district:

  • Shiki District
    • Kawanishi
    • Miyake
    • Tawaramoto
  • Takaichi District
    • Asuka
    • Takatori
  • Uda District
    • Mitsue
    • Soni
  • Yamabe District
    • Yamazoe
  • Yoshino District
    • Higashiyoshino
    • Kamikitayama
    • Kawakami
    • Kurotaki
    • Nosegawa
    • Ōyodo
    • Shimoichi
    • Shimokitayama
    • Tenkawa
    • Totsukawa
    • Yoshino

Nara's National Parks

Nara Prefecture is home to beautiful nature. About 17% of the land in Nara is set aside as National Parks. These parks help protect the natural beauty and wildlife of the area. They are great places for people to visit and enjoy the outdoors.

Important Shrines and Temples

Nara is very famous for its ancient shrines and temples. These places are important for Japan's history and culture. One of the most important Shinto shrines in the prefecture is Ōmiwa jinja. It is known as the chief shrine, or ichinomiya, for the area. Many people visit these sites to learn about Japan's past and traditions.

Related pages

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Prefectura de Nara para niños

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