Nara

By the Heian period, a variety of different characters had been used to represent the name Nara: 乃楽, 乃羅, 平, 平城, 名良, 奈良, 奈羅, 常, 那良, 那楽, 那羅, 楢, 諾良, 諾楽, 寧, 寧楽 and 儺羅. A number of theories for the origin of the name "Nara" have been proposed, and some of the better-known ones are listed here. The second theory in the list, from the notable folklorist Kunio Yanagita (1875–1962), is most widely accepted at present. The Nihon Shoki (The Chronicles of Japan, the second oldest book of classical Japanese history) suggests that "Nara" was derived from narasu (to flatten, to level). According to this account, in September in the tenth year of Emperor Sujin, "leading selected soldiers (the rebels) went forward, climbed Nara-yama (hills lying to the north of Heijō-kyō) and put them in order. Now the imperial forces gathered and flattened trees and plants. Therefore the mountain is called Nara-yama. …

There are a number of megalithic tombs or kofun in Nara, including Gosashi Kofun, Hishiage Kofun (ヒシアゲ古墳), Horaisan Kofun (宝来山古墳), Konabe Kofun (コナベ古墳), Saki Ishizukayama Kofun (佐紀石塚山古墳), Saki Misasagiyama Kofun (佐紀陵山古墳), and Uwanabe Kofun (ウワナベ古墳). By decree of an edict on March 11, 708 AD, Empress Genmei ordered the court to relocate to the new capital, Nara. Once known as Heijō or Heijō-kyō, the city was established as Japan's first permanent capital in 710 CE; it was the seat of government until 784 CE, albeit with a five-year interruption, lasting from 740 to 745 CE. Heijō, as the ‘penultimate court’, however, was abandoned by the order of Emperor Kammu in 784 CE in favor of the temporary site of Nagaoka, and then Heian-kyō (Kyoto) which retained the status of capital for 1,100 years, until the Meiji Emperor made the final move to Edo in 1869 CE. …

The city of Nara lies in the northern end of Nara Prefecture, directly bordering Kyoto Prefecture to its north. The city is 22.22 km (13.81 mi) from North to South, from East to West. As a result of the latest merger, effective April 1, 2005, that combined the villages of Tsuge and Tsukigase with the city of Nara, the city now borders Mie Prefecture directly to its east. The total area is 276.84 km2 (106.89 sq mi). Nara city, as well as several important settlements (such as Kashihara, Yamatokōriyama, Tenri, Yamatotakada, Sakurai and Gose), are located in the Nara Basin. This makes it the most densely populated region of Nara Prefecture. The downtown of Nara is on the east side of the ancient Heijō Palace site, occupying the northern part of what was called the Gekyō (外京), literally the outer capital area. Many of the public offices (e.g. …

Akishino-dera Byakugō-ji Daian-ji Enjō-ji Enshō-ji Futai-ji Gangō-ji Hannya-ji Hokke-ji Kikō-ji Kōfuku-ji Ryōsen-ji Saidai-ji Shin-Yakushi-ji Shōryaku-ji Tōdai-ji, including Nigatsu-dō and Shōsōin Tōshōdai-ji Yakushi-ji Himuro Shrine Kasuga Shrine Tamukeyama Hachiman Shrine Heijō Palace Irie Taikichi Memorial Museum of Photography Nara City Nakano Museum of Art Nara City Historical Materials Preservation House Nara National Museum Nara Municipal Buried Cultural Properties Research Centre Nara Prefectural Museum of Art Neiraku Museum Shōhaku Art Museum Yamato Bunkakan Former Daijō-in Gardens (旧大乗院庭園) Isuien Garden Kyūseki Teien Manyo Botanical Garden, Nara Yagyū Iris Garden, Nara (柳生花しょうぶ園) Yoshiki-en Nara Hotel Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties Nara Park Yagyū Zutō (頭塔) Tipsy night, a rock band from Nara, contributed the theme song for the Naruto: Gekitō Ninj …

The main central station of Nara is Kintetsu Nara Station with JR Nara station some 500m west and much closer to Shin-Omiya 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 West Japan Railway Company Kansai Main Line (Yamatoji Line): Narayama Station – Nara Station Sakurai Line (Manyō-Mahoroba Line): Nara Station – Kyōbate Station – Obitoke Station Expressways Keinawa Expressway (Under construction) 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 37 …

As of April 1, 2017, the city had an estimated population of 359,666 and a population density of 1,300 persons per km2. There were 160,242 households residing in Nara. The highest concentration of both households and population, respectively about 46,000 and 125,000, is found along the newer bedtown districts, along the Kintetsu line connecting to Osaka. There were about 3,000 registered foreigners in the city, of which Koreans and Chinese are the two largest groups with about 1,200 and 800 people respectively.