Nara, Nara

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**Nara City**
**奈良市**
Location
Country	Japan
Region	Kansai
Prefecture	Nara Prefecture
Physical characteristics
Area	211.60 km²
Population (as of 2003)
Total	364,869
Location	34°41′″N, 135°48′″E
Symbols
Nara City Hall
Official website: Nara City

Coordinates: 34°41′″N, 135°48′″E

Nara (奈良市, Nara-shi^?) is the capital city of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan, near Kyoto. Seven temples, shrines and ruins in Nara, specifically Tōdai-ji, Saidai-ji, Kōfuku-ji, Kasuga Shrine, Gangō-ji, Yakushi-ji, Tōshōdai-ji and Heijo Palace Remains, collectively form "Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara", a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

1 History
2 Wildlife in Nara
3 Demographics
4 Sister cities
5 Famous places
6 Education
7 Miscellany
8 Gallery
9 References
10 External links

[edit] History

See also: Heijo Palace and Nara period

Nara was the capital of Japan during most of the Nara period, from 710 to 784. The city was modelled after the capital of Tang Dynasty China, Chang'an (present-day Xi'an). The capital was then relocated to Nagaoka-kyō in the Yamashiro Province, before being moved to Heian-kyō in 794, the start of the Heian Period. According to the ancient Japanese book Nihon Shoki, the name "Nara" derived from the Japanese word narashita meaning "made flat".<ref>奈良の語源 (Japanese). Retrieved on 2006-05-24.</ref> In the modern age, as the seat of the prefectural government, Nara has developed into a local center of commerce and government. The city was officially incorporated on February 1, 1898.

[edit] Wildlife in Nara

Nara is famous for the tame deer that roam all over the town, and especially in the park areas. Snack vendors sell small biscuits to visitors so they can enjoy feeding the deer. The deer nudge, jostle, and even bite for food.

[edit] Demographics

As of 2003, the city has an estimated population of 364,869 and the density of 1,724.33 persons per km². The total area is 211.60 km².

[edit] Sister cities

Gyeongju, the ancient capital of the kingdom of Silla in the southeast of Korea.
Xi'an, the ancient capital of the Tang Dynasty in China.
Toledo, the medieval capital of Spain
Versailles, the famous early-modern French palace site near Paris, France.
Canberra, the capital of Australia

[edit] Famous places

Because of its many temples and shrines, Nara is a famous tourist destination. It is said that when the first emperor of Japan, Jimmu, descended from heaven, he rode a deer and arrived in Nara, and that the sacred deer that wander Nara are its descendants.

Buddhist temples
- Tōdai-ji, including Nigatsu-dō
- Saidai-ji
- Kōfuku-ji
- Gangō-ji
- Yakushi-ji
- Tōshōdai-ji
Shinto shrines
- Kasuga Shrine

Imperial palace
- Heijo Palace
Other

[edit] Education

Schools in Nara include the Todaiji Gakuen, founded by the temple in 1926.

[edit] Miscellany

There is a theory that an ancient variant word for Nara, naraku (寧樂 / 寧楽), is related to the Korean word nara for "country" [1].

[edit] Gallery

Deer roaming in central Nara. The beautiful trees in autumn are Sapium sebiferum.	Deer near construction site in Nara with pagoda in background.	A deer resting near an engraved stone.	Tōdai-ji, location of the Great Buddha of Nara.
Kōfuku-ji is an ancient Buddhist temple in the center of Nara