Nara Prefecture, Prefecture of Japan in Kansai region
Nara Prefecture is a region on the central Kii Peninsula covering roughly 3690 square kilometers (about 1420 square miles) that borders Kyoto, Osaka, Wakayama and Mie. The terrain extends from forested mountains in the south to more densely settled plains in the north, where administrative and religious centers are located.
The area became Japan's political center in 710 when Heijo was established as the first permanent capital, ending the earlier pattern of shifting government seats. That early era shaped the spread of architecture and Buddhist practice across the country.
Eight UNESCO sites include temples with timber halls and a ceremonial landscape of gardens, pagodas and shrines. Local devotion appears in festivals where monks and community members perform traditional rites during spring and autumn observances.
Trains and buses link major sites across the territory, with direct connections to neighboring Osaka and Kyoto prefectures. Many places can be explored on foot or by bicycle once you reach a starting point.
The area produces specialty items such as calligraphy brushes, bamboo whisks for tea ceremony and kakinoha-zushi, where fish is pressed between persimmon leaves. These crafts are often practiced in small workshops that welcome visitors and offer demonstrations.
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