Nara Prefecture

Nara Prefecture (奈良県 Nara-ken^?) is a prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan.^[2]

The capital is the city of Nara.^[3]

Nara Prefecture has the distinction of having more UNESCO World Heritage Listings than any other prefecture.^[4]

The present-day Nara Prefecture was created in 1887, making it independent of Osaka Prefecture.
Historically, Nara Prefecture was also known as Yamato-no-kuni or Yamato Province.^[5]

Nara Prefecture is part of the Kansai, or Kinki, region of Japan, and is located in the middle of the Kii Peninsula on the western half of Honshu. Nara Prefecture is landlocked. It is bordered to the west by Wakayama Prefecture and Osaka Prefecture; on the north by Kyoto Prefecture and on the east by Mie Prefecture.

The climate of Nara Prefecture is overall warm, while there are important differences between the north-western basin area and the rest of the prefecture, that is, in the mountains.

• Tourism is treated by the prefectural government as one of the most important features of Nara, because of its natural beauty and historical significance.
• Nara is famed for its Kaki persimmon. Strawberry and tea are some other popular products of the prefecture, while rice and vegetables, including spinach, tomato, eggplants and others are the dominant in terms of amount of production.
• Nara is a center for the production of instruments used in conducting traditional Japanese artforms. Brush and ink (sumi) are the best known products from Nara for calligraphy. Wooden or bamboo instruments, especially from Takayama area (in Ikoma city) are famous products for tea ceremony.
• Goldfish from Yamatokoriyama in Nara have been a traditional aquacultural product since the 18th century.
• Due to its rich history, Nara is also the location of many archeological digs, with many famous ones being located in the village of Asuka.

Because of its background, the better part of Nara's culture can only be described through learning the history of Japan, notably in Nara Period.

Nara is currently in its preparation to celebrate the 1300th anniversary of the opening of Heijō Palace.

Yamato Province (大和国 Yamato no Kuni^?) was a province of Japan, located in Kinai, corresponding to present-day Nara Prefecture in Honshū.^[1] It was also called Washū (和州^?). Kinai (畿内 Capital Region^?) is a Japanese term denoting an ancient division of the country. Kinai is a name for the ancient provinces around the capital Nara and Heian-kyō.^[1]
Heijō Palace (平城宮 Heijō-kyū^?) in Nara, was the Imperial Palace of Japan (710-784 AD), during most of the Nara period.