Nara (city)

Nara 奈良市
Core city
Nara City
From top left: Todai-ji temple, Toshodai-ji temple, Yakushi-ji temple, the sika deer in Nara Park, the garden of the former Daijyo-in temple and Kasuga-taisha shrine
Flag Seal
Location of Nara in Nara Prefecture
Nara Location in Japan
Coordinates: 34°41′04″N 135°48′18″E / 34.68444°N 135.80500°E / 34.68444; 135.80500
Country	Japan
Region	Kansai
Prefecture	Nara Prefecture
Government
• Mayor	Gen Nakagawa
Area
• Total	276.84 km2 (106.89 sq mi)
Population  (2022)
• Total	367,353[1]
Time zone	UTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address	1-1-1 Nijō-ōji, Nara-shi, Nara-ken 630-8580
Website	City of Nara
Symbols
Bird	Japanese bush warbler
Flower	Nara yaezakura
Tree	Quercus gilva

Nara (奈良市, Nara-shi, [naꜜɾa] ^ⓘ) is the capital city of Nara Prefecture, Japan. As of 2022^[update], Nara has an estimated population of 367,353 according to World Population Review, making it the largest city in Nara Prefecture and sixth-largest in the Kansai region of Honshu. Nara is a core city located in the northern part of Nara Prefecture bordering the Kyoto Prefecture.

Nara was the capital of Japan during the Nara period from 710 to 794 as the seat of the Emperor before the capital was moved to Kyoto. Nara is home to eight temples, shrines, and ruins, specifically Tōdai-ji, Saidai-ji, Kōfuku-ji, Kasuga Shrine, Gangō-ji, Yakushi-ji, Tōshōdai-ji, and the Heijō Palace, together with Kasugayama Primeval Forest, collectively form the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.