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Kansai region - Nara
An ancient capital of excellent old architectures and images of Buddha
- Horyu-ji Temple, the World Cultural Heritage Site
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Nara prefecture is situated in the central west of the Japanese
mainland. The capital was placed in the Asuka region, a southern
part of Nara Basin in the northwestern part of the prefecture, as
the first of unified Japan in the mid 4th century, and until the
end of the 8th century Asuka prospered as the center of Japanese
politics and economy. Later, the capital was moved to Heijyo-kyo,
the current Nara City.
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Under the protection of the Imperial family and aristocrats, temples
and shrines such as Todai-ji Temple, the largest wooden architecture in
the world that enshrines Japan's largest Buddha, Yakushi-ji Temple that
has excellent old architectures and images of Buddha, and Toshodai-ji
Temple were built. Thus Heijyo-kyo developed as a temple town.
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Horyu-ji Temple in Ikaruga Town, which is said to
have been built in the early 7th century, is known as the oldest
existing Buddhist temple. There are world's oldest wooden architectures
as well as many paintings and sculptures in its possession, and
the Temple is also registered as the World Cultural Heritage Site.
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Tourists visit this prefecture throughout the year to see scenic spots
such as Mt. Yoshino-yama known to have the most beautiful cherry trees,
and Nara Park that has friendly deer that has been considered familiar
spirit and treasured.
Getting to Nara
About 2 hours 15 minutes from Tokyo Station to Kyoto Station by JR Tokaido
Shinkansen Line, and about 39 minutes from Kyoto Station to Kintetsu Nara
Station by Kintetsu Line. About 39 minutes from Kintetsu Nanba Station
to Kintetsu Nara Station by Kintetsu Nanba-Nara Line.
previous: Japan regions - Kansai
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