Nara City is located in the northern part of Nara Prefecture, Japan. It is the largest city in the prefecture and also serves as the prefectural capital. Currently, it is designated as a core city. The main urban area is concentrated in the western part of the city, which belongs to the Nara Basin, while the eastern part lies within the Yamato Plateau. Due to its proximity—only about 20 kilometers—to central Osaka and its convenient railway transportation, Nara City is often regarded as one of Osaka’s satellite cities.
As the seat of the prefectural government, Nara City hosts numerous branch offices of central government agencies and major corporations, most of which are concentrated around Kintetsu Nara Station and Shin-Omiya Station.
Compared to other regions, industrial and commercial development in Nara Prefecture is relatively limited, and the local economy mainly relies on the tourism industry. In the 8th century, Nara City was the capital of Japan during the Nara period, known as Heijō-kyō, and it fostered the flourishing Tenpyō culture. To this day, the city preserves many precious historical and cultural heritages, making it an internationally renowned tourist destination.
