Welcome to Nara City

Welcome to Nara City! 

Nara City, located in the Kansai region of western Japan, boasts a population of approximately 350,000 (as of 1 Feb 2024). It is easily accessible from large cities in Kansai such as Osaka and Kyoto, as well as from Tokyo, Japan’s capital, which is just a three-hour train and bullet train ride away. Renowned for its rich history, Nara City served as the capital of ancient Japan in the 8th century. It is the only place in the world where you can see a unique sight: more than 1,200 wild deer freely roam and coexist with local people.

The city’s beauty shines in every season. In spring, visitors can enjoy cherry blossoms at Nara Park, listed as one of Japan’s Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots.

In summer, there is the candle-lit event “Nara Tokae”, the origin of the “Canberra Nara Candle Festival”. 

There are many attractive seasonal and historical events throughout autumn to winter as well, making it a destination worth visiting year-round.

Last year was significant in the city’s history, with several notable events. One such event was the 25th anniversary of the inscription of its 8 cultural sites – Todaiji Temple, built in the 8th century, Kohfukuji Temple, Kasugataisha Shrine, Kasugayama Primeval Forest, Gangoji Temple, Yakushiji Temple, Toshodaiji Temple and Nara Palace Site – as “Cultural Properties of Ancient Nara” on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Additionally, Nara City celebrated the 30th anniversary of its sister city affiliation with Canberra on 26 October.
The following month, a delegation led by the Nara City Mayor Gen Nakagawa, visited Canberra to commemorate this significant milestone. The delegation expressed their appreciation to the Chief Minister of ACT, Andrew Barr and to all who have supported the sister city relationship for their achievements and heartwarming cooperation thus far.

During their time in Canberra, the delegation paid a visit to the Australian War Memorial, where they reflected on the history of World War II. This visit reaffirmed their appreciation for the collaborative efforts to reconstruct the Australia-Japan relationship after the war and emphasised the importance of strengthening ties with Canberra as a historical city that values peace.

Currently, Nara City is moving towards the next 30 years with the aim of celebrating the 60th anniversary of its sister city relationship with Canberra. Building on this relationship, the city hopes to further contribute to the development of a stronger bilateral relationship between Australia and Japan. 

Nara City aims to share its charm not only with the people of Canberra but also with those in other cities in Australia and New Zealand. 

Last year, the city launched a new slogan, “Old History, New Discovery”.
Even after more than a thousand years since its establishment as the capital, Nara City continues to boast beautiful landscapes and traditional crafts of the old capital.

Additionally, new tourist spots, cultural works, and exchanges between people are continually being developed.

Nara City looks forward to welcoming visitors to experience its beauty firsthand.