Editing Nara Prefecture (section)

==Geography==
[[File:Nara géolocalisation relief.svg|thumb|Topographic map of Nara Prefecture]]
[[File:Map of Nara Prefecture Ja.svg|thumb|Administrative map of Nara Prefecture<br />{{legend0|#EAB|City}} {{legend0|#ED9|Town}} {{legend0|#BFE|Village}}]]

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]].

Nara Prefecture is {{convert|78.5|km}} from east to west and {{convert|103.6|km}} from north to south.

Most of the prefecture is covered by mountains and forests, leaving an inhabitable area of only {{convert|851|km2|sqmi}}. The ratio of inhabitable area to total area is 23%, ranked 43rd among the 47 prefectures in Japan.<ref name="100indices">{{cite web|title=奈良県統計情報 "100の指標" ("100 Indices of Nara" by Nara Statistics Division, Nara Prefecture)|language=ja|url=http://www.pref.nara.jp/pro/toukei/index.htm|access-date=2007-03-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070216005919/http://www.pref.nara.jp/pro/toukei/index.htm|archive-date=February 16, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Nara Prefecture is bisected by the [[Japan Median Tectonic Line]] (MTL) running through its territory east to west, along the [[Kinokawa River|Yoshino River]]. On the northern side of the MTL is the so-called Inner Zone, where active [[Geologic fault|faults]] running north to south are still shaping the landscape. The Ikoma Mountains in the northwest form the border with Osaka Prefecture. The Nara Basin, which lies to the east of these mountains, contains the highest concentration of population in Nara Prefecture. Further east are the Kasagi Mountains, which separate the Basin from the Yamato Highlands.

South of the MTL is the Outer Zone, comprising the Kii Mountains, which occupy about 60% of the land area of the prefecture. The Ōmine Range is in the center of the Kii Mountains, running north to south, with steep valleys on both sides. The tallest mountain in Nara Prefecture, and indeed in the Kansai region, is [[Mount Hakkyō]]. To the west, separating Nara Prefecture from Wakayama Prefecture, is the Obako Range, with peaks around {{convert|1300|m|ft}}. To the east, bordering Mie Prefecture, is the Daikō Range, including [[Odaigahara-san|Mount Ōdaigahara]]. This mountainous region is also home to a [[World Heritage Site]], the [[Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range]]".

About 17% of the total land area of the prefecture is designated as [[List of national parks of Japan#History|National Park]] land, comprising the [[Yoshino-Kumano National Park]], [[Kongō-Ikoma-Kisen Quasi-National Park|Kongō-Ikoma-Kisen]], [[Kōya-Ryūjin Quasi-National Park|Kōya-Ryūjin]], [[Murō-Akame-Aoyama Quasi-National Park|Murō-Akame-Aoyama]], and [[Yamato-Aogaki Quasi-National Park|Yamato-Aogaki]] Quasi-National Parks; and the [[Tsukigase-Kōnoyama Prefectural Natural Park|Tsukigase-Kōnoyama]], [[Yata Prefectural Natural Park|Yata]], and [[Yoshinogawa-Tsuboro Prefectural Natural Park|Yoshinogawa-Tsuboro]] Prefectural Natural Parks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.env.go.jp/en/nature/nps/park/doc/files/np_6.pdf |title=General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture |publisher=[[Ministry of the Environment (Japan)|Ministry of the Environment]] |date=1 April 2012 |access-date=29 May 2014}}</ref>

===Climate===
[[File:Tanzan jinja05s3200.jpg|thumb|[[Tanzan Shrine]] in autumn]]

In the Nara Basin, the climate has inland characteristics, as represented in the bigger temperature variance within the same day, and the difference of summer and winter temperatures. Winter temperatures average about {{convert|3|to|5|°C}}, and {{convert|25|to|28|°C}} in the summer with highest reaching close to {{convert|35|°C}}. There is not a single year over the last decade (since 1990, up to 2007) with more than 10 days of snowfall recorded by Nara Local Meteorological Observatory.

The climate in the rest of the prefecture are mountainous, and especially in the south, with below {{convert|-5|°C}} being the extreme minimum in winter. Heavy rainfall is observed in summer. The annual accumulated rainfall ranges as much as {{convert|3000|to|5000|mm|in}}, which is among the heaviest in Japan.

Spring and fall are temperate. The mountainous region of [[Yoshino, Nara|Yoshino]] has been popular both historically and presently for its [[cherry]] blossoms in the spring. In the fall, the southern mountains are equally striking with the changing of the [[oak]] trees.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}}

[[File:Horyuji Nara Cherry.jpg|thumb|Hōryū-ji at cherry blossom, Ikaruga Town]]

===Municipalities===
{{See also|List of cities in Nara Prefecture by population}}
Since 2006, there are 39 [[Municipalities of Japan|municipalities]] in Nara Prefecture: twelve [by definition: district-independent] [[Cities of Japan|cities]] and seven remaining  [[Districts of Japan|districts]] containing 15 [[Towns of Japan|towns]] and twelve [[Villages of Japan|villages]]:

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! rowspan="2" | [[English Wikipedia|Abbreviation]]
! Full name
! rowspan="2" |Area (km<sup>2</sup>)
! rowspan="2" |Population
! rowspan="2" |District
! rowspan="2" |Type
! rowspan="2" |Map
|-
![[Japanese writing system|Japanese]], [[rōmaji|Romanization]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Gojō, Nara.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Gojō, Nara|Gojō]]
|五條市, ''Gojō-shi''
|291.98
|33,283
|— || City ''(-shi)''
|[[File:Gojo in Nara Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Gose Nara.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Gose, Nara|Gose]]
|御所市, ''Gose-shi''
|60.65
|26,522
|— || City ''(-shi)''
|[[File:Gose in Nara Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Ikoma, Nara.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Ikoma, Nara|Ikoma]]
|生駒市, ''Ikoma-shi''
|53.18
|120,741
|— || City ''(-shi)''
|[[File:Ikoma in Nara Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Kashiba, Nara.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kashiba, Nara|Kashiba]]
|香芝市, ''Kashiba-shi''
|24.23
|79,023
|— || City ''(-shi)''
|[[File:Kashiba in Nara Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Kashihara, Nara.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kashihara, Nara|Kashihara]]
|橿原市, ''Kashihara-shi''
|39.52
|124,829
|— || City ''(-shi)''
|[[File:Kashihara in Nara Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Katsuragi, Nara.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Katsuragi, Nara|Katsuragi]]
|葛󠄀城市, ''Katsuragi-shi''
|33.73
|37,352
|— || City ''(-shi)''
|[[File:Katsuragi in Nara Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Nara, Nara.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Nara (city)|Nara]] (capital)
|奈良市, ''Nara-shi''
|276.84
|359,666
|— || City ''(-shi)''
|[[File:Nara in Nara Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Sakurai, Nara.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Sakurai, Nara|Sakurai]]
|桜井市, ''Sakurai-shi''
|98.92
|58,386
|— || City ''(-shi)''
|[[File:Sakurai in Nara Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Tenri, Nara.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Tenri, Nara|Tenri]]
|天理市, ''Tenri-shi''
|86.37
|66,866
|— || City ''(-shi)''
|[[File:Tenri in Nara Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Uda, Nara.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Uda, Nara|Uda]]
|宇陀市, ''Uda-shi''
|247.62
|31,274
|— || City ''(-shi)''
|[[File:Uda in Nara Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Yamatokōriyama, Nara.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Yamatokōriyama]]
|大和郡山市, ''Yamato-Kōriyama-shi''<!--hyphenated to make Kōriyama City in Yamato Province actually readable in Latin, even for people who don't know Japanese-->
|42.69
|87,541
|— || City ''(-shi)''
|[[File:Yamatokoriyama in Nara Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Yamatotakada, Nara.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Yamatotakada, Nara|Yamatotakada]]
|大和高田市, ''Yamato-Takada-shi''<!--hyphenated to make Takada City in Yamato Province actually readable in Latin, even for people who don't know Japanese-->
|16.48
|66,400
|— || City ''(-shi)''
|[[File:Yamatotakada in Nara Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Ando, Nara.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Ando, Nara|Ando]]
|安堵町, ''Ando-chō''
|4.33 
|7,523
|[[Ikoma District, Nara|Ikoma District]]
|Town ''(-chō)''
|[[File:Ando in Nara Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Asuka, Nara.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Asuka, Nara|Asuka]]
|明日香村, ''Asuka-mura''
|24.08
|5,681
|[[Takaichi District, Nara|Takaichi District]]
|Village ''(-mura)''
|[[File:Asuka in Nara Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Heguri, Nara.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Heguri, Nara|Heguri]]
|平群町, ''Heguri-chō''
|23.9
|18,774
|[[Ikoma District, Nara|Ikoma District]]
|Town ''(-chō)''
|[[File:Heguri in Nara Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Higashiyoshino Nara.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Higashiyoshino, Nara|Higashiyoshino]]
|東吉野村, ''Higashi-Yoshino-mura''<!--hyphenated to make East Yoshino Village in Yoshino District actually readable in Latin, even for people who don't know Japanese-->
|131.6
|1,661
|[[Yoshino District, Nara|Yoshino District]]
|Village ''(-mura)''
|[[File:Higashiyoshino in Nara Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Ikaruga, Nara.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Ikaruga, Nara|Ikaruga]]
|斑鳩町, ''Ikaruga-chō''
|14.27
|27,341
|[[Ikoma District, Nara|Ikoma District]]
|Town ''(-chō)''
|[[File:Ikaruga in Nara Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Kamikitayama, Nara.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kamikitayama, Nara|Kamikitayama]]
|上北山村, ''Kami-Kitayama-mura''<!--hyphenated to make Upper and Lower Kitayama Village actually readable in Latin, even for people who don't know Japanese-->
|274.05
|486
|[[Yoshino District, Nara|Yoshino District]]
|Village ''(-mura)''
|[[File:Kamikitayama in Nara Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Kanmaki, Nara.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kanmaki, Nara|Kanmaki]]
|上牧町, ''Kanmaki-chō''
|6.14
|22,807
|[[Kitakatsuragi District, Nara|Kitakatsuragi District]]
|Town ''(-chō)''
|[[File:Kanmaki in Nara Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Kawai Nara.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kawai, Nara|Kawai]]
|河合町, ''Kawai-chō''
|8.27
|17,831
|[[Kitakatsuragi District, Nara|Kitakatsuragi District]]
|Town ''(-chō)''
|[[File:Kawai in Nara Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Kawakami, Nara.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kawakami, Nara|Kawakami]]
|川上村, ''Kawakami-mura''
|269.26
|1,498
|[[Yoshino District, Nara|Yoshino District]]
|Village ''(-mura)''
|[[File:Kawakami in Nara Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Kawanishi, Nara.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kawanishi, Nara|Kawanishi]]
|川西町, ''Kawanishi-chō''
|5.94 
|8,704
|[[Shiki District, Nara|Shiki District]]
|Town ''(-chō)''
|[[File:Kawanishi in Nara Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Koryo, Nara.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kōryō, Nara|Kōryō]]
|広陵町, ''Kōryō-chō''
|16.34
|35,021
|[[Kitakatsuragi District, Nara|Kitakatsuragi District]]
|Town ''(-chō)''
|[[File:Koryo in Nara Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Kurotaki Nara.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kurotaki, Nara|Kurotaki]]
|黒滝村, ''Kurotaki-mura''
|47.71
|745
|[[Yoshino District, Nara|Yoshino District]]
|Village ''(-mura)''
|[[File:Kurotaki in Nara Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Mitsue Nara.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Mitsue, Nara|Mitsue]]
|御杖村, ''Mitsue-mura''
|79.63
|1,696
|[[Uda District, Nara|Uda District]]
|Village ''(-mura)''
|[[File:Mitsue in Nara Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Miyake, Nara.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Miyake, Nara|Miyake]]
|三宅町, ''Miyake-chō''
|4.07
|7,013
|[[Shiki District, Nara|Shiki District]]
|Town ''(-chō)''
|[[File:Miyake in Nara Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Nosegawa, Nara.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Nosegawa, Nara|Nosegawa]]
|野迫川村, ''Nosegawa-mura''
|155.03
|424
|[[Yoshino District, Nara|Yoshino District]]
|Village ''(-mura)''
|[[File:Nosegawa in Nara Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Oji Nara.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Ōji, Nara|Ōji]]
|王寺町, ''Ōji-chō''
|7
|22,791
|[[Kitakatsuragi District, Nara|Kitakatsuragi District]]
|Town ''(-chō)''
|[[File:Oji in Nara Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Oyodo Nara.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Ōyodo, Nara|Ōyodo]]
|大淀町, ''Ōyodo-chō''
|38.06
|17,731
|[[Yoshino District, Nara|Yoshino District]]
|Town ''(-chō)''
|[[File:Oyodo in Nara Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Sango, Nara.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Sangō, Nara|Sangō]]
|三郷町, ''Sangō-chō''
|8.8
|23,455
|[[Ikoma District, Nara|Ikoma District]]
|Town ''(-chō)''
|[[File:Sango in Nara Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Shimoichi Nara.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Shimoichi, Nara|Shimoichi]]
|下市町, ''Shimoichi-chō''
|62.01
|5,378
|[[Yoshino District, Nara|Yoshino District]]
|Town ''(-chō)''
|[[File:Shimoichi in Nara Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Shimokitayama Nara.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Shimokitayama, Nara|Shimokitayama]]
|下北山村, ''Shimo-Kitayama-mura''
|133.53
|855
|[[Yoshino District, Nara|Yoshino District]]
|Village ''(-mura)''
|[[File:Shimokitayama in Nara Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Soni, Nara.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Soni, Nara|Soni]]
|曽爾村, ''Soni-mura''
|47.84
|1,528
|[[Uda District, Nara|Uda District]]
|Village ''(-mura)''
|[[File:Soni in Nara Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Takatori, Nara.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Takatori, Nara|Takatori]]
|高取町, ''Takatori-chō''
|25.77
|6,964
|[[Takaichi District, Nara|Takaichi District]]
|Town ''(-chō)''
|[[File:Takatori in Nara Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Tawaramoto, Nara.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Tawaramoto, Nara|Tawaramoto]]
|田原本町, ''Tawaramoto-chō''
|21.09
|32,241
|[[Shiki District, Nara|Shiki District]]
|Town ''(-chō)''
|[[File:Tawaramoto in Nara Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Tenkawa, Nara.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Tenkawa, Nara|Tenkawa]]
|天川村, ''Tenkawa-mura''
|175.7
|1,310
|[[Yoshino District, Nara|Yoshino District]]
|Village ''(-mura)''
|[[File:Tenkawa in Nara Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Totsukawa, Nara.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Totsukawa]]
|十津川村, ''Totsukawa-mura''
|672.35
|3,488
|[[Yoshino District, Nara|Yoshino District]]
|Village ''(-mura)''
|[[File:Totsukawa in Nara Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Yamazoe Nara.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Yamazoe]]
|山添村, ''Yamazoe-mura''
|66.52
|3,701
|[[Yamabe District, Nara|Yamabe District]]
|Village ''(-mura)''
|[[File:Yamazoe in Nara Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Yoshino Nara.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Yoshino, Nara|Yoshino]]
|吉野町, ''Yoshino-chō''
|95.96
|6,337
|[[Yoshino District, Nara|Yoshino District]]
|Town ''(-chō)''
|[[File:Yoshino in Nara Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|80x80px]]
|-
![[File:Flag of Nara Prefecture.svg|frameless|25x25px]] Nara
!奈良県, ''Nara-ken''
!3,691.09
!1,321,805
!—
!Prefecture ''(-ken)''
![[File:Map of Nara Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|80x80px]]
|}

[[Kansai Science City]] is located in the northwest.

===Mergers===
{{main article|List of mergers in Nara Prefecture}}