Nara is located in the Kinki region,
along with Osaka and Kyoto, and is roughly in the center of Japan's main island,
Honshu. The prefecture's northern region is relatively flat, while its southern
district is quite hilly.
People have been living in the flatter areas since before
the first century A.D., and many ancient relics have been discovered. There are more
than a thousand burial mounds for local lords dating from the third to fifth
century A.D. The Asuka district became the center of national government in
the second half of the fifth century, and Heijokyo (present-day Nara City) replaced
it as the seat of power for 70 years from 710. A number of temples built during
that era, including Todaiji, can still be seen in roughly their original form.
The Yoshino mountain range in southern Nara
extends 70 kilometers (43 miles) east-west and 80 kilometers (50 miles) north-south
and occupies about two-thirds of the prefecture's land area. Three rivers--the
Yoshino, Kitayama, and Totsu--run north to south between ridges rising 1,000 meters
(3,300 feet) to 1,900 meters (6,200 feet) above sea level. Southern Nara is
one of the rainiest regions in Japan and supplies drinking water for
the Kinki district. The unspoiled natural terrain is home to native varieties
of such large animals as deers and bears, and it's also the breeding
ground for several rare bird species.