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50-606: Founded on March 1, 1951, Uji is between the two ancient capitals of Nara and Kyoto . The city sits on the Uji River , which has its source in Lake Biwa . As of 1 October 2020 Uji has a population of 179,630 and is the second largest city in Kyoto Prefecture . It has an area of 67.54 km, giving it a population density of 2,660 persons per km. In the 4th century the son of Emperor Ōjin established

100-499: A maximum discharge of 1,110 m /s (39,199 cu ft/s). The dam's power station has a 92 MW installed capacity and a discharge capacity of 186 m /s (6,569 cu ft/s). Using Lake Hōō as the lower reservoir, water is pumped up to the upper reservoir via two pump-generators. The upper reservoir is created by a rock-fill dam 34°53′42″N 135°51′13″E  /  34.89500°N 135.85361°E  / 34.89500; 135.85361  ( Kisenyama Dam ) that

150-521: A palace in Uji. The 11th-century author, Murasaki Shikibu , set much of the final chapters of The Tale of Genji at Uji. The first battle of Uji in 1180 was the first clash of the Genpei War . Taira forces caught up with Minamoto forces that were attempting to make their way to Nara and defeated them. Later in the war, two factions of Genji clashed at the second battle of Uji in 1184. In 1221,

200-571: A population density of 1,300 persons per km . There were 160,242 households residing in Nara. The highest concentration of both households and population, respectively about 46,000 and 125,000, is found along the newer bedtown districts, along the Kintetsu line connecting to Osaka . There were about 3,000 registered foreigners in the city, of which Koreans and Chinese are the two largest groups with about 1,200 and 800 people respectively. According to

250-525: A reactionary expression to the political centralization of China, the city of Nara (Heijō) was modeled after the Tang capital at Chang’an . Nara was laid out on a grid—which was based upon the Handen system —whereby the city was divided by four great roads. Likewise, according to Chinese cosmology, the ruler's place was fixed like the pole star. By dominating the capital, the ruler brought heaven to earth. Thus,

300-619: A time of penal and administrative legal order. The Taihō Code called for the establishment of administrative sects underneath the central government, and modeled many of the codes from the Chinese Tang dynasty. The code eventually disbanded, but its contents were largely preserved in the Yōrō Code of 718. Occupants of the throne during the period gradually shifted their focus from military preparation to religious rites and institutions, in an attempt to strengthen their divine authority over

350-410: A variety of different characters had been used to represent the name Nara: 乃楽 , 乃羅 , 平 , 平城 , 名良 , 奈良 , 奈羅 , 常 , 那良 , 那楽 , 那羅 , 楢 , 諾良 , 諾楽 , 寧 , 寧楽 and 儺羅 . A number of theories for the origin of the name "Nara" have been proposed, and some of the better-known ones are listed here. The second theory in the list, from the notable folklorist Kunio Yanagita (1875–1962),

400-594: Is The Tale of Genji Museum . Uji has many natural attractions, including its scenic riverside, large parks, and a botanical garden. Slightly upriver from Uji bridge, the Amagase Dam spans the river and day trippers can walk to its base in about an hour. The route, which begins directly across from Keihan Uji Station, is along the river on a paved road and offers access to several grassy open spaces where people can rest and picnic. The city hosts two major festivals each year. The Agata Festival, held on June 5, begins in

450-464: Is 276.84 km (106.89 sq mi). Nara city, as well as several important settlements (such as Kashihara , Yamatokōriyama , Tenri , Yamatotakada , Sakurai and Gose ), are located in the Nara Basin . This makes it the most densely-populated region of Nara Prefecture. The downtown of Nara is on the east side of the ancient Heijō Palace site, occupying the northern part of what

500-578: Is 91 m (299 ft) high, 255 m (837 ft) long and has a crest width of 11 m (36 ft). The dam also has structural volume of 2,338,000 m (82,565,691 cu ft) and withholds a reservoir of 7,227,000 m (5,859 acre⋅ft) of which 5,408,000 m (4,384 acre⋅ft) is active storage. From the upper reservoir, water can be released back down to the power station 34°53′30″N 135°51′34″E  /  34.89167°N 135.85944°E  / 34.89167; 135.85944  ( Kisenyama Pumped Storage Plant ) where

550-420: Is active or "useful" storage. It has a surface area of 1.9 km (1 sq mi). The dam's spillway consists of four 4.36 m (14 ft) x 10 m (33 ft) floodgates on its crest with a maximum discharge capacity of 680 m /s (24,014 cu ft/s). In the middle of the dam body, there are three 3.6 m (12 ft) x 4.7 m (15 ft) gate-controlled orifice openings with

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600-472: Is among the heaviest in Japan and indeed in the world outside the equatorial zone. Spring and fall temperatures are temperate and comfortable. The mountainous region of Yoshino has been long popular for viewing cherry blossoms in the spring. In autumn, the southern mountains are also a popular destination for viewing fall foliage. As of April 1, 2017 , the city has an estimated population of 359,666 and

650-503: Is an arch dam on the Uji River just upstream from Uji , Kyoto Prefecture , Japan . The main purpose of the dam is flood control but it supports a hydroelectric power station and creates the lower reservoir for the Kisenyama Pumped Storage Plant . The dam itself serves a 92 MW power station while the pumped-storage power station upstream has a 466 MW capacity. Construction on the dam began in 1955 and it

700-623: Is featured on the obverse side of the 10 yen coin . It was also featured on several Japanese postage stamps, a. o. of 1950, 1957 and 1959. Other religious sites include the Manpuku-ji , the head temple of the Ōbaku Zen sect, built in Chinese Ming style in 1661 and the Zen temple Kōshō-ji, with its Kotozaka entrance (framed with dense thickets of cherry , kerria , azalea , and maple trees, each of which dramatically changes color with

750-631: Is most widely accepted at present. The "flat land" theory is adopted by Nihon Kokugo Daijiten (the largest dictionary of Japanese language), various dictionaries for place names, history books on Nara, and the like today, and it is regarded as the most likely. There are a number of megalithic tombs or kofun in Nara, including Gosashi Kofun , Hishiage Kofun ( ヒシアゲ古墳 ) , Horaisan Kofun ( 宝来山古墳 ) , Konabe Kofun ( コナベ古墳 ) , Saki Ishizukayama Kofun ( 佐紀石塚山古墳 ) , Saki Misasagiyama Kofun ( 佐紀陵山古墳 ) , and Uwanabe Kofun ( ウワナベ古墳 ) . By decree of an edict on March 11, 708 AD, Empress Genmei ordered

800-536: Is served by local and express trains. Kintetsu serves West Uji with a line between Kyoto and Nara and does not have a station named for the town. The line is primarily used by commuters and includes Ogura , Iseda , and Ōkubo . No stations are close to the main tourist sites. Local buses have routes in the city and public transportation is good. Charter buses to and from the Kansai International ( KIX ) and Itami airports can be caught at most of

850-583: Is still sold in the oldest tea shop in Japan and possibly the world—the Tsuen tea shop . In the 15th century, shimamono tea jars destined to be used in the Japanese tea ceremony were brought by the shōgun from Luzon to Uji. Uji contains the ethnic Korean enclave Utoro district , which was formed from forced laborers who were made to build an airstrip in Kyoto beginning in 1941. Per Japanese census data,

900-592: Is the capital city of Nara Prefecture , Japan . As of 2022 , Nara has an estimated population of 367,353 according to World Population Review, making it the largest city in Nara Prefecture and sixth-largest in the Kansai region of Honshu . Nara is a core city located in the northern part of Nara Prefecture bordering the Kyoto Prefecture . Nara was the capital of Japan during the Nara period from 710 to 794 as

950-431: Is under construction and usable for at least part of its length. Non- toll roads include Route 1 which runs between Kyoto and Osaka and Route 24 which runs between Kyoto and Nara . These roads are usually filled with traffic and have many stoplights. Close by is Route 307, which runs east/west along the southern edge of the city between Osaka and Shiga prefecture. This is a fairly rural road that leads through

1000-630: The Jōkyū War was decided at the third battle of Uji , in which forces of the Kamakura shogunate defeated the retired emperor Go-Toba , consolidating the shogunate's control over Japan and the Hōjō clan 's control over the shogunate. Shōgun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu (1358–1408) promoted cultivation of Uji tea in the area. Since then Uji has been an important production and distribution center of superior quality green tea. Tsuen tea has been served since 1160 and

1050-586: The Tōdaiji Gakuen , a private school founded by the temple in 1926. The main central station of Nara is Kintetsu Nara Station with JR Nara station some 500m west and much closer to Shin-Omiya station. Nara's sister cities are: Nara is featured in the anime and manga , Tonikawa: Fly Me to the Moon . Nara is the inspiring location for the 2014 album This Is All Yours by English indie rock band Alt-J Amagase Dam The Amagase Dam ( 天ヶ瀬ダム )

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1100-505: The Unification Church . The city of Nara lies in the northern end of Nara Prefecture , directly bordering Kyoto Prefecture to its north. The city is 22.22 km (13.81 mi) from North to South, from East to West. As a result of the latest merger, effective April 1, 2005, that combined the villages of Tsuge and Tsukigase with the city of Nara, the city now borders Mie Prefecture directly to its east. The total area

1150-770: The Edo and Meiji periods to a modern tourist city, due to its large number of historical temples, landmarks and national monuments. Nara was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list in December 1998. The architecture of some shops, ryokans and art galleries has been adapted from traditional merchant houses. Nara holds traditional festivals every year, including the Neri-Kuyo Eshiki, a spring festival held in Todaiji temple for over 1,000 years; and

1200-539: The Edo period, during which several visitors' maps of Nara were widely published. During the Meiji Period, the Kofukuji Temple lost some land and its monks were converted into Shinto priests, due to Buddhism being associated with the old shogunate. Although Nara was the capital of Japan from 710 to 794, it was not designated a city until 1 February 1898. Nara has since developed from a town of commerce in

1250-540: The Kemari Festival, in which people wear costumes ranging across 700 years and play traditional games). In 1909, Tatsuno Kingo designed the Nara Hotel , whose architecture combined modern elements with traditional Japanese style. At a 2022 campaign event in Nara, former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe was shot and killed with a homemade firearm by Tetsuya Yamagami , who resented Abe's ties to

1300-422: The city of Nara. Nara Women's University is one of only two national women's universities in Japan. Nara Institute of Science and Technology is a graduate research university specializing in biological, information, and materials sciences. Public elementary and junior high schools are operated by the city of Nara. Public high schools are operated by the Nara Prefecture. Private high schools in Nara include

1350-535: The city via the branch Uji Line running from Chushojima station and ending along the river at Keihan Uji Station beside the Uji Bridge. The station is close to Uji's Tale of Genji Town, Uji Bridge, and the Byodoin. All trains on this line stop at every station. The JR Nara Line runs between Kyoto and Nara . JR Uji station was, until a few years ago, fairly rural but was recently rebuilt to better serve

1400-466: The city. Architecturally it mimics the Byodo-in and is on the opposite side of the Uji river, about 10 minutes' walk from Keihan Uji Station. The clock in front of the station is of special interest and, every hour on the hour, opens to reveal an automated show that celebrates the town's heritage as a center of tea production. Like Keihan Uji Station , JR Uji has easy access to the same sites. The station

1450-456: The court to relocate to the new capital, Nara. Once known as Heijō or Heijō-kyō , the city was established as Japan's first permanent capital in 710 CE; it was the seat of government until 784 CE, albeit with a five-year interruption, lasting from 741 to 745 CE. Heijō, as the ‘penultimate court’, however, was abandoned by the order of Emperor Kammu in 784 CE in favor of the temporary site of Nagaoka , and then Heian-kyō (Kyoto) which retained

1500-512: The deer lack fiber and other nutrients deer require, so when the deer eat too many rice crackers it causes the gut microbiome in the deer to become unbalanced, among other problems. 7 out of 8 deer dissected had a “kidney fat index” (which measures how much fat has attached to the kidneys) below 40%, which indicates malnutrition in the deer. And of those 7, some had kidney fat below 10%, which indicates starvation. Compared to male shika deer outside of Nara park, which weigh about 50 kilograms on average,

1550-459: The deer. Some deer have learned to bow in order to receive senbei from people. A 2009 study by Harumi Torii (who is the assistant professor of wildlife management at Nara University of Education,) in which necropsies of deceased shika deer in Nara park were conducted, found that the deer in Nara park were malnourished from not having enough grass to eat, and eating too many rice crackers and other human food. The rice crackers commonly fed to

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1600-476: The early morning and runs until late at night. Like many cities in Japan, Uji hosts an hours-long fireworks festival on August 10. Both events draw huge crowds and require that the town's main thoroughfare to be shut down. There is cormorant fishing in summer during the evening, from mid-June to late September. Uji is served by three rail companies: JR West , Keihan , and Kintetsu . The Keihan line which runs primarily between Kyoto and downtown Osaka serves

1650-564: The legendary history of Kasuga Shrine , the god Takemikazuchi arrived in Nara on a white deer to guard the newly built capital of Heijō-kyō . Since then, the deer have been regarded as heavenly animals, protecting the city and the country. Tame sika deer (also known as spotted deer or Japanese deer) roam through the town, especially in Nara Park . In 2015, there were more than 1,200 sika deer in Nara. Snack vendors sell sika senbei (deer crackers ) to visitors so they can feed

1700-631: The lowest is in Ikeda-cho district, with an altitude of 56.4 m (185.04 ft). The climate of Nara Prefecture is generally temperate, although there are notable differences between the north-western basin area and the rest of the prefecture which is more mountainous. The basin area climate has an inland characteristic, as represented in the higher daily temperature variance, and the difference between summer and winter temperatures. Winter temperatures average approximately 3 to 5 °C (37 to 41 °F), and from 25 to 28 °C (77 to 82 °F) in

1750-461: The male shika deer in Nara park only weigh 30 kilograms on average. The color of the femoral marrow in Nara park’s deer was also abnormal, indicating malnourishment. When living deer in Nara park were observed during the study, it was discovered that rice crackers made up about one third of the average deer’s diet in Nara park, with grass making up about two thirds. The deer have become so excessively numerous in Nara park, that there isn’t enough grass in

1800-700: The mountains and, once away from the urban centers, makes a nice day trip. Of special interest to motorsports enthusiasts is the Ujigawa Line (Uji River Line). This twisty road parallels the Uji River between Uji and Otsu and is a favorite for racers. The road is dangerous and often claims lives. Due to numerous accidents, the route is closed to motorcycles for most of August, when Japanese schools are typically out of session. Uji has friendship agreements with three other cities: Nara, Nara Nara ( 奈良市 , Nara-shi , [naꜜɾa] )

1850-429: The move of the political capital to Heian-kyō in 794, thus giving Nara a synonym of Nanto ( 南都 "the southern capital"). On December 2, 724 AD, in order to increase the visual "magnificence" of the city, an edict was ordered by the government for the noblemen and the wealthy to renovate the roofs, pillars, and walls of their homes, although at that time this was unfeasible. Sightseeing in Nara city became popular in

1900-455: The park for all of them to live entirely on grass, creating a dependency on humans for rice crackers. This lack of grass also causes the deer to resort to eating garbage and plants that they would not normally eat. The deer in Nara park have become overpopulated due to being fed by people frequently, and having few predators. And the deer have caused extensive damage to trees (by feeding on bark,) bamboo (by eating their shoots,) and other plants in

1950-454: The park. Additionally, the deer have become aggressive towards humans in their solicitation of food (which leads to people getting injured by deer,) aggressive towards each other in competition for rice crackers, and have lost their fear of predators in general. For these reasons, tourists may want to consider not feeding the deer in Nara park, and simply observe them instead. As of 2005 , there are 16 high schools and 6 universities located in

2000-655: The population of Uji has recently plateaued after decades of strong growth. Most visitors are attracted to Uji for its centuries-old historic sites, which include many Shinto shrines , Buddhist temples and Hindu Shrines . Among the most famous are the Ujigami Shrine (built in 1060) and the Byōdō-in that are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site " Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto ". The Byōdō-in , with its Amida (Phoenix) Hall built in 1053,

2050-518: The population. With the establishment of the new capital, Asuka-dera , the temple of the Soga clan , was relocated within Nara. The Emperor Shōmu ordered the construction of Tōdai-ji Temple (largest wooden building in the world) and the world's largest bronze Buddha statue. The temples of Nara, known collectively as the Nanto Shichi Daiji , remained spiritually significant even beyond

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2100-528: The seasons) constructed in 1648. Noteworthy is the Mimuroto-ji, which is famous for its purple hydrangeas. The city features numerous other small Shinto shrines. With a few exceptions, most of the important historical sites are in walking distance of one another and all are easily accessed by rail. The last ten chapters of the Japanese classic novel The Tale of Genji take place in Uji, and so there

2150-640: The seat of the Emperor before the capital was moved to Kyoto . Nara is home to eight temples, shrines, and ruins, specifically Tōdai-ji , Saidai-ji , Kōfuku-ji , Kasuga Shrine , Gangō-ji , Yakushi-ji , Tōshōdai-ji , and the Heijō Palace , together with Kasugayama Primeval Forest , collectively form the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara , a UNESCO World Heritage Site . By the Heian period ,

2200-456: The south-facing palace centered at the north, bisected the ancient city, instituting ‘Right Capital’ and ‘Left Capital’ zones. As Nara came to be a center of Buddhism in Japan and a prominent pilgrimage site, the city plan incorporated various pre-Heijō and Heijō period temples, of which the Yakushiji and the Todaiji still stand. A number of scholars have characterized the Nara period as

2250-473: The status of capital for 1,100 years, until the Meiji Emperor made the final move to Edo in 1869 CE. This first relocation was due to the court's transformation from an imperial nobility to a force of metropolitan elites and new technique of dynastic shedding which had refashioned the relationship between court, nobility, and country. Moreover, the ancient capital lent its name to Nara period. As

2300-522: The summer with highest readings reaching close to 35 °C (95 °F). There has not been a single year since 1990 with more than 10 days of snowfall recorded by Nara Local Meteorological Observatory. The climate in the rest of the prefecture is that of higher elevations especially in the south, with −5 °C (23 °F) being the extreme minimum in winter. Heavy rainfall is often observed in summer. The annual accumulated rainfall totals as much as 3,000 to 5,000 mm (118.11 to 196.85  in ), which

2350-590: The train stations. Uji is south of the main Meishin Expressway and is served directly by the Keiji Bypass, a toll road that was completed a few years ago. The Keiji Bypass circumvents Kyoto and Ōtsu which can be subject to traffic jams. The road is notable for its high trestles and series of long tunnels — including one that is approximately six miles long. The Keiji Bypass links to Dai Ni Keihan Road (Number Two Kyoto Osaka Road) which

2400-447: The two 233 MW reversible Francis turbine pump-generators use it for power production. This process can be repeated and generation usually occurs during peak usage periods. The high water level at the upper reservoir is 296 m (971 ft) above sea level while it is 78.5 m (258 ft) ASL in the lower reservoir. This affords the power station an effective hydraulic head of 219.35 m (720 ft). Its discharge capacity

2450-736: Was called the Gekyō ( 外京 ) , literally the outer capital area. Many of the public offices (e.g. the Municipal office, the Nara Prefectural government, the Nara Police headquarters, etc.) are located on Nijō-ōji ( 二条大路 ) , while Nara branch offices of major nationwide banks are on Sanjō-ōji ( 三条大路 ) , with both avenues running east–west. The highest point in the city is at the peak of Kaigahira-yama at an altitude of 822.0 m (2,696.85 ft) (Tsugehayama-cho district), and

2500-496: Was complete in 1964. The pumped-storage power station became operational in 1970. Both plants are owned by Kansai Electric Power Company . The dam is a 73 m (240 ft) tall, 254 m (833 ft) long variable-radius arch type with structural volume of 162,000 m (5,720,976 cu ft). The dam withholds a reservoir called Lake Hōō ( 鳳凰湖 , Hōō-ko , lit. "Lake Phoenix") of 26,280,000 m (21,306 acre⋅ft) of which 20,000,000 m (16,214 acre⋅ft)

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