Nara Prefectural Government Building

photo by x768 · CC BY-SA 2.0

photo by Toku3 · CC BY 3.0

Completed in 1965 to a design by Katsuya Katayama, it has a 360-degree viewing terrace open to the public, from which you can see Mount Wakakusa and Mount Ikoma.

In 1965 the building replaced the wooden prefectural office of 1895, which was later moved to the city of Tenri. The complex links the administrative wing, the police wing and the assembly wing with corridors inspired by ancient temple complexes, and it is recognisable by its central tower. It stands in an area under landscape protection, and its terrace is open to the public with set seasonal hours.

Seat of the Nara prefectural government, in the city of Nara, address 登大路町30 (postcode 630-8501). The current building, completed in 1965 on the former site of Nara Gakugei University, is the work of Katsuya Katayama of the Kinki regional office of the Ministry of Construction: it links the main building (administrative wing), the police wing and the assembly wing with corridors, in a layout inspired by ancient temple complexes. The reinforced concrete structure has six floors above ground and two below, with a distinctive central tower, and it stands in an area under landscape protection. The previous wooden building of 1895, designed by Nagano Ucheiji, was later moved to the city of Tenri when it was replaced in 1965.

ℹ️ The rooftop viewing terrace is open to the public and offers a 360-degree view of Mount Wakakusa, Mount Ikoma and the city. Hours (April–September): weekdays 8:30–17:30; Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays 10:00–17:00. The terrace may close in bad weather or extreme temperatures.

🚉 Kintetsu Nara · 6 min walk

Sources: pref.nara.lg.jp · ja.wikipedia.org · nominatim.openstreetmap.org · openstreetmap.org

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