Nabari, Mie Prefecture, Kansai Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Nabari is a city located in central Mie Prefecture, Japan, bordering on Nara Prefecture to the west. The total area of the city is 129.77 square km (50.10 sq mi).

Geography Nabari is located in the hilly Iga region of north-western Mie Prefecture.

Neighboring municipalities Mie Prefecture • Tsu • Iga

Nara Prefecture • Uda • Yamazoe • Soni.

History The area around Nabari is part of ancient Iga Province, and Nabari developed from the Asuka period as a post station on the Ise Kaidō highway from Asuka and Heijō-kyō to the Ise Grand Shrines. It is mentioned in ancient works, including the Man'yōshū.

Nabari Town in Nabari District in Mie Prefecture was established on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. Nabari District was merged with Iga District in 1896 to form Naga District. The city of Nabari was established on March 31, 1954 by the merger of Nabari town with the neighboring villages of Takigawa, Minowa and Kunitsu. Voters rejected a proposal to merge with the neighboring city of Iga in February 2003.

Government Nabari has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 14 members. Nabari contributes two members to the Mie Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Mie 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy The economy of Nabari is mixed, with agriculture (especially for fruits) and sake production, along with light manufacturing and chemicals production predominant. Due to its proximity to Osaka and Nara, the city is also increasing becoming a bedroom community.

Education • Kogakkan University – Nabari branch campus • Nabari has 14 public elementary schools and five public middle schools operated by the city government, and three public high schools operated by then Mie Prefectural Board of Education. The prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped.

Local attractions • Akame Forty-eight Waterfalls. Asides from being a popular hiking spot, the waterfalls are rumored to be the training location for ninja hundreds of years ago. • Kuroda House. The Kuroda House was a large manor operated by Todaiji Temple from the Heian to the Muromachi period. • A statue based on the character of Sonic the Hedgehog can be found near Kanonji Temple, its mysterious nature attracted the attention of online outlets and fans of the franchise

Transport: Rail Kintetsu Railway – Osaka Line ◦ Akameguchi - Nabari - Kikyōgaoka - Mihata

Transport: Road • National Route 165 • National Route 368.