Narazaka

Japanese: 奈良坂 - ならざか

A slope that crosses Mount Nara, which marks the border between Nara and Minamiyamashiro. It has changed over the ages. In the past, Utahime Pass was used, which leads to Shimotsuke Road, which runs north and south through the Nara Basin, but it was cut off when Heijo Palace was built, and Kurumatani Road (along the Kansai Main Line), which connects to Nakatsu Road in the east, came to be used. Next to Kurumatani Road is the Heijo Sakanohe Tomb, which is said to be the tomb of Emperor Nintoku's Empress Iwanohime. In the mid-Heian period, as the temple towns of Todaiji and Kofukuji developed, the Hannyaji Road (Hannya Road) further east came into active use, and this route has remained the main road connecting Nara and Kyoto to this day.

Source : Heibonsha Encyclopedia About MyPedia Information

Japanese:

奈良と南山城の境をなす平城山(ならやま)を越える坂道。時代によって変遷する。奈良盆地を南北に縦貫する下(しも)ツ道に続く歌姫(うたひめ)越えが古く利用されたが，平城宮造営で切断され，東の中ツ道に通ずる車谷道（関西本線沿い）が利用されるようになる。車谷道の傍らには仁徳天皇の后磐之媛(いわのひめ)の墓という平城坂上(ならさかのへ)墓がある。平安中期に東大寺や興福寺の門前郷が発達するとさらに東の般若寺道（般若道）が盛んに利用され，以後現在までこのルートが奈良・京都を結ぶ主要道となる。

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