The -Nara Sister City Committee was formed to continue Education Sport the process of facilitating contact and Since the early days of the Sport has an important place in friendship in all areas, suggesting and Canberra-Nara Sister City the ongoing relationship between initiating new projects and advising relationship, one of the strongest Canberra and Nara, with football, the ACT Government on ways to links has been through regular softball, martial arts and basketball effectively support contacts between educational exchanges. There are playing major roles. Many teams the two communities. now many ‘twinned’ Canberra travel between Canberra and Nara The Canberra community can play a and Nara schools and a range for sporting exchanges. part through the ‘Friends of Nara’, open of teachers have benefited from to every person interested in promoting international teacher exchange international friendship through the programs with Nara. Canberra-Nara Sister City Program. C a n b e r r a n a r a Sister Cities

Nara’s main industry revolves around tourism. Nara enjoys a large inflow of domestic and international tourists, who help to support the thriving, traditional craft industries and sake production. Nara is also committed to preserving its natural environment.

Contact us Canberra Nara Sister City, GPO Box 158 Canberra ACT 2601

Canberra Connect Call Centre T: 13 22 81 (AUS) 8am to 8pm AEST Monday to Friday for the cost of a local call. T: +61 13 22 81 (International) from overseas. www.act.gov.au www.cmd.act.gov.au/nara_sister_city/

Arts, Culture & Society Tourism Canberra and Nara are sister Nara and Canberra are rich in culture, Canberra has a lively art scene with Canberra and Nara are both Major Attractions in Nara: cities. Following almost 20 years of heritage and contemporary arts. Nara studios, workshops, exhibition spaces, popular tourist destinations, n Eight World Heritage listed sites regular contact, the official signing prides itself on the finest samples theatres, galleries and museums Canberra as the modern, young n of the proclamation of a sister city of arts and architecture that reach showcasing Australia’s multicultural national capital of Australia and n Nara Centennial Hall relationship occurred in Nara on back 1300 years when it was ’s fabric. Nara as the ancient capital of n Nara Prefectural Museum October 26, 1993. The links were first permanent capital. Testimony Japan. Canberra is now rated as n Nara City Museum of initiated by private citizens and the to its uniqueness is the inclusion of Sister City cultural exchanges include one of the fastest growing tourist Photography business community. The ACT and eight sites on the United Nation’s exhibitions, children’s art, bands and destinations in Australia. Nara n Shoso-in Treasure Repository Nara city governments continue to world heritage list: the temples Todai- choirs. attracts millions of visitors each n Many Festivals foster and encourage the city to city ji, Kofuku-ji, Gango-ji, Yakushi-ji, year. n Nara City Office friendship. Toshodai-ji, the Kasuga Grand Shrine, Canberra has been n Nara-Machi historic village Kasuga-yama Hill Primeval Forest, developed on the banks of Lake Burley Major attractions in Canberra n Isuien Garden Today, we have a vibrant relationship and the Heijo Palace Site. Closely Griffin to symbolise the friendship n Canberra Nara Park & In addition to these, Nara has many with regular and increasing links related to these are Nara’s traditional between the cities. The Park provides Canberra Nara Candle beautiful parks and gardens including between schools, cultural and festivals, forming an important part of a perfect setting for the gift of two Festival Nara Park, famous for its deer. sporting organisations, Rotary clubs, the cultural calendar. stone lanterns and a memorial stone professional associations, businesses from the citizens of Nara to Canberra. n Floriade (September/October) and governments. Nara is famous for traditional arts and Canberra Nara Park also hosts the n National Multicultural Festival crafts, including textiles, calligraphy, annual Canberra Nara Candle Festival Business The strength of the friendship was n Parliament House traditional painting and ceramics, held in October. The Festival boasts Canberra is a city of the future, excelling never more evident than in 2003 n Australian War Memorial and the production of exquisite inks, a display of thousands of floating in smart, clean, technology-based when the people of Nara contributed brushes and paper. candles and entertainment, food and n Australian National Botanic industries that take advantage of the generously to Canberra’s post-bushfire Gardens cultural activities to celebrate the sister national capital’s access to research appeal. city relationship. n National Science and and development institutions, world Technology Centre class communications infrastructure Nara Grove, a stand of Australian (Questacon) and a highly educated workforce. trees and shrubs, is situated on Black n National Gallery of Australia

Mountain Peninsula across the lake n Old Parliament House/ from Nara Park and commemorates National Portrait Gallery visits of Nara delegations to n National Museum of Australia Canberra. n National Capital Exhibition n Black Mountain Tower (Telstra Tower)

n Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve