# Ikaruga, Nara

Ikaruga (斑鳩町, Ikaruga-chō) is a town in Ikoma District, Nara, Japan. As of 31 December 2024, the town had an estimated population of 28,036 in 12,292 households, and a population density of 2000 persons per km$^2$. The total area of the town is 14.27 km$^2$ (5.51 sq mi) Ikaruga is home to Hōryū-ji and Hokki-ji, ancient Buddhist temples collectively inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Other ancient temples include Hōrin-ji, also in the vicinity of Hōryū-ji. The town was named after the palace of Prince Shōtoku, Ikaruga-no-Miya (Imperial Palace of Ikaruga, or Imperial House of Ikaruga), whose grounds were at Hōryū-ji.

## Geography

Topographically, Ikaruga is divided into a mountain forest area in the north, a hilly area in the center, and a plain area in the south. The northern mountain forest area is the southern end of the Yata Hills, which are part of the Ikoma Mountains, and Mount Matsuo is located there. The Tatsuta River flows on the west side of the town, and the Tomio River flows on the east side

## Neighboring municipalities

Nara Prefecture
* Ando
* Heguri
* Ikoma
* Kawai
* Ōji
* Sangō
* Yamatokōriyama

### Climate

Ikaruga has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Ikaruga is 14.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1636 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.7 °C, and lowest in January, at around 3.1 °C.

### Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Ikaruga is as shown below:

## History

The area of Ikaruga is part of ancient Yamato Province, and was densely settled in the Kofun period, with many ancient burial mounds surviving within the town borders. It was also an early center of Buddhism in Japan during the Asuka period, with a number of ancient temples surviving to the present day, The villages of Tatsuta, Tomisato and Horyuji were established on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. Tatsuta was raised to town status on April 2, 1891. On February 11, 1947, Tatsuta merged with Tomisato and Horyuji to form the town of Ikaruga.

## Government

Ikaruga has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 13 members. Ikaruga, collectively with the other municipalities of Ikoma District contributes three members to the Nara Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of the Nara 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

## Economy

Ikaruga has a mixed economy of agriculture, commerce and light manufacturing. Due to its location, the town is increasing becoming a commuter town for the greater Osaka metropolis.

## Education

Ikaruga has three public elementary schools and two public junior high schools operated by the town government and one public high school operated by the Nara Prefectural Board of Education.

### Elementary schools

* Ikaruga Elementary School
* Ikarugahigashi Elementary School
* Ikaruganishi Elementary School

### Junior high schools

* Ikaruga Junior High School
* Ikarugaminami Junior High School

### High schools

* Hōryū-ji International High School

## Transportation
### Railways

JR West - Kansai Main Line (Yamatoji Line)
    Q Hōryūji

### Highways

* National Route 25
* National Route 168

## Local attractions
### Temples and shrines

* Chūgū-ji
* Ikaruga Shrine
* Hokki-ji
* Hōrin-ji
* Hōryū-ji
* Kichiden-ji
* Mimuroyama
* Ryūta Shrine

### Kofun

* Fujinoki Kofun
* Kasuga Kofun
* Okanohara Kofun
* Terayama Kofun