Ikaruga, Nara

Ikaruga
斑鳩町
Ikaruga Town Hall
Location of Ikaruga in Nara Prefecture
Ikaruga
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 34°36′32″N 135°43′50″E / 34.60889°N 135.73056°E / 34.60889; 135.73056
CountryJapan
RegionKansai
PrefectureNara
DistrictIkoma
Area
  Total
14.27 km2 (5.51 sq mi)
Population
 (December 31, 2024)
  Total
28,036
  Density2,000/km2 (5,100/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address3-7-12 Hōryūjinishi, Ikaruga-cho 630-8580
WebsiteOfficial website
Symbols
BirdJapanese grosbeak
FlowerCamellia sasanqua
TreeJapanese Black Pine

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 km2. The total area of the town is 14.27 km2 (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.