Kinai

Kinai is a historical region of Japan that denotes the central heartland around the ancient capitals. The name (畿内) literally means “inside the capitals,” reflecting its role as the political and cultural core of the nation in classical and medieval times.

Geography and composition: In the classical period, Kinai consisted of seven provinces: Izumi, Kawachi, Settsu, Yamashiro, Yamato, Omi, and Mino. The core area lies in the Kyoto–Osaka–Nara basin, which housed the imperial court in Nara and later Kyoto and served as the central hub for administration, economy, and culture.

Historical role: Kinai was central to governance under the ritsuryō system and remained the nation’s political and cultural center through the Heian period and into the medieval era. Although political power shifted to other regions over time, Kyoto retained ceremonial and symbolic importance as the traditional capital for many centuries.

Modern usage: Today Kinai is not an administrative region, but it is commonly associated with the Kansai region. In contemporary geography, Kansai covers major urban areas such as Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe, along with Nara, Shiga, and sometimes Wakayama and Mie. The term Kinai is mainly used in historical, cultural, and academic contexts to describe Japan’s inner core around the ancient capitals.

See also: Kansai region; Heian period; Nara period; Kyoto.