Nara

Nara is the capital of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. It served as Japan’s first permanent capital at Heijō-kyō from 710 to 784, giving its name to the Nara period (710–794). The Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara, which include temples, shrines, and palace ruins, were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998. Tōdai-ji temple houses the Great Buddha and one of the world’s largest wooden halls. Kōfuku-ji is noted for its five-story pagoda, while Kasuga Taisha and the Kasugayama Primeval Forest reflect ancient Shinto worship. The Heijō Palace Site offers reconstructed state halls and a museum. Nara Park links major landmarks and is known for protected free-roaming deer, and the Nara National Museum showcases Buddhist art.