
6 temples · 2 shrines
Nara is the capital of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan.
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.
Nara