"The capital at Nara Beautiful in blue earth Flourishes now Like the brilliant fragrance Of the flowers in bloom." This is the rough translation of a traditional Japanese poem(The Man'yoshu)about Nara, the ancient capital Heijo-kyo.    Nara is a historical city that lies in the Kinai plain quite close to Kyoto and is about 25 miles east of Osaka.  Founded in 706 AD, the ancient Nara was modeled after the Chinese T'ang Dynasty's capital, Xi'an.  This city is a living monument of Chinese cultural influence in Japan.  Nara was the first permanent capital  in the year 710, and is the oldest capital of Japan. It was the seat of the imperial government from 710 to 784 AD.   The influence of Buddhism in the   city of Nara grew so strong that the government decided to move the capital in the year 784 to Nagaoka.  Then, finally to Heian (Kyoto) in 794 where it should remain for over one thousand years.  The city used to be a very important religious and cultural center of Japan. Many historical monuments remain today; the Todaiji temple is one of the most famous of them.
 

    One characteristic of the Nara and Heian periods is the trend from almost unlimited Chinese influence to the realization of own Japanese ideas. Even though Chinese influence remained quite strong, many of the adopted ideas and institutions where "Japanized": in the government, for example, several additional governmental offices were established in order to cover the particular Japanese needs.
     The persent Nara City remains many wooden structures which were built at the age of the Heijo-kyo Capital. In other parts of the world, it is rare to find so many wooden buildings of the 8th century. Therefore, those found in this city are historically priceless.     Why don't you visit Nara, which is full of "hearty communication" with nature and culture? Nara will make you feel the warmth of trees and the beauty of the rooftiles on the traditional Tempyo-era structures. 
"The harmonious mixture of old and new, nature and culture, and history and art" will welcome you warmly and lead you to find your mind at peace.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
  Some of Nara's sceneries
 

Todaiji Temple
 
 Kasuga Grand Shrine
 

 Toshodai-Ji Temple
 
 

 Kofuku-Ji Temple