Nara was once the capital of Japan, in fact, it
was the first permanent capital established. Nara
City’s
former name is Heijo-Kyo, which is why the main
palace
in Nara received the name Heijo. This ancient city is
known as the cradle of Japanese civilization, and is
home to more than a thousand free-roaming deer.
One of the ancient cities of Japan
is Nara, also known as the cradle of Japanese
civilization. In 710, the city of Heijo, modern day Nara,
became home to the first established capital in Japan.
One of the many attractions in Nara is the Nara Deer
Park, which is often filled with visitors and free-
roaming
deer. Unlike most wild deer, these are used to being
around humans and will often follow people around for
a
treat. In Shintoism, deer are seen as the messengers
of
god, amplifying their symbolic presence with the
temple
in the vicinity. The Nara Park is wide and also has
beautiful scenery, particularly during the spring and
autumn season when the flowers bloom and the
leaves
change color. The Todaiji Temple is just near the
entrance of the Nara Park. In the past, this Buddhist
temple was so influential in politics that the
government
eventually moved the capital further north to Nagaoka
Prefecture around 74 years after its establishment in
order to reduce the temple’s influence. The Todaiji
Temple houses a great Buddha statue the largest
bronze statue of Buddha in the world. It is also an
official
UNESCO World Heritage Site. Along with that, there
are
also enormous standing wooden structures of
guardians
in the temple, each one with unique features. The
details on the lotus that the bronze Buddha sits on
gives
it more significance as it has Sanskrit writing on the
outer petals and can be seen clearly if the viewer
approaches the statue closer.
Please see below for tours
that include Nara:
