Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara

Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Location	Nara Prefecture, Kansai region, Japan
Criteria	Cultural: (ii), (iii), (iv), (vi)
Reference	870
Inscription	1998 (22nd Session)
Area	617 ha (1,520 acres)
Buffer zone	1,962.5 ha (4,849 acres)
Coordinates	34°40′32″N 135°50′22″E / 34.67556°N 135.83944°E
	Location of Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara in Japan

Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara is the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Nara in Nara Prefecture, Japan.^[1]

The site covers eight places in the old capital city of Nara. Five are Buddhist temples, one is a Shinto shrine, one is a Palace and one a primeval forest.

History

Nara was the capital of Japan from 710 to 784. The city's historic structures show what life was like in the Japanese capital in the 8th century.^[1]

All of the shrine and temple compounds have been recognized as "Historic Sites". The Nara Palace has been named as a "Special Historic Site". The Kasugayama forest is a Special "Natural Monument".^[2]

The several properties include 26 buildings which have been named by the Japanese Government as "National Treasures". Also, there are 53 buildings which have been named as "Important Cultural Properties". ^[2]

In 1998, UNESCO listed parts of Nara as a World Heritage Site.^[1]

Table

Name	Location	Notes
Tōdai-ji (東大寺, Tōdai-ji, Eastern Great Temple)^[1]	Nara	cultural site
Kōfuku-ji (興福寺, Kōfuku-ji)^[1]	Nara	cultural site
Kasuga Shrine (春日大社, Kasuga-taisha)^[1]	Nara	cultural site
Gangō-ji (元興寺)^[1]	Nara	cultural site
Yakushi-ji (薬師寺)^[1]	Nara	cultural site
Tōshōdai-ji (唐招提寺)^[1]	Nara	cultural site
Heijō Palace (平城宮, Heijō-kyū)^[1]	Nara	cultural site
Kasugayama Primeval Forest (春日山原始林, Kasugayamagenshirin)^[1]	Nara	natural site