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 change

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 change

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