Articles of category "Nara"

The Nara Prefecture is located almost in the center of the Japanese archipelago, surrounded by four prefectures of Osaka, Kyoto, Wakayama and Mie. The prefecture occupies a significant position in the history, as it is said that Nara was the first state in Japan. Hence, Nara is home to diverse World Heritage Sites, Buddhist art and architecture samples, designated as the National Treasures and Important Cultural Assets.

The Nara Period (710-794 AD) is marked in the Japanese history for the establishment of Buddhism with a center of these religious changes in ancient Nara. Today, seven temples, shrines and ruins in Nara, preserved from the 8th century, together form the "Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara", the UNESCO's World Heritage Site. The largest Buddhist temple and statue are located in Nara.