Understand
Along with the development of HeijÅkyÅ å¹³å京, the capital of Japan between 710-784 AD, Nara flourished under the influence of Buddhism, leading to the creation of an enormous number of cultural assets, buildings and books, many of which are preserved today. Nara has the largest number of buildings designated National Treasures in Japan.
While the HeijÅkyÅ Palace å¹³åå®® site turned into plain fields after the capital was moved to Kyoto, the shrines and temples were left on the east side of the palace called Gekyo (å¤äº¬), and Buddhism remained influential throughout the following centuries. Another part of the area developed as a merchant town, notably in the Edo period, known as Naramachi å¥è¯çº today.
