Nara was the capital of Japan from 710 to 784, lending its name to the Nara period.
The temples of Nara, known collectively as the Nanto Shichi Daiji, remained powerful even beyond the move of the political capital to Heian-ky? in 794, thus giving Nara a synonym of Nanto.
In 2010, Nara celebrated the 1,300th anniversary of its ascension as Japan's imperial capital.
Modern Nara
In the modern age, as the seat of the prefectural government, Nara has developed into a local center of commerce and government. The city was officially incorporated on February 1, 1898
