Nara was the capital of Japan from 710 to 784 AD, which meant that
it expanded quickly as an ancient city. Whilst its centre-stage
role in Japanese history was short-lived, it was still home to a
number of significant sites and monuments that are culturally
important and remain major tourist attractions today.
These include Nara Park, also known as Deer Park for the large
number of tame deer that roam around it. Originally believed to be
messengers of the gods, the deer were seen as sacred, and killing
one of these deer was a capital offence punishable by death until
relatively recently. Today they still enjoy the full protection and
status of a national treasure. As well as being a vast expanse of
beautiful parkland, Nara Park is home to Todai-ji Temple, a
Buddhist building founded in the first half of the 8th century. The
ornate structure is noteworthy for being the largest wooden
building in the world, and for having the world's largest bronze
Buddha statue. The Buddha weighs 500 tons and is 49 feet (15
metres) tall - its ears are just over 8 feet (2.4 metres) long!
The Kasuga Shrine is part of the same UNESCO World Heritage
site, and is of a similar age, having been founded in 768. This is
a huge complex, with a number of different buildings. The Shinto
shrine is known for its ornate stone lanterns on the steps leading
up to the main entrance, and the interior of the central shrine
features many lavish golden statues.
