Capitals of Japan

• Naniwa (651?-653?)
• Asuka (653-667)
• Ôtsu (667-672)
• Fujiwara-kyô (694-710)
• Heijô (now Nara) (710-740)

The following three capitals have overlapping and rather confusing dates:

• • Kuni (740-742?)
  • Shigaraki (742?-745)
  • Naniwa (745?)
• Heijô (now Nara) (745-784)
• Nagaoka (784-794)
• Heian (now Kyoto) (794-1868)
• Tokyo (1868 to present)

Due to archaeological debates and instances of dual capitals, the above list is not complete or yet trustworthy. Naniwa was capital more times than is listed.

Sources

William Wayne Farris' Sacred Texts and Buried Treasure. Pages 123-200

Cambridge History of Japan Volume One: Ancient Japan. Pages 40-44

This article is a rough draft which is in need of cleanup (grammar, spelling, corrections, links, formatting, etc.). You can help SamuraiWiki by editing it. Click here for a list of articles that have been tagged as a draft copy.