Japan's first permanent capital was established in the year 710 at Heijo, the city now known as Nara (奈良). Prior to that, the capital was moved to a new location whenever a new emperor ascended to the throne. However, as the influence and political ambitions of the city's powerful Buddhist monasteries grew to become a serious threat to the government, the capital was moved away from Nara to Nagaok
![Nara](https://cdn-ak-scissors.b.st-hatena.com/image/square/035f74abe6d63b1197d1be6d670c6c6a118b576c/height=288;version=1;width=512/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.japan-guide.com%2Fthumb%2FXYZeXYZe2165_1680.jpg)