Nara

Nara, Japan's inaugural permanent capital from 710 to 794 CE, is most renowned for Todai-ji Temple, which enshrines the world's largest bronze Buddha statue within what remains the largest wooden structure on Earth. This architectural marvel is a central feature among Nara's eight UNESCO World Heritage properties. The city's picturesque Nara Park is famously home to a population of free-roaming sika deer, considered sacred messengers; a recent survey found 1,687 deer within the park, representing a record high. This population is notably higher than the typical deer populations found in many other protected natural parks across Japan.