Nara, known for its storied past, was the capital of Japan from 710 to 794 AD. This city in the Kansai region of Japan is renowned for its historic monuments, which are collectively a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Among them, the Todai-ji Temple, housing the world's largest bronze statue of the Buddha Vairocana, is a testament to the city's rich cultural heritage. Nara also boasts the Nara Park, famous for its free-roaming deer considered to be messengers of the gods in the native Shinto religion.