Nara is home to many historically significant architectural monuments, and in 1998, eight of these properties, including Todaiji Temple with its Great Buddha, were registered as UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites under the title "Cultural Properties of Ancient Nara." About 1,300 years ago, during the 84-year-long Nara Period, the center of the capital was Heijo-kyo Capital. Heijo-kyo was the center of politics and culture, and many temples and shrines were built around it. This World Cultural Heritage Site consists of religious buildings built at that time and the Kasuga-yama Primeval Forest. Many tourists visit Nara for its serene atmosphere.