Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Why was the government first moved from Nara to Nagaoka?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Kyōto
The upper levels of the pagoda at Yasaka Shrine standing out against the skyline of Kyōto, Japan.
In 784, Emperor Kammu moved the Japanese government from Nara to Nagaoka-kyō primarily to escape the influence of the powerful Buddhist monasteries that dominated the old capital.1
By the late 8th century, these religious institutions had grown significantly in wealth and political ambition, often interfering in secular government affairs and threatening the stability of the state. By relocating the capital, the emperor sought to distance the imperial court from these entrenched religious centers and regain greater control over national administration.123