Comprehensive Preservation and Management Plan for World Heritage Property “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara”

Home , An (Shinto), Honden, Keinawa Expressway, Local Autonomy Act, Nara Basin, Nara Park

Comprehensive Preservation and Management Plan for the World Heritage Property, “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara”

Contents

Chapter 1 Basic Matters of the Plan 1

1.1 Purpose of Plan formulation ...... 1 1.2 Process of the Plan Formation ...... 2 1.3 Composition and Structure of the Plan ...... 4 1.4 Relationship with Other Plans ...... 5 1.5 Implementation and Review of the plan ...... 6 1.5.1 Implementation Structure ...... 6 1.5.2 Operation and Review of the Plan ...... 9

Chapter 2 Outline of World Heritage “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara” 10

2.1 Statement of Outstanding Universal Value ...... 10 2.2 Component Parts ...... 14 2.2.1 List of Component Parts ...... 14 2.2.2 Outline of component parts ...... 19 2.3 Examination of Conservation State by World Heritage Committee ...... 25

Chapter 3 Current State of Property and its Surrounding Environments 27

3.1 Outline of Nara City ...... 27 3.2 Current State of Property ...... 31 3.2.1 Precincts and Group of Religious Buildings of Temples and Shrines ...... 33 3.2.2 Cultural Landscape Associated with Shintoism of Kasuga-Taisha and Kasugayama Primeval Forest ...... 42 3.2.3 Archaeological Sites of Nara Palace Site ...... 47 3.3 Current Conditions of Surrounding Environments ...... 52 3.3.1 Vicinity of Kasugayama ...... 55 3.3.2 Vicinity of Gangô-ji ...... 56 3.3.3 Vicinity of Nishino-kyô ...... 57 3.3.4 Vicinity of Nara Palace Site ...... 58 3.3.5 Management Structure ...... 59

3.4 Focus of Attention and Policy for Plan Formulation ...... 65

Chapter 4 Visions and Basic Policy for Conservation Management 68 Chapter 5 Preservation Management of Outstanding Universal Value 71

5.1 Definition of Elements Necessary to Express Outstanding Universal Value ...... 71 5.2 Preservation Management Corresponding to Category of Components ...... 77 5.3 Addressing to the factors affecting the property in accordance with the Act on Protection of Cultural Properties, Ancient Capitals Preservation Act, Urban Planning Act, Landscape Act, etc...... 79 5.4 Development and maintenance of human resources who protect Outstanding Universal Value 79

Chapter 6 Comprehensive Preservation with Surrounding Environments 80

6.1 Establishment of Area-Specific Directionality in Preservation in Line with Relationship with Component Parts ...... 80 6.2 Coexistence with the lives of local residents ...... 82

Chapter 7 Advancement of interpretation/promotion 84

7.1 Interpretation/promotion based on the characteristics of each component part ...... 84 7.2 Continuance of Researches/Studies and the Transmission of Results ...... 89

Chapter 8 Monitoring 90 Chapter 9 Enhancing Comprehensive Preservation and Management 93 Appendix Acts and Regulations

Chapter 1 Basic Matters of the Plan

1.1 Purpose of Plan formulation

The world heritage “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara” was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1998. In line with Paragraph 108 of the “Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention” (hereinafter, “Operational Guidelines”), the state party that owns the properties nominated for inscription was requested to formulate an appropriate management plan explicitly describing the measures to conserve the property's Outstanding Universal Value, or to establish a management structure since 2005. Following this, with regard also to the properties inscribed on the World Heritage List prior to that request, the state party was requested to formulate a management plan for the WHC examination of the state of conservation. Since the nomination for inscription of the “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range” prescribed in 2004, in addition to the existing preservation management plans, etc. related to individual cultural properties (hereinafter, “individual preservation management plan”), Japan has formulated a comprehensive preservation and management plan targeting all properties that correspond to the management plan above for serial property. As for properties inscribed prior to the WHC request, for “Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu” prescribed in 2000, the Comprehensive Preservation and Management Plans were formulated to ensure the preservation and management of Outstanding Universal Value in 2013, 13 years following the inscription. Although the “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara” have basically been maintained in a good state of conservation following the inscription on the WHL, through the process of the examination of the state of conservation by the World Heritage Committee, the World Heritage Centre and advisory bodies indicated that it is important to establish a permanent adjustment mechanism which harmonises the preservation policies for the entire property. This Comprehensive Preservation and Management Plan has been hereby formulated, taking into consideration the tendency in the current preservation and management of world heritage sites, and the fact that about 15 years have passed since the inscription of the “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara” on the World Heritage List; then, accordingly, it has become necessary to study the preservation and management measures which correspond to the changes in the state of preservation and use, and the surrounding environments of the property.

1.2 Process of the Plan Formation

The “Advisers Meeting for the Formulation of the World Heritage ‘Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara’ Comprehensive Preservation and Management Plan” (hereinafter, Advisers Meeting) was organised in order to formulate the plan. Meetings were held, and such items were discussed as the current state of the property, summarisation of issues to be addressed, examination of the basic policies for preservation and management, etc., centering around the advisers who are all experts in the protection of the cultural heritage, in the presence of representatives from the Agency of Cultural Affairs, and representatives of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (hereinafter, “MLIT”) as observers, and of relevant departments of the Nara prefectural and municipal governments. Attendances, dates, and agenda items of the Advisers Meeting are listed below.

Table 1-1 List of Attendance of the Advisers Meeting (The names of the advisers are listed in Japanese alphabetical order. Honorific prefixes are omitted omitted.)

Members Name Speciali sed Field Place of W ork , etc. INABA Nobuko Cultural heritage/ Prof. , Graduate School of University of (Vice chairperson ) Architectural history Tsukuba Vice Director General, Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties Garden history/Historic ONO Kenkichi Nara municipal government, heritage Member of the Council for the Protection of Cultural Properties Architectural history/ SAITO Hidetoshi Cultural properties Prof., Kyoto Women’s University Advisers preservation Specially Appointed Prof ., Nara TANABE Ikuo Prefectural University Archaeology (Chairperson) Chair Person of the Nara City Council for the Protection of Cultural Properties Prof. , Nara Women’s University Conservation and promotion Member of the Council for Construction MASUI Masaya of Architectural of Nara as City of International Culture history/Cultural heritage and Tourism MUNETA Yoshifumi Landscape /Urban planning Prof. , Kyoto Prefectural University Agency of Cultural Affairs World Cultural Heritage Section, Monuments and Sites Division, Cultural properties Department

Observers Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Asuka Historical National Government Park, Kinki Regional Development Bureau Nara National Highway Office, Kinki Regional Development Bureau Nara prefectural government Culture Promotion Division, Regional Development Department Secretariat Nara municipal government Cultural Assets Division, Education and General Affairs Department, Board of Education Relevant departments of Nara prefectural government Relevant

departments Relevant departments of Nara municipal government

Table 1-2 Dates and Agendas of Advisers Meeting

Meetings Date Agendas

Agenda 1．Purpose to formulate “Comprehensive Preservation and Management Plan” Agenda 2．Proceeding with the formulation of “Comprehensive Preservation First 11 November, 2013 and Management Plan” Agenda 3．Issues to be addressed for “Comprehensive Preservation and Management Plan” Agenda 1．Targets of “Comprehensive Preservation and Management Plan” Second 7 February, 2014 Agenda 2．Summarisation of the Issues to be Addressed about the Conservation and Management Plan for the Property Agenda 1. Current State of the Conservation and Management Plan for the Property / Confirmation of Issues to be addressed Third 19 May, 2014 Agenda 2．Review of the basic policies (draft) of “Comprehensive Preservation and Management Plan”

Agenda 1．Review of “Comprehensive Preservation and Management Plan Fourth 5 September, 2014 (preliminary draft) ”

Agenda 1．Review of the entire “Comprehensive Preservation and Fifth 21 November, 2014 Management Plan”

1.3 Composition and Structure of the Plan

This plan has the composition and structure as illustrated in Fig. 1-1, and the contents of each chapter are listed below. - Chapter 1 indicates the purpose and process of formulation of this plan, in addition to the composition and structure of the plan, as well as coordination with other plans. - Chapter 2 describes the outline of the Outstanding Universal Value and component parts of this property in accordance with the descriptions of “Retrospective statements of Outstanding Universal Value” resolved at the 36th session of the World Heritage Committee (2012, Saint-Petersburg) and the nomination. - Chapter 3 summarises the current state of preservation of the property, and indicates the issues to be addressed for preservation and management in the future. - Chapter 4 describes the vision and three basic policies regarding preservation and management of the property, based on Chapters 2 - 3. - Chapters 5-7 provides details of the basic policies described in Chapter 4. - Chapter 8 formulates the index of monitoring (observation of progress), measuring organisations, and measuring intervals, based on chapters 3-7. - Chapter 9 indicates approaches to be taken to ensure strict implementation of the “Comprehensive Preservation and Management Plan” to guarantee the enhancement of preservation management.

Chapter 1 Basic Matters of the Plan

Chapter 2 Outline of the World Heritage “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara”

Chapter 3 Current State of the Property and Surrounding Environments

Basic Policies for Conservation Chapter 4 Visions and Basic Policies for Preservation Management and Management Chapter 8 1 Preservation management of Outstanding Visions Universal Value Chapter 5 Monitoring

2 Comprehensive preservation with surrounding Chapter 6 environment

Chapter 7 3 Promotion of presentation/promotion

Chapter 9 Enhancement of Comprehensive Preservation and Management

Fig. 1-1 Composition and Structure of the Plan

1.4 Relationship with Other Plans

This plan shall be formulated to promote more integral preservation and management of the world heritage “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara”, following efforts made in the past in Nara for cultural-properties protection and historic-environment preservation. Accordingly, when formulating this plan, due consideration was given to consistency with the Act on Protection of Cultural Properties as the legal basis for the preservation and management of the range of the property, other acts and regulations as the legal basis for the management of the surrounding environments of the property, and other plans based on those acts and regulations. Furthermore, this plan is deemed to be the index to be referred to when formulating any individual preservation management plan in the future, or when various relevant parties/persons involved in this property including Nara prefectural government, Nara municipal government, Nara citizens, etc. examine a broad range of projects from the viewpoint of the world heritage.

World Heritage “Historic Monuments of Conservation and Management Plan Ancient Nara” Tôdai-ji, Kôfuku-ji, Kasugayama Primeval Forest *: Conservation, Management and Promotion Plan for Place of Scenic Beauty, Nara Park (2011) Act on Protection Maintenance/Improvement Plan Property of Cultural Properties Tôdai-ji: Master Plan for the Improvement of Tôdai-ji Precincts (2013) Kôfuku-ji: Concept for the Improvement of Kôfuku-ji Precincts (1998) Kasuga-Taisha: Master Plan for Landscaping Improvement of the Historic Site, Kasuga-Taisha Precincts (1990) Written Plan for Kasuga-Taisha Precincts Improvement (2014) Yakushi-ji: Basic Plan for Conservation Implement of the Historic Site, Yakushi-ji Old Precincts (2012) Nara Palace Site: Master Plan for Conservation Improvement of the Nara Palace Site, the Special Historic Site (1978) Master Plan for Promotion Plan for Conservation Improvement of the Nara Palace Site, the Special Historic Site (2008) Basic Plan for the Nara Palace Site Area of the Asuka/Nara Palace Site Historical National Government Parks (2008) Restoration Presentation Plan for the Former Imperial Audience Hall of the Nara Palace Site Historical National Government Park (2011)

Ancient Capitals Surrounding Preservation Act Nara City Historical Natural Features Preservation Plan Areas (1967/amended in 1971)

Urban Planning Nara City Master Plan for City Planning (2002) Act Nara City Scenic Beauty Conservation Policy (2001)

Nara City Landscape Plan (2010; under amendment) Landscape Act Mahoroba Landscape Development Ordinance (1990/amended in 2010 ）

* Tôdai-ji, Kôfuku-ji, and Kasugayama Primeval Forest overlap a part of the Nara Park, a Place of Scenic Beauty.

Fig. 1-2 Related Acts, Regulations and Plans

1.5 Implementation and Review of the plan

1.5.1 Implementation Structure

The preservation and management of the property are undertaken by the owners or site supervisor(s) of each component part and administrative organisations centered around the Agency of Cultural Affairs, in close coordination with each other. The outline and roles shared among the administrative departments/institutions concerned with the property are described below.

Agency of Cultural Affairs The Agency of Cultural Affairs is an organ of the Japanese national government that plays a central part in the protection of the cultural heritage. With regard to: (i) important matters related to the preservation and management of the property, and the preservation of the surrounding environments; (ii) the preparation of periodical reports on the preservation/management state of properties to be submitted to the World Heritage Committee, this agency is to cooperate with Nara prefectural government, Nara municipal government and, other national government organisations, etc., and, as appropriate, conduct liaison, coordination, adjustment, and or consultation with each other. The agency is to give instructions to the owners or site supervisors of cultural properties when they conduct a repair or restoration for the maintenance of cultural properties, or changing the current state or any other act that could affect the preservation of the cultural properties. Furthermore, the agency, as the owner, undertakes the management of the Nara Palace Site.

Nara prefectural government Nara prefectural government is a broader-based administrative unit composed of 39 cities, towns, and villages (population of 1.4 million) as basic administrative units including Nara City in which the property is located, Ikaruga Town in which the world heritage “Buddhist Monuments in the Hôryu-ji Area” (inscribed in 1993) is located, nine cities including Gojo city in which a part of the world heritage “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range” (inscribed in 2004) are located, and Kashihara City, Sakurai City, and Asuka Village in which the “Asuka-Fujiwara: Archaeological sites of Japan’s Ancient Capitals and Related Properties” inscribed in the Tentative List of World Heritage Sites are located. The prefectural government is to understand the current state and issues to be addressed in relation to the preservation and management of the property as well as the preservation of surrounding environments, and to implement the measures, deemed necessary to resolve the issues, over a wide area, in coordination with the national government, cities, towns, villages, and other parties concerned. In addition, for the preservation management of the property, Nara prefectural government is to conduct comprehensive coordination for the whole property in cooperation with Nara City, while conducting fundamental preservation and management of the historic sites, old precincts of Tôdai-ji, the special natural monument, Kasugayama Primeval Forest, and the special historic site, the Nara Palace Site as the site supervisor under the Act for Protection of Cultural Properties. Furthermore, for Nara Park, a Place of Scenic Beauty, which part overlaps the identification of Tôdai-ji, Kôfuku-ji and the Kasugayama Primeval Forest, the prefectural government shall undertake management as a site supervisor under the Act for Protection of Cultural Properties. Culture Promotion Division is to widely encourage cultural promotion in Nara Prefecture, and to conduct comprehensive coordination with regard to the world heritage sites that exist in Nara Prefecture. Meanwhile, in respect to the property, this division is to conduct information exchange, consultations, promotion of other necessary projects, etc. related to the preservation and management of the property, while acting to as contact for coordination between relevant departments of Nara prefectural/municipal governments and the Agency of Cultural Affairs. Cultural Properties Preservation Division (Board of Education of Nara Prefecture) is to undertake the preservation and management of the cultural properties existing in Nara Prefecture. The division also acts as contact for coordination between the Agency of Cultural Affairs and an owner or site supervisor of a cultural property conducting repairs or restoration for the maintenance of cultural properties, or any act to change the current state, or other acts that could affect the preservation of the cultural property. Cultural Properties Preservation Office (Board of Education of Nara Prefecture) is to conduct the preservation/repair of the structures of cultural properties upon receipt of consignments of the owners. This division has 25 repair engineers for cultural properties. When undertaking disassembling repair or semi-disassembling repair works, a field office is built on the site at which the engineers are stationed during the work. At present, for the disassembling repair for the east pagoda of Yakushi-ji, a field office is located on-site.

Heijô Palace Site Promotion Office is to conduct development/improvement of areas neighboring the Nara Palace Site owned by the Nara prefectural government - owned, in coordination with the Asuka Historical National Government Park Office, MLI that is responsible for the development/improvement of the Nara Palace Site Historical National Government Park. Nara Park Office is to conduct the development/improvement and daily maintenance of Nara Park (Nara Prefectural city Park), which overlaps with a part of the identification of the property of Tôdai-ji, Kôfuku-ji, and Kasugayama Primeval Forest.

Nara Municipal Government Nara municipal government is the basic administrative unit that has jurisdiction over every component part, buffer zone, and the Historic Environment Harmonisation Area of the property. The city is to gather information regarding the current state and issues to be addressed for the preservation and management of the property and the preservation of the surrounding environments thereof, and implement any measures necessary to solve such issues, in collaboration with the national government, Nara prefectural government, and other relevant organisations. Furthermore, for the preservation and management of the property, the city is to undertake comprehensive coordination of the property, in cooperation with Nara prefectural government. Cultural Assets Division (Board of Education of Nara City) is to undertake the preservation and management of the cultural properties existing within Nara city. In case the owners or site supervisors of cultural properties act to repair or restore a cultural property for maintenance, or to change the current state or any other act that could affect the preservation of the cultural property, this division is to liaise and coordinate with the Cultural Properties Preservation Division (Board of Education of Nara Prefecture), and to provide instructions, when necessary. Comprehensive Policy Division is to plan and promote comprehensive policies related to the Nara city administrations, and to coordinate between such policies. For the preservation and management of properties and surrounding areas, the division is to understand the activities of each department concerned, and to liaise and coordinate with them. City Planning Division is to conduct planning, plan proposal/promotion and comprehensive adjustment with regard to the urban planning of Nara municipal government. For the preservation and management of properties, under the City Planning Act, the division is to formulate land-use plans applied to the properties and the surrounding areas. Cityscape Division is a division to conduct planning, proposal, promotion and coordination related to the landscaping of Nara City. For the preservation and management of the properties, under the Act on Special Measures Concerning Preservation of Historic Natural Features of Ancient Cities (“Ancient Capitals Preservation Act”), the City Planning Act, and the Nara City Scenic Zone Ordinance, the division is to issue permits, receive notifications, conduct examination, issue recommendations, change orders, etc. for construction. In addition, under the Landscape Act and the Mahoroba Landscape Development Ordinance, the division is to formulate landscape plans for the properties and surrounding areas, and to issue permits, receive notifications, conduct examination, issue recommendations, change orders, etc. for construction. Tourism Strategy Division and Tourism Promotion Division are to conduct measures for the planning, proposal, promotion, and comprehensive adjustment related to the tourism promotion of Nara City. For the preservation and management of the property, the divisions are to undertake the transmission of tourist information, etc.

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) Asuka Historical National Government Park is an organisation unit of the MLIT to develop/improve the Nara Palace Site Historical National Government Park that roughly corresponds to the property identification of the Nara Palace Site. Since 2008, in which it was determined that the Nara Palace Site was incorporated into the zone of the Nara Palace Site Historical National Government Park, the unit has been undertaking development/improvement projects (of the Park) that aim at the proper preservation/promotion of the archaeological sites (within the Nara Palace Site) including the development for the visual presentation of the values of the Nara Palace Site, in coordination with: (i) the Agency of Cultural Affairs, the owner of the land, which conducts preservation and management of buried structural remains and archaeological artefacts; (ii) Nara prefectural government as the management organisation of special historic site; (iii) Nara municipal government, that undertakes the preservation of surrounding environments; and (iv) Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, that carries out excavation and research. Nara National Highway Office is the organisation unit of the MLIT to conduct the development, maintenance and management of the national highways running within Nara Prefecture. It also undertakes the maintenance of the Yamato-Kita Road planned to be constructed within the Historic Environment Harmonisation Area neighboring the buffer zone to the east of the Nara Palace Site. In September, 2006, in order to prevent the construction of the Yamato-Kita Road from affecting buried structural remains and archaeological artefacts, the organisation unit established the “Yamato-Kita Road Groundwater Monitoring Study Committee”, and is proceeding with the study for the formulation of the groundwater monitoring system and risk mitigation plan.

Temples and Shrines The temples and shrines, owners and/or site supervisors of each component part of the properties, are the entities that have succeeded the property to date through the continuance of religious activities. For the preservation and management of the properties, they are to conduct routine maintenance of each component part or the cultural properties included therein. In case any repair work exceeding the scope of routine maintenance becomes necessary, the temples and shrines are to conduct such works in coordination with the Agency of Cultural Affairs, Nara prefectural government and Nara municipal government. Furthermore, each temple and shrine has staff members who undertake the management of the cultural properties.

Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (“NNRICP”) The NNRICP is an institute for the comprehensive study of cultural properties. Since its establishment in 1952, the NNRICP has worked on interdisciplinary comprehensive studies on a large number of cultural properties remaining in the ancient capital of Nara. Since the 1960s, the NNRICP has conducted excavations of the Nara Palace/Nara Capital sites and the temples within the Nara Capital, and produced great results to elucidate the features of the ancient capital of the 8th century Japan. The results of the research and studies are not only presented through academic reports and exhibited at the Nara Palace Site Museum and the Excavation Site Exhibition Hall, but are also utilised for the preservation/improvement of temples, shrines, and the Nara Palace Site.

Local residents Nara is an ancient capital that has a history of over 1,300 years from the capital relocation to Nara in 710, and many cultural properties including world heritage sites have been handed down to date, blending into people's everyday lives and sceneries. Even today, people have a high historical and cultural awareness, and there are many local residents who engage in the protection of world heritages and cultural properties as Supervisors for Cultural Properties Protection Guidance 1 or volunteers. Furthermore, Nara municipal government is making efforts to hand down world heritage as well as regional cultural properties, traditional culture, and environments to following generations by promoting world heritage study 2 targeting kindergartens, elementary schools, and junior high schools within the city. The consent of the local residents is indispensable to the protection of cultural properties including the world heritage, and integral preservation thereof including surrounding environments necessitates not only the control and or guidance under the acts and regulations but also the cooperation of local residents and efforts on their own initiative. It is to be desired that local residents spontaneously work on the protection of the world heritage in cooperation with administration as before.

1 Supervisors for Cultural Properties Protection Guidance: Nara Prefecture entrusts this function to common citizens under the “Act on Protection of Cultural Properties” and the “Nara Prefectural Guideline for Establishment of Supervisors for Cultural Properties Protection Guidance”. Monthly inspection reports of tours around each territory are submitted to the Nara City Board of Education via each municipality (city, town, village), facilitating smooth information collection at the forefront of cultural properties protection. Incidentally, in Nara city, four supervisors are employed on this assignment. 2 Purposes of world heritage study Raising children who: - Deeply understand the merits, have an attachment to, and take pride in, Nara; - Have: (i) an empathetic understanding of the minds, sentiments and efforts of the people who worked on the creation, succession, and protection of cultural heritages as well as the maintenance of natural environments surrounding the cultural heritages over a long period of time; and (ii) an attitude to respect cultural and natural heritages; and, - Take a new look at the cultural properties of Nara and their own lives spatially and historically, and become capable of aspiring to learning about modern issues such as international understanding, environments, peace, human rights, etc.

1.5.2 Operation and Review of the Plan

This plan shall be put into operation in April, 2015. After the operation begins, the state of the preservation and management of the component parts, buffer zones and historic environment harmonisation areas will continuously be monitored in the manner prescribed in Chapter 8, Monitoring, and depending on the results thereof and the tendencies in the preservation management of the world heritage, an examination will be conducted to determine whether or not to review the plan roughly every six years, the time interval of submission of the periodic report to the WHC.

Review of the plan about every six years Planning

Evaluation Operation Feedback

Monitoring

Fig. 1-3 Operational Cycle of the Plan

Chapter 2 Outline of World Heritage “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara”

2.1 Statement of Outstanding Universal Value

According to the “Retrospective statement of Outstanding Universal Value” decided at the 36th World Heritage Committee (Saint-Petersburg, 2012), the Outstanding Universal Value of the world heritage “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara” is described as follows:

Year of Inscription: 1998; Year of Statement: 2012

Brief synthesis The Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara bear exceptional witness to the evolution of Japanese architecture and art and vividly illustrate a critical period in the cultural and political development of Japan, when Nara functioned as its capital from 710 to 784. During this period, the framework of national government was consolidated and Nara enjoyed great prosperity, emerging as the fountainhead of Japanese culture. Located in the modern city of Nara, the property includes eight component parts composed of seventy-eight different buildings covering 617.0 ha, which is surrounded by a buffer zone (1,962.5 ha) and the “historic environment harmonisation area (539.0 ha) ”. The site of Heijô-kyô was carefully selected in accordance with Chinese geomantic principles. A grand city plan, based on Chinese examples such as Chang'an, was laid out, with palaces, Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, public buildings, houses, and roads on an orthogonal grid. The palace itself, located at the northern end of the central avenue, occupied 120 ha. It comprised the official buildings where political and religious ceremonies took place, notably the Daigokuden (imperial audience hall) and Chôdô-in (state halls), and the imperial residence (Dairi), together with various compounds for administrative and other purposes. The component parts include an archaeological site (the Nara Palace Site), five Buddhist temples (Tôdai-ji, Kôfuku-ji, Yakushi-ji, Gangô-ji and Tôshôdai-ji), a Shinto shrine (the Kasuga-Taisha) and an associative cultural landscape (the Kasugayama Primeval Forest), the natural environment which is an integral part of all Shinto shrines. Together, these places provide a vivid and comprehensive picture of religion and life in the Japanese capital in the 8th century, a period of profound political and cultural change.

Criteria Criterion (ii): The historic monuments of Ancient Nara bear exceptional witness to the evolution of Japanese architecture and art as a result of cultural links with China and Korea which were to have a profound influence on future developments. Criterion (iii): The flowering of Japanese culture during the period when Nara was the capital is uniquely demonstrated by its architectural heritage. Criterion (iv): The layout of the Imperial Palace and the design of the surviving monuments in Nara are outstanding examples of the architecture and planning of early Asian capital cities. Criterion (v) : The Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines of Nara demonstrate the continuing spiritual power and influence of these religions in an exceptional manner.

Integrity (as of 2010) 3 “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara” includes the group of buildings of the Buddhist temples representing this historic city, the harmonious cultural landscape of the sacred forest and the Shinto shrine, demonstrating traditional worship in Japan, and an archaeological site. These essential component parts of the property illustrate Japanese political structure and cultural tradition in the 8th century. Each component part has an adequate buffer zone, and thus the integrity of the property is ensured in the contexts of both wholeness and intactness. Since the World Heritage Committee expressed concern in 2003 about the negative impact on the buried cultural resources at the Nara Palace Site caused by changing groundwater levels due to the Yamato-Kita Road construction, government intervention and monitoring has been ongoing. The State Party is currently addressing the visual impact of the planned new visitor facilities at Nara Palace site.

Authenticity (as of 2010) 3 Restoration work on the buildings of ancient Nara began in the late 19th century after the enactment of the Ancient Shrines and Temples Preservation Law (1897). The Kasuga-Taisha Shinto Shrine has maintained its tradition of routine reconstruction. The level of authenticity of the various buildings on the property is high from the view of form and design, materials and substance, traditions and techniques, and location and setting. Japanese preservation principles have ensured that replacement of damaged or degraded architectural elements has respected the materials and techniques used by the original builders. The archaeological site of the Nara Palace Site, protected for a long period under cultivated rice fields, has also a high level of authenticity in form, materials and substance, and location and setting. Unearthed archaeological remains have been reburied for protection. There has been some reconstruction of the gate, the study hall, and the garden at the Nara Palace Site. The continuity of traditional architecture in Japan and the substantial amount of data recovered by archaeological excavation has ensured that the reconstructed buildings have a high level of authenticity in form and design. The State Party is currently addressing how to best maintain that continuity in ongoing reconstruction work emphasizing the need for a clear rationale and justification for all interventions. The Kasugayama Primeval Forest has been preserved as a sacred forest where no hunting or tree-felling has been permitted since 841. Thus it retains a high level of authenticity in location and setting, and spirit and feeling.

Protection and Management Requirements (as of 2010) 3 All the component parts are designated as National Treasures, a Special Natural Monument, a Special Site, and etc. under the 1950 Act on Protection of Cultural Properties. The places of worship (the Buddhist temples and the Shinto shrine) are owned by their respective religious communities, and the state of preservation is strong. Nara prefectural government has the responsibility of managing and protecting the Kasugayama Primeval Forest, and the Nara Palace Site has been maintained in collaboration with the Government of Japan and Nara prefectural government. In particular, the Nara Palace Site and its buffer zone have been parts of a National Government Park since 2008, and maintenance projects are continuously planed with the aim of appropriately protecting and utilising the archaeological site. 4. There are clearly defined and adequate buffer zones around all the component parts. These are provided for in the 1950 Act on Protection of Cultural Properties, the Ancient Capitals Preservation Act, and various prefectural and municipal regulations. There is no Comprehensive preservation and management plan for the property as a whole, 5 although each component part is the object of a preservation and maintenance survey program that includes restoration activities. To ensure the long-term preservation and protection, management and preservation policies will need to be developed.

3 The “Retrospective statement of outstanding universal value” is to be prepared retrospectively to the resolution of the WHL inscription. However, as “Integrity”, “Authenticity” and “Protection and Management Requirements” were required to reflect the state at submission, the state as of 2010 is described accordingly. With regard to the matters that changed or proceeded during the period from that time to the present (as of March, 2015), the current state is described as the annotations ( * 4 – 5). 4 For the list of the latest (as of March, 2015) plan refer to Fig. 1-2 (p. 5). 5 With the formulation of this plan, the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan targeting the entire “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara” has been completed.

Outstanding Universal Value of “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara” These places provide a vivid and comprehensive picture of religion and life in the Japanese capital in the 8th century, a period of profound political and cultural change.

Associative cultural landscape of Archaeological sites of Nara Temple and shrine precincts/ Shintoism of Kasuga-Taisha and Group of religious buildings Kasugayama Primeval Forest Palace Site

Tôdai-ji Kôfuku-ji Kasuga-Taisha Kasuga-Taisha Gangô-ji Kasugayama Primeval Forest Nara Palace Site Yakushi-ji Tôshôdai -ji

○ Criterion (i i) The historic monuments of Ancient Nara bear exceptional witness to the evolution of Japanese architecture and art as a result of cultural links with China and Korea which were to have a profound influence on future developments.

○ Criterion (iii) The flowering of Japanese culture during the period when Nara was the capital is uniquely demonstrated by its architectural heritage.

○ Criterion (iv) The layout of the Imperial Palace and the design of the surviving monuments in Nara

are outstanding examples of the architecture and planning of early Asian capital cities.

○ Criterion (v) The Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines of Nara demonstrate the continuing spiritual power and influence of these religions in an exceptional manner.

Fig. 2-1 Outstanding Universal Value of the Property

Legend Tôdai-ji Gangô -ji Heritage Kôfuku -ji Yakushi-ji Buffer Zone Kasuga -Taisha Tôshôdai -ji Historic Environment Kasugayama Nara Palace Site Harmonisation Areas Primeval Forest

Fig. 2-2 Identification of Property, Buffer Zones and Historic Environment Harmonisation Areas

Table 2-1 Coordinate

Component parts Latitude Longitude

A: Tôdai-ji Latitude 34 ° 41’ E 20” Longitude 135 ° 50’ N 23”

B: Kôfuku-ji Latitude 34 ° 40’ E 59” Longitude 135 ° 49’ N 60”

C: Kasuga-Taisha ° ° D: Kasugayama Primeval Latitude 34 40’ E 53” Longitude 135 50’ N 54” Forest

E: Gangô-ji Latitude 34 ° 40’ E 40” Longitude 135 ° 49’ N 52”

F: Yakushi-ji Latitude 34 ° 40’ E 06” Longitude 135 ° 47’ N03”

G: Tôshôdai-ji Latitude 34 ° 40’ E 32” Longitude 135 ° 47’ N 05”

H: Nara Palace Site Latitude 34 ° 41’ E 31” Longitude 135 ° 47’ N 49”

2.2 Component Parts

2.2.1 List of Component Parts

The world heritage “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara” is composed of eight component parts. The groups of these component parts include (i) the precincts and the group of religious buildings of temples and shrines; (ii) cultural landscape relevant to Shintoism of the Kasuga-Taisha and the Kasugayama Primeval Forest; and (iii) the archaeological sites of the Nara Palace Site. Item (i) corresponds to “A group of buildings” stipulated in Paragraph 45, Article 1, the World Heritage Convention and the operational guidelines, and items (ii) and (iii) correspond to “Site” stipulated in the same. Furthermore, item (ii) corresponds to the “Related Cultural Landscape” provided for in Paragraph 10- (iii) of Annex 3 of the operational guidelines contained in the “Cultural Landscape” stipulated in Paragraph 47 of the operational guidelines. Table 2-3 shows the owners and site supervisors of the component parts, Table 2-4 is the correspondence table between the property type based on the World Heritage Convention and the designation state under domestic laws, and Table 2-5 shows the inventory of the component parts of the property.

Table 2-2 Location and Area of the Property

Area of Area of Buffer Zone Area of Historic Environment Component Parts Location Property (ha) (ha) Harmonisation Area (ha) A: Tôdai-ji Nara City, Nara Prefecture 68.9 B: Kôfuku-ji Nara City, Nara Prefecture 12.4 Nara City, Nara Prefecture 93.1 C: Kasuga-Taisha 1,311.6 D: Kasugayama Nara City, Nara Prefecture 298.6 Primeval Forest 539.0 E: Gangô-ji Nara City, Nara Prefecture 0.8 F: Yakushi-ji Nara City, Nara Prefecture 5.1 186.3 G: Tôshôdai-ji Nara City, Nara Prefecture 9.1 H: Nara Palace Nara City, Nara Prefecture 128.9 464.6 Site Total 616.9 1,962.5 539.0

Table 2-3 Owners and Site Supervisors of Component Parts

Component parts Owners Site supervisors

Tôdai-ji, Tamukeyama Hachimangû (shrine), Tôdai-ji, Tamukeyama Hachimangû (shrine), National National Government (Ministry of Finance), Government (Imperial Household Agency), Nara A: Tôdai-ji National Government (Imperial Household prefectural government (Management Organisation), Agency) Kôfuku-ji, national government (Ministry of Kôfuku-ji, Nara Prefecture B: Kôfuku-ji Finance) C: Kasuga-Taisha Kasuga-Taisha Kasuga-Taisha

D: Kasugayama National government Nara prefectural government (Management Primeval Forest (Ministry of Finance) organisation of special natural monument)

E: Gangô-ji Gangô-ji Gangô-ji

F: Yakushi-ji Yakushi-ji Yakushi-ji

G: Tôshôdai-ji Tôshôdai-ji Tôshôdai-ji

National government (Agency of Cultural Affairs, National government (Agency of Cultural MLIT), Nara prefectural government (Management H: Nara Palace Site Affairs) Organisation of special historic site )

Table 2-4 Correspondence Table between the Property Types based on the World Heritage Convention and the State of Designation under Domestic Law

Categorization by the Designation of Domestic Acts

Important Reference National Component Parts Cultural Current state of designation Special Historic Special Treasure Properties of the land within the range Site/Historic Natural (Number of (Number of in which the group of Site Monument buildings) buildings) buildings are located.

A: Tôdai-ji 10 *1 17 *1 Historic Site *2 Property Classification Based on on ClassificationBased Property WorldConven Heritage ru fBidns Buildings of Group B: Kôfuku-ji 4 2 Historic Site *2

E: Gangô-ji 2 1 Historic Site

F: Yakushi-ji 2 4 Historic Site

G: Tôshôdai-ji 5 1 Historic Site

Precincts of C: Kasuga-Taisha 4 27 Historic Site Kasuga-Taisha Sites Sites L C andscape andscape (Historic Site) ultural ultural Kasugayama D: Kasugayama Primeval Primeval Forest *2 Forest

Nara Palace Site*4 tion H: Nara Palace

Site (Special Historic Site)

Number of cultural properties * * 27 3 52 3 2 1 designated under the domestic law

Number of elements included in the 78 *3 3 inscribed properties

*1 The Nigatsudô Hall, which was an Important Cultural Property (Buildings) at the time of WHL inscription, was since then nominated as a National Treasure on December 27, 2005. *2 Overlapped with a part of the Nara Park, a Place of Scenic Beauty. *3 On this table, “the number of nominated cultural properties under the domestic law” of the group of buildings and “the number of the components included in the inscribed properties” do not match with each other; because, under the domestic law (the Act on Protection of Cultural Properties), the Great Buddha Hall of Tôdai-ji and the Bronze Seated Statue of the Vairocana Buddha (Great Buddha) were individually nominated as National Treasures, but the both are treated as one as the components of the world heritage. *4 Including the East Palace Garden that was designated as a Place of Scenic Beauty on 23 July, 2009, and as a Place of Special Scenic Beauty on 5 August, 2010, after the WHL inscription.

Table 2-5 Inventory of Components of the Property

Legend Type of cultural properties ** Means national treasures. * Means important cultural properties. △△ Means special historic sites. △ Means historic sites. ○○ Means special natural monuments. □□ Means places of special scenic beauty.

Date of Designation Type of Cultural (The parenthesised dates are those Date of Construction No. Name Properties of the designation as national Descriptions treasure/ “special ”) A Tôdai-ji Area The old precincts of Tôdai-ji included in the scope of the property were designated as a historic site in July, 1932. A1 Nandaimon (Great South Gate) ** 28.12. 1897 (09.06.1951) 1199 The main gate of Tôdai-ji Inner sanctum hall in about A2 Hokkedô (Buddha hall) ** 28.12. 1897 (09.06.1951) 747 /Worship hall in 1199 The hall to enshrine a standing statue of Amoghapasa (manifestation of Amalokitesvara) A3 Shurô (Bell house) ** 28.12. 1897 (31.03. 1953) 1206-1210 A building to hang a bell Kondô (Great Buddha Hall ), Bronze Seated Statue of the ** 28.12. 1898 (29.03.1952) 1709 The central hall to enshrine the Seated Statue of Vairocana Buddha (Great Buddha), the world’s A4 largest wooden structure. Vairocana Buddha (Great ** 28.12. 1897 (08.02.1958) 752 A gigantic bronze statue of the Vairocana Buddha, the principal image of Tôdai-ji Buddha ) Inner sanctum in 1200 /Outer A5 Kaisandô (Founder’s hall) ** 28.12.1898 (31.03.1953) sanctum in 1250 The hall to enshrine a seated statue of Roben, the founder priest of Tôdai-ji A6 Tegaimon (West gate) ** 05.04.1899 (29.03.1952) Middle of the 8th century The west gate of Tôdai-ji A7 Chûmon (Inner gate) * 07.04. 1900 1714 A gate standing in front of the Kondô Corridors East Corridor /West The corridors that lead to Kondô from the both sides of the Chûmon , widely surrounding the A8 Corridor * 07.04. 1900 1716-1737 front of the Kondô 1 A9 Tôzai gakumon (East and West * 07.04. 1900 East gate in 1722 /West gate in The gates open to the East/West Corridor 7 Gates ) 1719

Kanjinsho ky ôko (Sutra A sutra storehouse built in the Azekura -zukuri (lit. log house repository style ), relocated to the A10 storehouse ) * 31.07. 1902 9th century present location from another place within the precincts in 1687 A11 Hokkedô ky ôko (Sutra * 31.07. 1902 9th century A sutra storehouse built in the Azekura -zukuri, relocated to the present location from another storehouse of the Buddha hall ) place within the precincts in 16 96 Hokkedô (Buddha hall ) A12 Hokumon * 15.04. 1903 1240 The north gate of the Hokkedô (Buddha hall) A13 Nigatsudô Hall Akaiya * 15.04. 1903 13th century A cover building of the well from which water is drawn for the principal image of the Nigatsudô (Wakasaiya ) Hall during the Shuni -e service Nigatsudô Hall Busshôya A14 (Gok ûsho ) * 15.04. 1903 13th century A building in which meals are cooked during the Shuni-e service A15 San -maidô Hall (Shigatsudô * 15.04. 1903 1681 The hall to enshrine a standing statue of the eleven-faced kannon (Avalokite śvara Bodhisattva) Hall ) A16 Nembutsudô Hall * 15.04. 1903 1237 The hall to enshrine a seated statue of the Ksitigarbha A17 Ôyuya (Large bathhouse) * 15.04. 1903 1408 Bathing facilities for priests A18 Hombô Kyôko (Sutra repository) ** 14.04. 1906 (31.03.1953) 8th century A sutra storehouse built in the Azekura -zukuri, relocated to the present location from another place within the precincts in 1714 A19 Hokkedô Chôzuya * 14. 04. 1906 1335 A building used for assemblies and or dining together A building used as a lodging and dining room for the 11 priests called “Rengyo -shu” who A20 Nigatsudô Hall Sanrôsho * 14. 04. 1906 14-15th centuries perform the ceremonies during the Shuni -e service The hall to enshrine a standing statue of the eleven -faced kannon (Avalokite śvara Bodhisattva ), A21 Nigatsudô Hall ** 05. 09. 1944 (27. 12. 2005) 1669 at which the Shuni -e service is performed A22 Shôsô-in Shôsô ** 19. 05. 1997 (19.05. 1997) About 756 The official storehouse of Tôdai-ji A23 Sumiyoshi Jinja Honden (Main * 30. 04. 1921 Latter half of the 13th century – A small-scale shrine building to enshrine the gods and divine spirits of Sumiyoshi Jinja that

Date of Designation No. Name Type of Cultural (The parenthesised dates are those Date of Construction Descriptions Properties of the designation as national treasure/ “special ”) shrine building ) in the Precincts first half of the 14 th century belongs to the Tamukeyama Jinja that enshrines the guardian deity of Tôdai -ji . of Tamukeyama Jinja A24 Tamukeyama Jinja Hôko * 14. 11. 1953 8th century A storehouse built in the Azekura -zukuri to store treasures, relocated to the present location from (Treasure house ) another place within the precincts in 1816 B Kôfuku -ji Area The old precincts of Kôfuku -ji were designated as a historic site in May, 1 967 . Hokuendô (lit. N orth octagonal B1 hall ) ** 28. 12. 1897 (29.03. 1952) 1210 An octagonal hall to enshrine a seated statue of the Maitreya Bodhisattva Sanjûnôtô (Three -storeyed Latter half of the 12 th century – B2 pagoda ) ** 28. 12. 1897 (29.03. 1952) Front half of the 13 th century The three-storeyed pagoda to place the Buddha’s ashes B3 Gojûnotô ** 28. 12. 1897 (29.03. 1952) 1426 The five-storeyed pagoda to place the Buddha’s ashes B4 Tôk ondô (East main hall ) ** 28. 12. 1897 1415 The hall to enshrine the statues of the Yakushi (Bhai ṣajya-guru) triad B5 Ôyuya (Large bathhouse ) * 31. 03. 1953 Front half of the 15 th century Bathing facilities for priests Nan -endô (lit. south octagonal An octagonal hall to enshrine a seated statue of the Amoghapasa (manifestation of B6 hall ) * 20. 12. 1986 1789 Amalokitesvara ) C Kasuga-Taisha Area Honsha Honden (Main hall of A shrine pavilion to enshrine four gods and divine spirits , built in the Kasuga -zukuri . Four C1 the main shrine compound ) ** 02. 08. 1901 (28.06. 1956) 1863 buildings are standing side by side. C2 Honsha Chûmon (Inner gate ) * 02. 08. 1901 1613 A gate built in front of the main hall Honsha Higashi -orô (East * 02. 08. 1901 1613 The corridor leading from the Chûmon gate to the eastern side C3 corridor ) Honsha Nishi -orô and Kita -orô The corridor leading from the Chûmon gate to the western side , and further meandering to the C4 (West and East corridors ) * 02. 08. 1901 1613 northern side C5 Honsha Nejirô (Corridor ) * 02. 08. 1901 1707 -1709 A corridor connecting between the Utsushidono hall and the east corridor 1 C6 Honsha Heiden (Hall ) * 02. 08. 1901 1650 -1652 A building to perform rituals at the Kasuga Festival 8 C7 Honsha Naoraiden (Hall ) * 02. 08. 1901 1650 -1652 A building to perform rituals at the Kasuga Festival A building to perform rituals at the Kasuga Festival. During a periodical rebuilding of the main C8 Honsha Utsushidono (Hall) * 02. 08. 1901 1786 shrine, the gods and divine spirits of the shrine are moved here. C9 Honsha Hôko (Treasure house ) * 02. 08. 1901 1385 -1388 A raised -floor storehouse t o store sacred treasures C10 Honsha Minamimon (Gate ) * 02. 08. 1901 1382 -1385 A gate provided in the center of the South Corridor C11 Honsha Keigamon (Gate ) * 02. 08. 1901 1382 -1385 A gate open to the West C orridor C12 Honsha Seijômon (Gate ) * 02. 08. 1901 1382 -1385 A gate open to the West Corridor C13 Honsha Naishimon (Gate ) * 02. 08. 1901 1382 -1385 A gate open to the West Corridor 1382 -1385 (East Corridor in C14 Honsha Kairô (Cloister) * 02. 08. 1901 1613 ) The cloister surrounding the sacred site C15 Honsha Kuruma -Yadori * 31. 07. 1902 1632 A building in which the ox -drawn carriage of the imperial envoy is parked during the Kasuga (Parking building ) Festival Honsha Chakutôden (Arrival A building in which the imperial envoy makes preparations to worship for worshipping the main C16 hall ) * 31. 07. 1902 1413 hall during the Kasuga Festival Honsha Hetuidono (Hall) * 31. 07. 1902 1388 A building in which the offerings (foods and drinks ) to the gods are cooked during the Kasuga C17 Festival C18 Honsha Sakadono (Hall) * 31. 07. 1902 1632 A building to brew the sacred sake offered to the gods during the Kasuga Festival C19 Honsha Itakura (Storehouse) * 31. 07. 1902 1632 A raised-floor storehouse C20 Honsha Ichino-Torii (Torii-gate) * 26. 06. 1942 18-19th century A wooden torii-gate standing at the entrance of the approach C21 Sessha Wakamiya Jinja Honden A shrine to worship the gods and divine spirits of the Wakamiya Jinja shrine that belongs to the (Main hall of the Wakamiya * 02. 08. 1901 1863 Kasuga Taisha, standing as an independent building built in the same form of the main hall of Auxiliary Shrine ) the Kasuga Taisha

Date of Designation No. Name Type of Cultural (The parenthesised dates are those Date of Construction Descriptions Properties of the designation as national treasure/ “special ”) Sessha Wakamiya Jinja Haisya C22 (Hall ) * 02. 08. 1901 1863 A building to perform rituals during the Wakamiya Festival Sessha Wakamiya Jinja Hosodono and Kaguraden * 02. 08. 1901 1613 A building to perform rituals during the Wakamiya Festival C23 (Halls ) Sessha Wakamiya Jinja Chôzuya C24 (Hall ) * 31. 07. 1902 1632-1633 A station of the Shinto priests who serve the Wakamiya Jinja shrine The sacred site of the Kasuga Grand Shrine is integrally composed of Mt. Mikasa, the sacred C25 Precincts of Kasuga-Taisha △ 18. 03. 1985 mountain, and the Kasugayama Primeval Forest, the shrine forest, spreading over the western foot of Mt. Mikasa . Kasugayama Primeval Forest D Area

○○ The p rimeval forest of Mt. Kasuga has been protected since a long time ago as the mountain of D1 Kasugayama Primeval Forest 09. 12. 1924 (15.02. 1955) gods of t he Kasuga Grand Shrine. E Gangô-ji Area The precincts of the Gokurakubô of Gangô-ji were designated as a historic site in February, 1965. Gokurakubô Hondô (Main The hall to enshrine the illustrated Chikô Mandara . The building, originally a sôbô (priests’ E1 temple -building ) ** 27. 03. 1901 (02.02. 1955) 1244 living quarters ) in the Nara period , is a reconstruction in the Kamakura period . E2 Gokurakubô Zenshitsu ** 14. 04. 1906 (31.03. 1953) Front half of the 13th century A priests’ living quarters. The building, originally a sôbô (priests’ living quarters ) in the Nara period , is a reconstruction in the Kamakura period . Latter half of the 13 th century – A gate standing a t the eastern front of the main temple -building. This gate was relocated from E3 Gokurakubô Tômon (East gate) * 29. 03. 1952 Front half of the 14 th century Tôdai -ji temple in 1411 . F Yakushi -ji Area The old precincts of Yakushi -ji were designated as a historic site in April , 1 997 . F1 Tôtô (East pagoda) ** 28. 12. 1897 (02.02. 1955) 730 Three -storeyed pagoda with the inter -storey pent roofs to place the Buddha’s ashes F2 Tôindô (Buddha hall) ** 18 . 02. 1904 (27.04. 1961) 1285 The hall to enshrine a standing statue of Avalokitesvara Boddhisattva The south gate of Yakushi -ji temple . This gate was relocated from another place of the precincts 1 F3 Minami-mon (South gate) * 26. 02. 1947 1512 of the temple in 1650 to the present location at which the Great South Gate was located in the 9 Nara period .

Shaden (shrine pavilion ) of A pavilion of the shrine to worship the guardian deities of Yakushi -ji temple, comprising the F4 Yasumigaoka Hachiman jinja * 13.05. 1935 1603 main hall and the two subordinate halls (north and south ) on either side G Tôshôdai -ji Area The old precincts of Tôshôdai -ji were designated as a historic site in December , 1967 . G1 Kondô (Main hall of the temple) ** 28. 12. 1897 (09.06. 1951) 8th century The main hall to enshrine the seated statue of the Vairocana Buddha A hall to lecture on sutras . This building, relocated from the Nara Palace, is the only extant G2 Kôdô (Lecture hall) ** 28. 12. 1898 (22.11. 1952) 8th century example of the architectural structure of the Nara Palace.

G3 Korô (Drum tower) ** 07. 04. 1900 (14.11. 1953) 1240 The two -storeyed building to place the Buddha’s ashes brought into Japan from China by Jian Zhen G4 Hôzô (Treasure house) ** 18. 02. 1904 (27.06. 1959) 8th century A treasure house built in the Azekura -zukuri (lit. log house repository style ) G5 Kyôzô (Sutra storehouse) ** 18. 02. 1904 (14.11. 1953)) 8th century A sutra storehouse built in the Azekura -zukuri G6 Raidô (Worship hall) * 18. 02. 1904 1284 A hall composed of the southern part to worship the Buddha’s ashes placed in the Korô and the northern part used as the living quarters of priests H Nara Palace Site Area The archaeological site of the palace and the government offices of the capital in the Nara period H1 Nara Palace Site △△ 12. 10. 1922 (29.03. 1952) (Heij ô-ky ô) East Palace Garden of Nara □□ A garden unearthed from the palace site of the capital of the Nara period , and restored (included H2 Palace 23. 07. 2009 (05.08. 2010) in the Identification of the Nara Palace Site )

2.2.2 Outline of Component Parts

The outline of component parts of “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara” described in the nomination document is stated below. However, the matters that changed after the inscription are accordingly modified, and the changed detail is indicated in a footnote.

A: Tôdai-ji (Tôdai Temple) Tôdai-ji (Tôdai temple) was constructed on the order of Emperor Shômu, who hoped to bring peace and protection to his state through the Buddha’s providence. The Kondô, a.k.a. the Great Buddha Hall, was completed in 751. In the following year, a grand ceremony was held in celebration of a colossal seated statue of the Vairocana Buddha. The whole temple compound was completed in the end of the Nara period. The construction of the temple was a huge project in which resources of the entire nation were invested to build a gigantic group of buildings of an unprecedented scale. Although the main buildings were destroyed in a fire caused by a war in 1180, Chôgen, a Buddhist priest, restored them by using a new architectural style referred to as “ Daibtutsu-yô ” (lit. Great Buddha style), which had just been introduced from Sung Dynasty China to Japan by Chôgen himself. Completely different from the conventional Japanese architectural style for religious buildings, it was simple, clear, and fairly rational construction method suitable to the reconstruction of the group of huge buildings centering around the Daibutuden (Great Buddha Hall). In 1567, however, the main buildings were destroyed by another war-caused fire. The existing Great Buddha Hall is a 1709 reconstruction. The Nandaimon (lit. Great South Gate), Hokkedô (lit. Buddha hall), Shurô (bell house), Kondô (Great Buddha Hall) and bronze seated statue of the Vairocana Buddha (Great Buddha), Kaisandô (founder’s hall), Tegaimon (west gate), Hombô Kyôko (sutra repository), Nigatsudô Hall 6, and Shôsô-in Shôsô were designated as National Treasures, whereas 15 other buildings were designated as Important Cultural Properties. Tamukeyama Hachimangû (shrine)7, which was constructed in the Nara period within the Tôdai-ji compound as the tutelary shrine of the temple, also contains two buildings designated as Important Cultural Properties. Hokkedô (Buddha hall), currently a single building, consisted of two buildings when originally constructed: the Shôdô (main hall) measuring five spans on the front, and four spans on the sides, and the Raidô (worship hall) measuring five spans on the front and two spans on the sides. Later, in the Kamakura period, the Raidô was reconstructed in the Daibutsuy ô style (Great Buddha style), and a single roof was built to cover both the Raidô and the Shôdô. Since then, the two buildings have come to be regarded as a single Buddha hall, which exhibits a brilliant harmonisation between the Shôdô constructed in the Nara period and the Raidô, reconstructed in the Kamakura period. Tegaimon (west gate), or the west gate of the temple, is one of the structural remains of the temple in the Nara period. Even today, its stately figure expresses the image of Tôdai-ji back in the Nara period. Hombô Kyôko is a storehouse (sutra repository) built in the Azekura-zukuri (lit. log house repository style) in the Nara period. The Azekura-zukuri is a construction method of raised-floor warehouse architecture with the walls formed by laying wooden members that have a triangular cross section horizontally and intersecting at the corners. This Hombô Kyôko remains the form of ancient style to a remarkable extent. It was located in the northeast of the Kôdô (lecture hall), and, relocated to the current location in 1714. Shôsô-in Shôsô was found around 756. It is a huge “twin repositories” of raised-floor construction, comprising the three storage chambers: the north section (Hokusô), middle section (Chûsô), and south section (Nansô). The north and south sections are built in the Azekura-zukuri , while the central section is a building paneled with thick flat planks. The Shôsô-in Shôsô is the largest extant Azekura-zukuri building of the Nara period. The treasures in the Shôsô House include a collection of personal belongings of Emperor Shômu, donated to Tôdai-ji by Empress Kômyô, and works of fine and decorative arts representing the Nara period, among which are not only goods from Tang (China) and the United Silla (Korea) but also exotic articles far away from India and Persia. Nandaimon (Great South Gate) is an 1199 reconstruction that still retains its original condition both in terms of location and scale. Using the Daibtutsu-yô (Great Buddha style) structural framework, in which the core posts rising through to the uppermost layer were laterally stabilised by tie beams which penetrate through the center of the posts, the gate displays a "mechanical" structural beauty similar to that of a steel-frame structure. Its extant figure is magnificent and stately enough to carry our imagination back to the commanding appearance that the Daibutsuden assumed around the time when it was reconstructed in the Kamakura period. Inside the gate is enshrined a pair of gigantic statues of Kongô Rikishi (Deva King). Kaisandô (founder’s hall) was originally built as an independent structure with an area of one square span in 1200. Later in 1250, when it was relocated to its present site, outer sanctums were added and the scale was expanded to an area of three square spans. The inner chamber with an area of open square span is a pure construction of

6 This hall was an Important Cultural Property when inscribed on the WHL. 7 This shrine was described as “Tamukeyama-jinja” when inscribed on the when inscribed on the WHL. 20 the Daibtutsu-yô style, whereas the outer sanctums are designed after the Wayo (Japanese style) with details of the Daibtutsu-yô style also incorporated. Shurô (bell house) is a reconstruction by Eisai (Zen monk) in the beginning of the 13th century. The belfry is open-air on all four sides, and has a roof with strongly curved eaves. This Shurô is the masterpiece that unsparingly and effectively materialises the Daibtutsu-yô style, with a powerful structure in which a thick arched crossbeam having a circular cross section is incorporated to support a temple bell. Kondô (Great Buddha Hall ) and the bronze seated statue of the Vairocana Buddha (Great Buddha) are, respectively, the main Buddha hall of Tôdai-ji and the large-scale seated image of Buddha enshrined in the hall as the symbol of worship. The casting of the Great Buddha started in 747. The major part of the casting work was finished around 750, when the construction of the Great Buddha hall to serve as a cover building began in parallel until they were both completed at last in 752. Although the originals were damaged in a war-caused fire in 1180, the Great Buddha was thoroughly repaired in 1184, and the hall was reconstructed in 1195. However, in 1567, another war-caused fire broke out, reducing the Great Buddha Hall to ashes and melting down the head and torso part of the statue. Despite these misfortunes, the body of the Great Buddha was repaired in the end of the Muromachi period, and the re-casting of the statue’s head was completed in 1690. The whole restoration came to completion in 1709, when the Great Buddha Hall was reconstructed as the third-generation building, taking its present form. Thus, throughout the repeated occurrences of fires and other disasters, the hall and the Great Buddha have been reconstructed and restored continuously to date, treated collectively as an inseparable unit. The existent Great Buddha is a gigantic statue measuring 14.98 meters in height that broadly maintains the original parts at the lower half of the body and the pedestal. The Great Buddha Hall, on the other hand, maintains the Daibtutsu-yô style (Great Buddha style), which was adopted when it was reconstructed in the Kamakura period. Although the front was reduced to 7 spans from the original 11 spans, the sides and height remain at their original scale. The both Great Buddha and the hall still remain magnificent and monumental structures, as the world's largest wooden building and the world's largest cast statue of Buddha. Nigatsudô Hall 8 was constructed in the Nara period, reduced to ashes in 1667, and reconstructed in 1669. This hall has both the architectural characteristics developed through a long period from the ancient times to the medieval period and high degree of completion achieved by making full use of early modern architectural techniques. It is safely said that this building closely, involved with a ritual referred to as “Shûni-e”, is quite unique in that planar form and space composition are continuously succeeded from the ancient times. Although Tôdai-ji is a tourist spot always crowded with many tourists throughout the year, it is still a lace in active religious services. In particular, the Nigatsudô Hall draws numerous devotees, especially on the occasion of the "Shuni-e" ceremony. To the east of the precincts of Tôdai-ji, stretches a gently sloped, grass-covered hill known as Mt. Wakakusa, which, in combination with the magnificent roof of the Kondô (Great Buddha Hall), is an essential landscape feature of the scenic beauty of Nara. The annual grass-burning festival on Mt. Wakakusa (held in the evening of the fourth Saturday, January 9) is a beloved event that adds special poetic charm to Nara's winter season.

B: Kôfuku-ji Kôfuku-ji traces its origin back to the foundation of its predecessor in Asuka in 669. In conjunction with the transfer of the capital from Fujiwara to Nara, this temple was rebuilt in the Nara capital under the name of Kôfuku-ji. Despite its being the clan temple of the Fujiwara family, main buildings were constructed by direct order of the emperor or empress, reflecting the close relationship between the Fujiwara clan and the imperial court. Construction work at this temple was carried out with the direct financial support of the national government of the time. Kôfuku-ji continuously enjoyed tremendous power and influence over a long period of time; although it suffered repeatedly from fires, it was reconstructed true to the original style each time. However, after entering the Edo period, the temple declined in power, and after the fire in 1717 that destroyed the main buildings, only a few buildings were reconstructed. Furthermore, in the early Meiji period, under the political campaign to exclude Buddhism triggered by the Shintoism and Buddhism Separation Decree, Kôfuku-ji, like many other Buddhist temples, fell into decline and deteriorated eventually into an abandoned temple. In the end, the renovation of the temple was started before it was too late, and restoration efforts have been made to save what is left of the temple buildings. Four buildings - namely, the Hokuendô (lit. north octagonal hall), Sanjûnotô (three-storeyed pagoda), Gojûnotô (five-storeyed pagoda), and Tôkondô (lit. east main hall) -- are now designated as National Treasures, while the Ŏyuya (bathhouse) and Nan-endô (lit. south octagonal hall) are designated as Important Cultural Properties.

8 This explanation is added, because it was designated as a national treasure after the WHL inscription. 9 It used to be performed on 15 January when the WHL inscription was made. 21

Hokuendô (north octagonal hall) and the Sanjûnotô (three-storeyed pagoda), as they exist now, are buildings reconstructed in the wake of a war-caused fire in 1180, which reduced the entire temple compound to ashes. The extant Hokuendô, reconstructed in around 1210, still retains the ancient architectural techniques of that period in many of the structural members. While its exterior preserves the form of the Wayô (Japanese style), the structural characteristics typical of the Daibutsuyô (Great Buddha style) were also employed; for example, the posts are stabilised by beams penetrating through the center of the posts. Sanjûnotô (three-storeyed pagoda) was originally built in 1143. The extant pagoda is, however, a reconstruction built shortly after the original pagoda was destroyed by fire in 1180. The pagoda has a characteristically spacious first story, which is partitioned by boarded walls erected diagonally between the four pillars into four compartments, within which “One Thousand Buddhas of Bhadrakalpa (the present world)” was painted on the walls. Tôkondô (lit. east main hall) and Gojûnotô (five-storeyed pagoda) were both destroyed and rebuilt five times since their original construction. The existing buildings are the reconstructions completed in their present forms in the wake of a fire caused by lightning in 1411; the Tôkondô and the Gojûnotô were reconstructed in 1415 and in 1426, respectively, without changing the architectural style maintained since the Nara period. As a result, they still retain the conservative and revival-oriented style of the pure Wayô (Japanese) style. Tôkondô is a Yosemune-zukuri (hipped roof style) building measuring seven spans front and four spans sides, with an open-air one span on the front. The both exterior and the interior have the same configuration as that of the Kondô (main hall) of Tôshôdai-ji built in the Nara period, proving that the styles from ancient times were adhered. Gojûnotô of Kofuku-ji, 50 meters high, is Japan's second highest pagoda next to the Gojûnotô of Kyô-ô-gokoku-ji temple in Kyoto (inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1994). This pagoda has long been beloved as a symbolic landscape feature of Nara.

C: Kasuga-Taisha / D: Kasugayama Primeval Forest Although the shrine history describes that Kasuga-Taisha (a.k.a., the Kasuga Grand Shrine) was founded in 768, it conceivably dates further back to the early Nara period. This shrine was constructed at the western foot of sacred mountains such as Mt. Kasuga and Mt. Mikasa, revered since ancient times as a place where the deities descend, in order to enshrine the tutelary deity of the Fujiwara clan. Since then, the Kasuga-Taisha flourished, receiving worships from the Fujiwara clan and the imperial court. In the latter half of the Heian period, on the strength of the prevailing ideology that Kami (the deity of Shintoism), and Buddha existed as one body (Kami -Buddha fusion), this shrine was unified with Kôfuku-ji. This unification continued until the issuance of the Shintoism and Buddhism Separation Decree by the national government in the Meiji period. After the medieval age, faith in this shrine spread among the general public as well. Numerous lanterns donated by common people in token of their faith show the enthusiasm with which the shrine was revered by them. Even today, Kasuga-Taisha gathers a large number of worshippers. Since founded, each building of the shrine has been repeatedly repaired and restored to the extent depending on the severity of damage. Through the process, the preservation system “Shikinen-zotai” (reconstruction in the same form and style per two decades) has been established for the Honden (main worship hall) in the Muromachi period. This system continued until 1863. Since the Meiji period, only the Honden and other principal buildings have been repaired, centering around re-roofing per two decades. Today, the four buildings of the Honsha Honden of Kasuga-Taisha are designated as National Treasures, and 27 other buildings are designated as Important Cultural Properties. The basic configuration of the shrine buildings has remained almost unchanged since the early Heian period. Within the shrine precinct, surrounded by forests on all sides, the buildings with their cypress-bark shingled roofs stand in quiet harmony with the natural setting. This group of buildings is a precious legacy that conveys the traditional character of Japanese shrine architecture harmonised with nature. Honsha Honden is composed of the four buildings of Kasuga-zukuri style standing side by side in the east-west direction. The Kasuga-zukuri style is one of the most typical forms used for the Shinto main shrine architecture, and, is characterised by a gable-roofed building with a lean-to on the gable side. Its archetype is thought to have emerged already in the Nara period. Although the Honden took its present form when reconstructed in 1863, it nevertheless conveys the sophisticated and graceful form typical of the late Heian period. Mt. Kasuga located to the east of Kasuga-Taisha has been protected as a sacred mountain of Kasuga-Taisha, and no hunting or woodcutting has been allowed on the mountain since as early as 841. In the Meiji period, it came under state ownership and was incorporated into Nara Park. In the Meiji period, it came under state ownership and was incorporated into Nara Park. Later in 1924, the precious temperate forest in its primitive state was designated as a Natural Monument by the name of "Kasugayama Primeval Forest", which was re-designated as a Special Natural Monument in 1955. Although provided with footpaths for visitors' convenience, this area continues to be preserved without other forms of human intervention. The densely-forested area from the periphery of Kasuga-Taisha to Mt. Mikasa and Mt. Kasuga is regarded as a sacred ground and is protected accordingly. This landscape has been bequeathed to the present day, since primitive concepts of faith in nature first formed in the minds of the Japanese people. This forest's value consists not simply in the

22 fact that it is a precious nature preserved untouched but also in the fact that, closely associated with Shintoism as the unique indigenous religion of Japan, it is an essential part of a cultural landscape which combines both the shrine compound and the nature that surrounds it into an image of inseparable unity.

E: Gangô-ji

Gangô-ji is the temple originally known as Asuka-dera, which was founded in Asuka by Soga-no-Umako in the 6th century. It was rebuilt in Nara when the capital was transferred from Fujiwara to Heijôkyô (Nara Capital). The construction of Gangô-ji began in 718, and was completed in the latter half of the 8th century. Although this temple underwent gradual decline after the Heian period, about the 12th century, one of the sub-temple precincts, a priests' residential compound known as “Gokurakubô”, gradually began to establish itself as an institution independent from Gangô-ji as an invocation-chanting seminary of the Jôdo sect of Buddhism. In the Kamakura period, the Gokurakubô compound consisted of the present Zenshitsu (Buddhist priests' living quarters) and Hondô (main hall) where enthusiastic lectures were given on Nembutsu (repeated chanting of an invocation to the Amida Buddha). Gangô-ji itself was destroyed by a fire in 1451, and the most compounds were reduced to ashes. Since then, the most precincts of the temple have become a part of residential areas. Nowadays, we can only imagine the prosperity enjoyed by the temple in its prime, from the precious little that remains: the Zenshitsu and Hondô of Gokurakubô. Today, the Gokurakubô Zenshitsu and the Gokurakubô Hondo are designated as National Treasures, and the Gokurakubô Tômon (east gate) is designated as an Important Cultural Property. Zenshitsu and the Hondô were originally a single building called the Sôbô, which served as living quarters for Buddhist priests back in the Nara period. The Sôbô was a long, narrow building which was separated into compartments called Bô. In the early Kamakura period, the eastern part that had come to be used as a Buddha hall was separated from the western part, which had continued to be used as living quarters as before. The extant Zenshitsu took its present form when the Sôbô was remodeled at the time of separation, and later in 1244, the Buddha hall was remodeled into the form of the extant Hondô. Both buildings are designed in an eclectic style in which the Daibutsuyô (Great Buddha style) is incorporated into the more traditional architectural style called Wayô (Japanese style). The existent Zenshitsu follows the pillar position and scale of the four Bô (four compartments) of the old Sôbô in which there were originally twelve compartments. Initially, the compartments were further partitioned into smaller spaces, except that the half-compartment space in the southwest comer was used as one Buddha hall; but now the building is preserved with the three-compartment space on the east side, taking the form of one large chamber. The Hondô has an inner chamber in the center and an outer chamber enclosing it. The latter space is arranged in such a way that devout Buddhist followers can walk around the inner chamber, chanting Nembutsu or Buddhist invocations. The inner chamber is the room that was used for mandala display when the Hondô was still part of the Sôbô. The round columns are erected on the four corners, and square columns are erected on each position of trisected intercolumnar space of the round columns. Incidentally, around the Gokurakubô remain old residential areas dating back to the late Edo period, retaining the characters of the traditional townscape.

F: Yakushi-ji Yakushi-ji was founded as a state temple on the order of Emperor Temmu in 680; later in 718, it was relocated from Fujiwara to Nara along with the transfer of the capital. In 730, the Tôtô (east pagoda) was already constructed. Furthermore, the Yasumigaoka Hachiman jinja was built in the southern part of the precinct as the tutelary shrine of the temple at the end of the 9th century. Since then, a fire in 973 burnt almost all the buildings of the temple to ashes except for the Kondô (main hall), Tôtô (east pagoda) and Saitô (west pagoda). In 1445, the Kondô collapsed in the fury of a typhoon, and the Saitô was lost in a war-caused fire later in 1528. Thus, there remains no building other than the Tôtô which has survived since the time of the foundation. Tôtô and the Tôindô (Buddha hall) are designated as National Treasures, and the Nammon (south gate) and the Yasumigaoka Hachiman-jinja shaden (shrine compound) are designated as Important Cultural Properties. The Tôtô (east pagoda), founded in 730, shows a type of structure and design commonly used before the Nara period, and it is hypothesised that the construction of this building was carried out deliberately following the earlier architectural style used for the original prototype constructed in the Fujiwara capital at the end of the 7th century. . Although the pagoda is actually a three-storeyed tower, its unique design characterised by the use of small intermediate-level pent roofs creates the illusion of a six-storeyed pagoda. The pattern of large and small roofs of six different sizes imparts a rhythmical effect to this tower, which is regarded as one of the most beautiful pagodas in Japan.

The filigree finial of exquisitely carved images of celestial dancers on the spire is a masterpiece of sublime beauty. Tôindô , as it exists now, is a 1285 reconstruction. Although the building initially faced south, the direction was changed in 1733 to face west, the present orientation. Although the building has conceivably maintained its original floor plan since the Nara period, it reflects the styles typical of the time when it was reconstructed (Kamakura period), in that details of the Daibutsuyo (Great Buddha style) were incorporated into the Wayô (Japanese style) structure and in that the interior space was designed to have wooden floors and ceilings to create a low, tranquil interior space. This is a typical example in Nara of Buddha halls which were constructed in the Kamakura period.

G: Tôshôdai-ji

Tôshôdai-ji was originally constructed by Ganjin (Jian Zhen), the Chinese (Tang) high priest, in 759 as a temple for Buddhist priests who were dedicated to the purpose of deepening their understanding of Buddhist precepts. The construction was carried out with special priority given to the basic buildings essential to the exercise of the doctrine: in other words, the practical buildings such as the Sôbô (living quarters), the Jikidô (dining hall), and the Kôdô (lecture hall) were constructed prior to the other, more symbolic stately buildings. After Ganjin’s death, the temple compound developed steadily; the Kondô (main hall) was completed in the end of the Nara period, and in 810, the Gojûnotô (five-storeyed pagoda) was built. Although in the end of the Heian period, Tôshôdai-ji had been considerably desolate, in the latter half of the Kamakura period, it was renovated through repeated repair/reconstruction works. After that, the Kairô (cloister) and Jikidô (dining hall) collapsed in an earthquake. However, this temple had survived without any fire damage from the time of its foundation until the late Edo period. In 1802, Tôshôdai-ji lost its Gojûnotô (five-storeyed pagoda) due to a lightning-caused fire; but the principal buildings such as the Kondô and the Kôdô have survived. As it is, Tôshôdai-ji can truly be called a treasure-chest of Nara period architecture. Today, five buildings such as the Kondô (main hall), Kôdô (lecture hall), Korô (lit. drum tower), Hôzô (treasure house), and Kyôzô (sutra repository) are designated as National Treasures, and the Raidô (worship hall and living quarters) is designated as an Important Cultural Property. Kondô (main hall) of Tôshôdai-ji is the only extant example of a main hall built in the Nara period. It is a Yosemune-zukuri (hipped roof style) building, measuring seven spans on the front and four spans on the sides with one span open-air intercolumnar space along the front. The front pillar rows combine with the deeply projected eaves to give the hall a rich sense of visual depth and a dignified appearance. The interior creates a bright, stereoscopic space. The traces of finishes that remain on the ceiling provide an eloquent picture of the glory of the temple in its heyday; golden images of Buddha shimmer in this hall decorated with brilliantly colored patterns. Representative of the architecture of the Nara period, the Kondô is extremely valuable in terms of Japanese architectural history. Kôdô (lecture hall), once a state assembly hall called the East Chôshûden in the Nara Palace, was dismantled and rebuilt at Tôshôdai-ji in the early 760s. As an assembly hall, the East Chôshûden had been an open-air gabled roof construction having no walls in the front and the back of the structure. Later, when the hall was moved from the Nara Palace, the roof style was changed to a hipped-gable roof, and the interior space was enclosed by the addition of doors, walls, and windows. Since it was later remodeled in 1275, the exterior has traces of influence from the Daibutsuyô (Great Buddha style) of the Kamakura period. This building is highly valued not only as an extant lecture hall built in the Nara period but also as the only remaining example of the imperial architecture of the Nara Palace. Korô (lit. drum tower) was constructed in 1240, as a Kamakura period counterpart of the tower-style sutra repository of the Nara period called Kyôrô. Completed as a whole with a harmoniously integrated design, this building exemplifies the Kamakura period architectural style in which details of the Great Buddha style are incorporated into the Wayô (Japanese style) structure. Hôzô and Kyôzô are both storehouses constructed in the Azekura-zukuri ("log-house" repository style) of the Nara period. The Kyôzô was originally built as the storehouse for an aristocrat's mansion, having a gabled roof. Since then, after it was donated to the temple, the roof was changed to a hipped roof, which is more suitable for a temple storehouse. The Hôzô, which was newly constructed as a temple storehouse from the beginning, is now considered a typical example of Azekura-zukuri architecture of the Nara period.

H: Nara Palace Site

The Nara Palace was located at the northern end of the central main avenue of the Nara capital, extending 1.3 km east to west and 1 km north to south with an area of 120 ha. In the wide palace compound were the Daigokuden (imperial audience hall), the Chôdô-in (state halls), the Dairi (imperial domicile), other administrative offices, and many other buildings. Archeological excavations of the Nara Palace site started in 1955. Since 1959, it has been continuing on a 24 year-round basis to date. The area that has been excavated in the past has reached one third or more of the total site area. This extensive undertaking, one of the most ambiguous planned research and excavation efforts in the world, is still under way. The research work has revealed a broad range of historical facts about the Nara Palace including the placement of buildings and changes therein, actual conditions of the Ritsuryô system including the name of government offices, and those of administration and people’s lives in the Nara period. The Nara Palace was enclosed by tall earthen walls called Tsuiji-ôgaki, about 5 meters in height, which had 12 gates as entrances to the palace compound. Among them, the Suzaku gate at the center of the south wall was the main entrance, inside which were located the central Daigokuden (imperial audience hall) and the Chôdô-in (state halls), and farther to the east was a similar state hall called the East Chôdô-in. It was to the north of the East Chôdô-in that the imperial domicile (Dairi) was located. Around these principal facilities were areas assigned for administrative offices, where clusters of buildings were located. Writings on wooden tablets and earthenware, which have been excavated through the past researches, include many government offices such as the Grand Council of Administration (Daijôkan), the Ministry of Military Affairs (Hyobushô), the Ministry of Personnel Affairs (Shikibushô), the Imperial Stable Bureau (Meryô), the Office of Imperial Food Service (Daizenshiki), and the Department of Sake Making (Mikinotsukasa). The Daigokuden and the Chôdô-in, positioned at the center of the Nara Palace, were the two most official halls used for political events, ceremonies, and banquets. The buildings in these compounds were arranged symmetrically along a central axis running north to south. Each building was erected on a podium, with a tiled roof and vermilion-lacquered pillars after the Tang Dynasty China style. In contrast, both the Dairi (imperial domicile) and the other general government offices were designed in a traditional Japanese style; i.e. a structure with a shingled cypress-bark roof and unpainted pillars embedded directly into the earth. The palace compound also included a garden-centered area. As a result of archeological excavation, a palace garden, which was discovered at the south edge of the eastern precinct of the palace site, has been fully elucidated. In the center of the area there was located a shallow pond with a stone-paved bottom, and in the periphery of the area were buildings from which to appreciate the beauty of the garden. As the structural remains of palace garden of the Nara period, this site is exceptionally rare, and all the more valuable in terms of its preserved state, artistry, scale, etc. Today, this palace garden site has been restored to its original state, deliberately exposing the remaining original stone pavements, so that visitors can better understand how the garden used to be in the Nara period. 10 The Nara Palace site is designated as a Special Historic Site by the national government, and the development, management and maintenance of the site are also undertaken by the Agency for Cultural Affairs and the MLIT 11 . Within the 131 hectares designated as a Special Historic Site, the area targeted for development is a state-owned area of 108 ha, excluding the rest being occupied with residential buildings. Development of the Nara Palace site was conducted initially at the beginning of the 20th century, though only partially. Full-scale development started when “the Basic Scheme for the Preservation and Development of the Nara Palace Site as a Special Historic Site” was established in 1978, and has been continuously undertaken since that time. By defining the Nara Palace Site as a "field museum of a historic site", this basic scheme aims to develop the site into a central site for scholarly study regarding ancient capital palaces and a place where ordinary people can deepen their understanding of the customs and culture of an ancient capital palace through first-hand contact. To this end, when carrying out the development of the structural remains after excavation surveys, various methods are adopted for the development after careful consideration of the characteristics of the specific area confirmed through the past investigations 12 . The Nara Palace site is a valuable archaeological site which opens the gate to a wealth of archaeological fact about the ancient Tojô (capital) system in the East Asian region including Japan. Furthermore, it has been developed into an open-air museum which can communicate the value of the archaeological remains in an easily understandable form presented aboveground, and the goal is to cultivate familiarity with this historic site for both scholarly and recreational purposes.

10 This pond was under restoration work when the WHL inscription was made. The work was completed in 2000, designated as a Place of Scenic Beauty, “ East Palace Garden of Nara Palace Site” in 2009, and as a Place of Special Scenic Beauty in 2010. 11 When the WHL inscription was made, the NNRICP , a subordinate organ of the Agency for Cultural Affairs used to undertake the improvement and maintenance works. 12 The World Heritage List Nomination is attached with “Methods and significance of educational development at the Nara Palace Site” (Appendix 13 a), an appendix regarding the development of the Nara Palace. 25

2.3 Examination of Conservation State by World Heritage Committee

Since the inscription on the World Heritage List in 1998, the property has basically maintained a good state of preservation. However, after 2001 when the possible impact of the construction plan for the Keinawa Expressway (the Yamato-Kita Road) on buried structural remains was referred to, the World Heritage Centre and the World Heritage Committee have continuously requested the state party to report on the state of the preservation of the property. In response to this, the Government of Japan has made progress reports and other reports as occasion demands, and, in the most recent case (2013), the government responded to the decision at the 35th World Heritage Committee in 2011 to request a report. Furthermore, through these examinations, the World Heritage Centre and the advisory bodies indicated that it is important to establish a permanent adjustment mechanism which harmonises preservation policies for the entire property. Taking into consideration the process above, in formulating the plan attention was paid to matters about which the request for report was decided. The outline of matters upon which it was requested to report regarding the state of preservation of the property is summarised below.

Table 2-6 Detail of Response to the WHC Request for Report

WHC’s Request for Report and the Detail of the Response of Matters Sections herein describing detail Japanese Government

Impacts on the Plans for construction of the Keinawa Expressway already See pages 7-8, 27, 47-48, 51, 66, and Property Caused by existed when the property was nominated. The written 91. Construction Plan of nomination also provided explanations about it, while carefully the Keinawa carrying out preliminary surveys and examinations on the Expressway routes, construction methods, etc. of the road. After 2003, the (Yamato-Kita Road) World Heritage Committee continuously requested the Government of Japan to report about this matter, in the consequence of view exchange and adjustment, the 32nd World Heritage Committee (2008, Quebec) decided that it “takes note with satisfaction of the fact that the proposed construction of the Yamato-Kita Road will not impact negatively on the Outstanding Universal Value and integrity of the property.” Based on the 32nd, 33rd, and 34th WHC decisions, the “Yamato-Kita Road Groundwater Monitoring Study Committee” was established (since September, 2006), and it is in the process of conducting deliberations and studies on the monitoring details, management-standards policy, and groundwater preservation measures to prevent groundwater level fluctuations even upon occurrence of unexpected contingencies. The committee is to formulate the Groundwater Level Monitoring System and Risk Mitigation Plans until the construction work starts (to be decided). The Government of Japan plans to continuously report progress to the World Heritage Committee . Handling temporary After the Commemorative Events (2010) ended, the See pages 50, 79, 85, and 91. facilities for visitors Association for Commemorative Events has retained a part of set up for the temporary facilities, set up for the event, while reporting it Commemorative to the WHC. Against this, the 35th World Heritage Committee Events of the 1300th (2011, Paris) requested the prompt removal of the temporary Anniversary of Nara facilities as well as a report concerning plans for Heijôkyo Capital temporary/permanent visitor facilities. (“Commemorative Accordingly, the Government of Japan reported in 2013 Events”) that: (i) the part of the facilities should be retained only to the minimum necessary extent for visitors’ convenience, while assuring the preservation of the underground archaeological remains and conservation of the surrounding landscape; and, (ii) other facilities should be removed after March, 2016 when the partial use of a transportation terminal to be constructed outside the world heritage zone commences; however, there may be some delay in commencement of construction of the transportation terminal, and, consequently, the removal of temporary visitors’ facilities could be delayed, depending on the progress of the excavation of buried cultural properties.

WHC’s Request for Report and the Detail of the Response of Matters Sections herein describing detail Japanese Government Adverse impacts on In response to the ownership shift of the Nara Palace Site See pages 7, 51, 66, and 85. the property caused to the national government as the Asuka/Nara Palace Site by the change of Historical National Government Parks in October, 2008, the management structure WHC 33rd session (2009, Seville) requested the state party to in association with the report adverse impacts on the entire system of the property due ownership shift of the to the change in the administrative/ institutional framework in Nara Palace Site to association with the ownership shift of the Nara Palace Site the national above. government. Accordingly, in 2011 the Government of Japan responded that the Project of National Government Parks is related only to the Nara Palace Site, and the project has been implemented in close coordination between the relevant parties including the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Nara prefectural government, Nara municipal government, and the Agency of Cultural Affairs. Reconstruction of the In response to the report of the “Reconstruction” Project of See pages 50, 66, 79, 85 and 91. buildings at the Nara the Buildings at the Nara Palace Site as part of the Project of Palace Site National Government Parks, the WHC 33rd session (2009, Seville) requested the state party to explain in detail about the validity of the reconstruction of the Daigokuden-in (Former Imperial Audience hall compound) currently in the planning stage. Accordingly, in 2013 the Government of Japan submitted a document entitled “Approach to the Preservation, Conservation, Management, Interpretation, and Promotion of the “Nara Palace Site,” and Its Future Direction” stating that for the buildings of the Former Imperial Audience hall compound, the full-scale presentation of which is scheduled in the future, additional research regarding their design, form, and structure will proceed further, and the project of full-scale presentation (“reconstruction”) of the building is to be launched in stages after the credibility and reliability are ensured.

Chapter 3 Current State of Property and its Surrounding Environments

3.1 Outline of Nara City

(1) Population Nara City in which “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara” is located, maintains a population of about 360,000, and there has been no significant change since the 1998 world heritage inscription. Nara City has set the target population in 2020 at 350,000 13 (0.95 times, compared to 2010), and, estimates no rapid progress of urbanisation in the city from now on.

（万） (Thousand) 月ヶ瀬村、都祁村合併 Tsukigase and Tsuge villages were merged. 40040 Population人口 35035 Total総世帯数 Households 30030 25025 20020

15015 10010 505 0 0 2001 2001 年 2002 年 2003 年 2004 年 2005 年 2006 年 2007 年 2008 年 2009 年 2010 年 2011 年 2012 年

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Fig. 3-1 Change in Population of Nara City (Source: Nara City Statistical Data)

(2) Urban Infrastructure Development, etc. In Nara City, the only current ongoing large-scale development plan is the construction of the Keinawa Expressway (Yamato-Kita Road). As previously stated in 2.3 Examinations of Conservation State by the World Heritage Committee, Chapter 2 Outline of World Heritage “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara”, this construction plan pays close attention to the groundwater level that could affect the preservation of the Nara Palace Site, as well as its landscape, and has no impact on the preservation of the property.

(3) Change in tourist numbers Since the WHL inscription in 1998, the number of tourists to Nara City has increased slightly. Nara municipal government aims to attract 15 million tourists/non-resident populations (number of visitors) (1.07 times compared to 2009) and three million overnight visitors (2.10 times compared to 2009)14 in 2020. Despite the fact that during the Commemorative Events of the 1300th Anniversary of Nara Heijôkyo Capital (“the Commemorative Events”) held in 2010 centering around the Nara Palace Site, a component part of the property, various events were organised throughout the whole of Nara Prefecture, and that about 18 million tourists visited Nara City, far exceeding the 15 million target stated above, no problems such as excessive use of the property were seen. Accordingly, it is thought that the target number of 15 million tourists is within carrying capacity.

13 Basic Concepts for the Fourth Comprehensive Plan of Nara City 14 Basic Concepts for the Fourth Comprehensive Plan of Nara City

(Million(万) ) WHL世界遺産登録 Inscription Commemorative平城遷都1300年記念事業 Events 1,80018 1,60016

1,40014 1,20012 一般 1,00010 Domestic Tourists 外国人 800 8 Foreign Tourists 修学旅行 600 6 School-Excursion Students 400 4

2002 0 0 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 年年年年年年年年年年年年

1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

Fig. 3-2 Change in Number of Visitors to Nara City (Source: Report on the Number of Visitors to Nara City)

Commemorative平城遷都1300 年記念事 Events (Million(万)) WHL世界遺産登録 Inscription

2502.5

2002.0

1501.5 Domestic一般 Tourists Foreign外国人 Tourists 1001.0

School-Excursion修学旅行 Students

500.5

00 1990 1990 年 1992 年 1994 年 1996 年 1998 年 2000 年 2002 年 2004 年 2006 年 2008 年 2010 年 2012 年

1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

Fig. 3-3 Change in Overnight Visitors to Nara City (Source: Report on the Number of Visitors to Nara City)

(3) Environmental Issues → Factor 4.4 At present, no environmental issues that could exert impact on the property have been identified. Furthermore, the preventive measures against issues that could affect the property in the future (e.g., air pollution, etc.) have already been taken under the Nara City Basic Environmental Ordinance and Nara City Anti-Idling Vehicle Ordinance. In addition, targeting the ten types of projects implemented within Nara Prefecture including the construction of roads, railroads etc., the Nara prefectural government has laid down the Nara Prefecture Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance, under which it previously undertakes the assessment of the impacts on the environments, and reflects the results of the assessment on those projects. When making the assessments, the prefectural government also takes preventive measures in advance against the impacts on cultural heritage sites and their landscapes by implementing research, projections and assessments.

Table 3-1 Acts and Regulations regarding environmental issues

Name Day of Enactment Outline - This ordinance establishes the basic principles of the conservation and creation of the environments; clearly defines the responsibilities of Nara City, project undertakers, citizens, Nara City Basic Enacted in March, 1999 and tourists; and, thereby, enacts the basic matters of measures Environmental Enforced in April, 1999 for environmental conservation and creation. Ordinance - This ordinance incorporates measures to be taken necessary for the conservation and creation of the environments of the world heritage and its surrounding areas. - This ordinance establishes the core areas of “anti-idling” promotions around historical cultural heritage sites and their surrounding areas, to contribute to the conservation of the cultural heritage and citizen’s living environments. - This ordinance designates the surrounding areas of the world heritage sites as core areas for anti-idling promotions, and makes “anti-idling” more effective by providing stations for drivers and Nara City Anti-Idling Enacted in September, 1999 crews of sightseeing buses at parking lots within core areas. Vehicle Ordinance Enforced in April, 2000 - Through the tourist seasons in spring and autumn, especially on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, reasonably heavy traffic congestions occurs around the Nara Park. In order to mitigate environment deterioration by relieving traffic congestion, the park-and-ride or cycle ride system has operated in coordination between the MLIT (Nara National Highways Office) and the Nara Prefectural/Nara municipal governments since 1999. - These guidelines aim to make the assessment of the impacts on The Nara Prefecture the environments exerted by the ten types of projects Environmental Impact implemented within Nara Prefecture including the construction Nara Prefecture Assessment Ordinance of roads, railroads etc. in advance, reflect the assessment results Technical Guides for Enacted in December, 1998 on those projects, and, thereby pay close attention to the Environmental Impact Enforced in December, 1999 conservation of the environments. Assessments Based - These guidelines specifies “a. Landscape: Major Viewpoints, on the Nara Prefecture Nara Prefecture Technical Landscape Resources, and Major Landscape Perspective”, “b. Environmental Impact Guides for Environmental Places for Activities That Bring Man into Contact with Nature: Assessment Impact Assessments Major Places for Activities That Bring Man into Contact with Ordinance Enacted in September, 1999 Nature”, and “c. Cultural Heritage: Cultural Properties and Place Enforced in September, 1999 containing Buried Cultural Properties, as the “Environmental elements to be researched, predicted, and assessed for ensuring plentiful contact between man, nature and the cultural heritage”.

(4) Progress of landscape Administration Nara City is an extremely unique city that has developed founded on historical and cultural accumulation that began with the construction of the Nara Capital in 710. To preserve its environments, Nara prefectural and municipal governments have actively proceeded with conservation and formation of landscapes by using a range of legislation since the 1930s. Through these processes, the Landscape Act enforced since December, 2004 has enabled the Nara municipal government to execute effective control/guidance

under the Act, instead of the measures that were implemented in the past in accordance with the ordinances independently laid down by the Nara municipal government. In response to the enforcement of the Landscape Act, in 2010, the Nara municipal government formulated the Nara City Landscape Plan, combined various related measures implemented to date, and thereby, adjusted them as guidelines for promoting more comprehensive landscaping. Now, the Nara municipal government is promoting the projects of landscape conservation/formation in collaboration between citizens, project managers, and the city administration (Fig. 3-4). Furthermore, in 2012, in order to conserve and utilise the beautiful landscape perspective inherent to Nara City, the city government has formulated the “Nara City Landscape Perspective conservation and Promotion Plan”, and currently is working on the amendment work of the Nara City Landscape Plan on which their basic stance is reflected. For further details of the current state of such forming landscapes refer to 3.3 the Current State of Surrounding Environments that provides area-specific explanation.

Nara City Third Comprehensive Plan (Local Autonomy Act) - Basic Concepts/Basic Plan - Front Half Basic Plan: 2001 – 2005 Latter Half Basic Plan: 2006 – 2010

Respond to Nara City Landscape Plan National Spatial Planning Culture, Tourism and (((Landscape Act) Conservation Areas (National Spatial Planning Harmo - Act) Nara City Mahoroba Landscape Development (Act on Construction of Nara as nise City of International Culture and with Tourism) Chapter 1 Basic Matters of the Plan Kinki Area Adjustment Sec 1 What landscape is Scenic Zone s (City Planning Act ) Plan Sec 2 Backgrounds and Purpose ( Sec 3 Position/Composition of the Plan (Nara Prefecture Scenic Zone Kinki Area Adjustment Ordinance) Act) Sec 4 Landscape Planning Areas Chapter 2 Landscape Characteristics of Area for Preservation of Historical Nara City Basic Nara City Natural Features Environment Plan Sec 1 Features of Landscape of Nara City Sec Special Zone for Preservation of Historical Natural Features (Basic Environment Act ) 2 Structure of Landscape of Nara City (Ancient Capitals Preservation Act )

Chapter 3 Purpose and Basic Policies of Environment Conservation Area Landscaping (Nature Conservation Act) Sec 1 Purpose of Landscaping (Nara City Nature Conservation Sec 2 Basic Policies for Landscaping Ordinance) Policy for Maintenance, Chapter 4 Measures Associated with Landscape Development and Comply with Formation Conservation of City Sec 1 Landscape Guidance against Large-Scale Natural Parks Planning Areas acts of construction/alteration (Natural Parks Act) (City Planning Act ) Sec 2 Areas Applied with Selective Landscape Formation Cultur al Properties Sec 3 Conservation/Promotion of Landscape (Designation/Registration) Resources and Landscape Formation Master Plan for Nara City Cultural Properties Sec 4 Conservation/Promotion of Landscape Conservation/Management Plan Planning Perspective (Act on Protection of Cultural (City Planning Act ) Sec 5 Guidance/Control of Outdoor Properties) Advertisement

Chapter 5 Procedures for Landscaping Outdoor Advertisement Prohibition Area Sec 1 Citizens' Initiative Cityscape Planning (Outdoor Advertisement Act) Sec 2 Progress Control and Review of Plan Nara City Outdoor Advertisement Ordinance Advertisement Act) Coordinate Street Landscape Beautification with Development Plan Other Related Plans Basic Plan for Green of Nara City

Public Works Landscaping Nara City Landscape Plan Agricultural Promotion Regions Guidelines Development Plan

Fig. 3-4 Position and Composition of the Nara City Landscape Plan (excerpted from the Nara City Landscape Plan (2010, Nara City))

3. 2 Current State of Property To comprehend the current state of the properties, in line with the “factors affecting the property” shown on the format of periodic report to the Section II (Periodic Reporting Section II.3) of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, we have summarised the presence/absence of factors affecting the properties, according to the type of the component parts of “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara” (“Precincts and Group of Religious Buildings of Temples and Shrines”; “Cultural landscapes associated with Shintoism of the Kasuga-Taisha and the Kasugayama Primeval Forest”, and “Archaeological sites of the Nara Palace Site”) (Table 3-2).

Table 3-2 List of factors affecting the property (+: Positive impacts, -: Negative impacts, ( ): Potential impacts)

Component Surrounding Environments Parts Archaeological S Archaeological Cultural Landscape Cultural Group of B of Group NaraPalace Site and its its vicinity and Kasugayama Kasugayama

Nishino-kyô vicinity of of vicinity Vicinityof Vicinityof Gangô-ji

Factors affecting the property uildings (Periodic Reporting Section II.3) ite ite

1.1 Housing development (－) (－) (－) (－) 1.2 Commercial development (－) (－) (－) (－) 1 Buildings and 1.3 Industrial areas Development 1.4 Accommodation facilities, etc. (－) (－) (－) (－) 1.5 Interpretative and visitation facilities (±) (±) (±) (±) (±) (±) (±) 2.1 Ground transport infrastructure (－) (－) (－) (－) (－) (－) 2.2 Air transport infrastructure 2 Transportation 2.3 Marine transport infrastructure infrastructure 2.4 Effects arising from use of transportation (－) (－) (－) infrastructure 3.1 Water infrastructure 3.2 Renewable energy facilities (－) (－) (－) (－) 3 Utilities or Service 3.3 Non-renewable energy facilities Infrastructure 3.4 Localised utilities (not linear utilities) 3.5 Major public linear utilities 4.1 Pollution of marine waters 4.2 Ground water pollution 4.3 Surface water pollution 4 Pollution 4.4 Air pollution － (－) (－) (－) (－) 4.5 Solid waste 4.6 Input of excess energy 5.1 Fishing/collecting aquatic resources 5.2 Aquaculture 5.3 Land conversion 5.4 Livestock farming/grazing of domesticated 5 Biological animals resource use/ 5.5 Crop production modification 5.6 Commercial wild plant collection 5.7 Subsistence wild plant collection 5.8 Commercial hunting 5.9 Subsistence hunting 5.10 Forestry /wood production 6.1 Mining 6 Physical resource 6.2 Quarrying extraction 6.3 Oil and gas 6.4 Water extraction 7 Local conditions 7.1 Wind

Component Surrounding Environments Parts Archaeological S Archaeological Cultural Landscape Cultural Group of B of Group NaraPalace Site and its its vicinity and Kasugayama Kasugayama

Nishino-kyô vicinity of of vicinity Vicinityof Vicinityof Gangô-ji

Factors affecting the property uildings (Periodic Reporting Section II.3) ite ite

affecting physical 7.2 Relative humidity (－) － fabric 7.3 Temperature ( ) 7.4 Radiation/light 7.5 Dust 7.6 Water (Rain/Water table) 7.7 Pests (－) (－) 7.8 Micro-organisms (－) 8.1 Ritual/spiritual/religious and associative uses ＋＋ 8.2 Society's valuing of heritage 8.3 Indigenous hunting, gathering and collecting 8 Social/cultural 8.4 Changes in traditional ways of life and

uses of heritage knowledge system 8.5 Identity, social cohesion, changes in local population and community 8.6 Impacts of tourism/visitor/recreation (－) (－) (－) 9.1 Illegal activities (－) (－) (－) 9.2 Deliberate destruction of heritage (－) (－) (－) 9 Other human 9.3 Military training activities 9.4 War 9.5 Terrorism 9.6 Civil unrest 10.1 Storms (－) (－) 10.2 Flooding (－) (－) 10 Climate change 10.3 Drought and severe 10.4 Desertification weather events 10.5 Changes to oceanic waters 10.6 Temperature change (－) (－) 10.7 Other climate change impacts (－) (－) 11 Sudden 11.1 Volcanic eruption －－ ecological or 11.2 Earthquake ( ) ( ) geological events 11.3 Tsunami/tidal wave 11.4 Avalanche / landslide (－) (－) 11.5 Erosion and siltation/deposition 11.6 Fire (wildfires) (－) (－) (－) 12 Invasive/alien 12.1 Translocated species －－ species or 12.2 Invasive/alien terrestrial species hyper-abundant 12.3 Invasive / alien freshwater species 12.4 Invasive/alien marine species species 12.5 Hyper-abundant species － 12.6 Modified genetic material 13 Management and 13.1 Low impact research/monitoring activities ＋＋＋－ institutional 13.2 High impact research/monitoring activities ( ) factors 13.3 Management activities ＋＋＋

3.2.1 Precincts and Group of Religious Buildings of Temples and Shrines

Among the factors affecting the property summarised in Table 3-2, the items corresponding to the Precincts and Group of Religious Buildings of Temples and Shrines are listed in Table 3-3. This subsection describes the current state including the details thereof and the contents of measures.

Table 3-3 Factors affecting the property and their details (Precincts of temples and shrines/ group of religious buildings) ＋: Positive impacts, －: Negative impacts, ( ): Potential impacts : Items and their (potential) negative impacts for which necessary measures have already been taken.

Page no. of Factors affecting the property Impacts Descriptions corresponding (Items corresponding to the group of buildings) descriptions Improvement of visitors convenience by enhancing convenience facilities, information transmission facilities, etc., as well as promoting understanding of 1. Buildings and 1.5 Interpretative and the property (±) development visitation facilities Potential risk which could alter the environments exhibiting the mode of the religion of the 8th century, depending on the extent of improvement/ p. 36 development 2. Transportation 2.1 Ground transport (－) Widening of urban-planning road infrastructure infrastructure － Deterioration, discoloration, etc. caused by air 4. Pollution 4.4 Air pollution pollution factors (e.g. Gojûnotô of Kôfuku -ji ) p. 29 7.2 Relative humidity (－) 7. Local conditions 7.3 Temperature (－) Aged deterioration caused by Japanese geographical affecting physical and climatic characteristics and material － p. 34 fabric 7.7 Pests ( ) properties. 7.8 Micro-organisms (－) 8. Social/cultural uses 8.1 Ritual/spiritual/religious ＋ Maintenance of authenticity (i.e. “usage/fu nctions” of heritage and associative uses “spirituality/sensitivity”) by continuing religious use (±) Facilitation of the understanding of visitors about the 8.6 Impacts of tourism/ property through the use of tourism and recreation activities visitor/ recreation Impacts on the property caused by events held therein p. 41 9.1 Illegal activities (－) 9. Other human 9.2 Deliberate destruction of Deliberate destruction of buildings p. 35 activities (－) heritage 10.1 Storms (－) Damage caused by typhoon, etc. p. 35 10. Climate change 10.2 Flooding (－) Flooding caused by river inundation (e.g. Yakushi-ji) and severe 10.6 Temperature change (－) weather events 10.7 Other climate change Same as factor 7 p. 34 (－) impacts 11.2 Earthquake (－) Damage/collapse caused by earthquake p. 35 11. Sudden ecological Damage of buildings and structures caused by or geological 11.4 Avalanche / landslide (－) landslide disasters, Destruction of environments of events precincts (e.g. Tôdai -ji ) 11.6 Fire (－) Burning down caused by fire/lightning p. 35 Progress of research as well as the development/accumulation of techniques related to 13.1 Low impact research/ + restoration/maintenance by carrying out research 13. Management and monitoring activities associated with the repair of buildings, and the institutional factors excavation of precincts Implementation of daily maintenance mainly by 13.3 Management activities + temples and shrines

(1) State and method of preservation of group of religious buildings → Factors 7.2, 7.3, 7.7, 7.8, 10.6, 10.7 The group of religious buildings of temples and shrines are designated as national treasures or important cultural properties by the Act on Protection of Cultural Properties. This act severely restricts any action that alters the present state or affects the preservation thereof. Due to the geographical and climatic characteristics of warm, frequent rains and high humidity, Japanese wooden buildings tend to quickly become damaged especially at the roof, eaves-sides, external walls, cornice, underfloor, etc.; and, if left uncared for, not only partial destruction, but the collapse of an entire building could occur. Accordingly, it is necessary for maintenance and succession of wooden architectural structures of cultural properties in good preservation conditions for checks to be conducted daily and, according to the extent of damage, to conduct drastic repair (e.g. disassembling/repairing work, semi-disassembling/repairing work), maintenance repair (e.g. reroofing, partial repair, repainting repair), or minor repair (e.g. repair of the parts that tend to deteriorate fast on a daily basis). The 78 religious buildings composing the property are all wooden buildings as well. Since 1987 in which “the Ancient Shrines and Temples Preservation Act” was enacted, these buildings have been completed with academic research and preservation repaired in turn. Currently, daily maintenance, such as cleaning and damage checks, is undertaken by the owners and/or site supervisors (See Table 2-3, p. 14). When preservation repair work is conducted, the Board of Education of Nara Prefecture is to receive the commission to that effect, and its professional engineers, who belong to the Cultural Properties Preservation Office (of the board of education), carry out rigorous study and research, design, and supervision, and publishes a repair work report to summarize the repair record after the completion of drastic repair (Table 3-4). Incidentally, for preservation repair work, the national government provides a subsidy that covers 50 - 85% of total expenses, and Nara Prefecture and Nara City also provide subsidies. With daily maintenance and preservation repairs as described above, all the 78 religious building composing the property are being maintained in satisfactory preservation conditions.

Table 3-4 Preservation repair works conducted after the WHL inscription

Component Undertakers Title of Conservation Repair Method/Detail Project Parts Period Tôdai -ji: Cultural Properties Preservation repair of Hokkedô Preservation Office of the (Buddha hall; national treasure) A: Tôdai-ji Board of Education of Nara of Tôdai-ji Partial repair 2011 - 2012 Prefecture Kasuga -Taisha: Cultural Preservation repair of Properties Preservation Office Kasuga-Taisha Honsha Honden Disassembling repair of the Board of Education of (national treasure) and other 15 work, semi-disassembling 1991 - 2006 Nara Prefecture buildings repair work, reroofing, repainting, Partial repair Kasuga -Taisha: Cultural Preservation repair of Chôzuya Properties Preservation Office (hall; important cultural of the Board of Education of properties) of Sessha Wakamiya Reroofing, partial repair 2003 - 2005 C: Kasuga- Nara Prefecture Jinja, Kasuga-Taisha Taisha Kasuga -Taisha: Cultural Preservation Repair of Properties Preservation Office Ichino-Torii (Torii-gate; Disassembling repair of the Board of Education of important cultural property) work, reroofing, partial 2007 - 2010 Nara Prefecture and other two buildings of repair Kasuga -Taisha Honsha Kasuga -Taisha: Cultural Preservation Repair of Properties Preservation Office Kasuga-Taisha Honsha Honden Reroofing, repainting, 2010 - 2017 of the Board of Education of (national treasure) and other 13 partial repair (Ongoing) Nara Prefecture buildings Yakushi -ji: Cultural Properties Preservation Repair of Tôtô Preservation Office of the (east pagoda; national treasure) F:Yakushi-ji Disassembling repair 2009 - 2019 Board of Education of Nara of Yakushi-ji work (Ongoing) Prefecture Tôshôdai -ji: Cultural Preservation Repair of Kondô Properties Preservation Office (national treasure) of Disassembling repair G: Tôshôdai-ji of the Board of Education of Tôshôdai-ji work 2000 - 2009 Nara Prefecture

(2) Preservation state/method of precincts (including buried structural remains/archaeological artefacts) → Factor 13.1 The precincts of the six temples and shrines, within which religious buildings comprising the property are located, have a long history as religious spaces which have existed from the 8th century. Through their long history, the temples and shrines have repeatedly undergone frequent disasters and reconstructions, and the present-day precincts are the consequence of diverse changes from the environments of construction dates. Despite the fact that many wooden buildings and structures were lost through such changes, it has been established that buried structural remains such as dirt mounds and foundation stones are in good condition. As these archaeological sites are important for comprehending the changes in temples and shrines, they have been appropriately preserved, being designated as historic sites based on the Act on Protection of Cultural Properties, while restrictions to changing the present state and other elements have been introduced. Furthermore, the results of research are helpful for the progress of repair/maintenance techniques.

(3) Reinforcement of preventive measures against disasters, etc. → Factors 9.1, 9.2, 10.1, 11.2, 11.6 As the religious buildings composing the property are all wooden buildings, fire is the greatest threat to them. Even before the WHL inscription, various fire-prevention and fire-fighting measures, disaster drills, etc. have been conducted, and are being maintained and reinforced to date. Furthermore, after the WHL inscription, a seismic evaluation was conducted for every building as an anti-earthquake measure. Some buildings were provided with anti-seismic reinforcement systems, as needed, in tandem with preservation repair work. As countermeasures against storm and flood damage caused by typhoon and other disasters, potentially dangerous trees that could fall and damage buildings are disposed of on a periodic basis. In addition, environmental arrangements including appropriate rainwater drainage systems, etc. against torrential downpours have occurred frequently in recent years are being planned. Incidentally, for disaster-preventive work, in the same manner as preservation repair work, the national government provides a subsidy that covers 50 - 85% of total expenses, while Nara Prefecture and Nara City also provide subsidies. Meanwhile, although no deliberate destruction by visitors has yet been identified to date, the temples and shrines, the owners of each component, conduct patrols, night watches, etc. as a daily management task.

Table 3-5 Preventive measures against disasters (Group of buildings) Fire Prevention/Fighting Measures Lightning Lightning Arrester

Automatic Fire Alarm Alarm Fire Automatic Fire Hydrant Equipment Anti-earthquake Fire Hydrant Fire

Component Fire Monitor Crime Prevention Measures Measures against Disaster Parts Drencher Sprinkler Measures (Antiseismic Typhoon Drills Reinforcement)

・

Categorization Based on the on Based Categorization WorldHeritage Wire-support for potentially dangerous Disaster Patrol/night watch Implementation of 〇〇〇〇〇 trees, Pruning of drills twice a A: Tôdai-ji Surveillance camera seismic evaluation potentially dangerous year trees

ru fBidns Buildings of Group Patrol/night watch Implementation of Felling of potentially Disaster drill B: Kôfuku-ji 〇〇〇 Convention Infrared Detectors seismic evaluation dangerous trees once a year Patrol/night watch C: Kasuga- Implementation of Pruning of potentially Disaster drill 〇〇〇〇 Surveillance camera seismic evaluation dangerous trees once a year Taisha Infrared detectors

〇〇〇〇 Surveillance camera Implementation of Felling of potentially Disaster drill E: Gangô-ji Infrared detectors seismic evaluation dangerous trees once a year Implementation of Disaster drill 〇〇〇 Patrol/night watch F: Yakushi-ji seismic evaluation once a year Felling of potentially Disaster Implementation of 〇〇〇〇 Infrared detectors dangerous trees drills twice a G: Tôshôdai-ji seismic evaluation (under consideration ) year

(4) Maintenance of functions as religious facilities → Factor 8.1 Temples and shrines are religious facilities that have maintained their religious functions to date since the Nara period, repeatedly undergoing rises and falls. Even today, they have a large number of visitors throughout a year, while continuing religious activities including annual events. Meanwhile, Yakushi-ji intending to reconstruct the original temple compound at the construction date and Kôfuku-ji currently reconstructing the Chûkondô (lit. central main hall) are proceeding with the restoration of the religious buildings lost in the past due to disasters, fires, etc., as part of their religious activities. However, such restoration of temple precincts and reconstruction of lost religious buildings presuppose the preservation of the property including buried structural remains, etc. As stated in the preceding subsection (2) “Preservation state/method of precincts (including buried structural remains/archaeological artefacts), in the precincts of temples and shrines, there are many structural remains that indicate the history of religious space mainly in the eighth century. Accordingly, it is determined that planning restoration of precincts and reconstruction of religious buildings should prioritise the preservation of buried structural remains after formulating a maintenance/improvement plan for historic sites under the instructions of the Agency of Cultural Affairs as well as experts and other persons with relevant knowledge and experience, and elucidating the perspective of a temple compound by conducting sufficient information collection and academic research including excavation. Furthermore, even in case the reconstruction is decided after going through the above procedures, it is necessary that such temples and shrines thus reconstructed should have the appearance and functions that contribute to the understanding of the history and value thereof, without impairing the value of the religious space existing since the Nara period.

(5) Current state of interpretation/promotion → Factor 1.5 The precincts of the temples and shrines are not only open to worshippers, but also to the public, throughout the year. As a typical sightseeing spot of Japan, Nara receives many foreign tourists. As reception facilities for such visitors, the convenience facilities such as toilets, parking lots, multilingual information boards, etc. are provided, as needed, inside and outside the range of the properties. In addition, efforts are made to deepen the understanding of visitors about the properties by implementing storage/interpretation facilities and study/information transmission facilities of the works of fine arts and crafts and historical materials owned by the temples and shrines, as well as explanation boards to explain the value of the properties. In the same way as the reconstruction of religious buildings, as previously stated, it is necessary that the improvement of the facilities for interpretation and promotion discussed above should presuppose the preservation of the properties. Consequently, conducting such improvement regulatorily requires excavation survey and academic research on subject areas in advance; and, in case buried structural remains are identified, the measures that prioritise the preservation thereof, including review of the improvement plan if necessary.

Layout of Promotion (Convenience) Facilities

Area o pen to the public at all times Area o pen to the pu blic only during a specified period Prohibited Area Management Office Toilets Resting Places Parking Lot

Property

Fig. 3-5 Layout of promotion/convenience facilities (A: Tôdai-ji)

Layout of Promotion (Convenience) Facilities

Area o pen to the public at all times Area o pen to the pu blic only during a specified period Prohibited Area Management Office Exhibition Facility Toilets

Resting Places Parking Lot

Property

Fig. 3-6 Layout of promotion/convenient Facilities (B: Kôfuku-ji)

Layout of Promotion (Convenience) Facilities

Area o pen to the public at all times Prohibited Area Management Office Exhibition Facility Toilets

Resting Places Parking Lot

Property

Layout of Promotion (Convenience) Facilities

Area o pen to the public at all times Prohibited Area

Management Office Exhibition Facility Toilets Resting Places Parking Lot

Property

Fig. 3-7 Layout of promotion/convenience facilities (C: Kasuga-Taisha)

Layout of Promotion (Convenience) Facilities Area o pen to the public at all times Management Office Exhibition Facility Toilets Resting Places Parking Lot

Property

Fig. 3-8 Layout of promotion/convenience facilities (E: Gangô-ji)

Layout of Promotion (Convenience) Facilities

Area o pen to the public at all times Prohibited Area Management Office Exhibition Facility Toilets

Resting Places Parking Lot

Property

Fig. 3-9 Layout of promotion/convenience facilities (F: Yakushi-ji)

Layout of Promotion (Convenience) Facilities < G: Tôshôdai -ji Area> Area o pen to the public at all times Area o pen to the pu blic only during a specified period Prohibited Area Management Office

Exhibition Facility Toilets Resting Places Parking Lot

Property

Fig. 3-10 Layout of promotion/convenience facilities (G: Tôshôdai-ji)

(6) Preservation and Management Structure → Factor 13.3 Daily maintenance management is undertaken by temples and shrines, the owners of each component of the property. In the case an owner intends to conduct an action that alters the present state of a property, the owner should, in accordance with the procedures for “the changes to current conditions” provided for in the Act on Protection of Cultural Properties, obtain the permission of the commissioner of the Agency for Cultural Affairs. Furthermore, it is stipulated that the commissioner of the Agency for Cultural Affairs shall refer any such matter to the Subdivision on the Cultural Properties of the Council for Cultural Affairs, established by the national government, including a large number of the members of the JAPAN ICOMOS National Committee, and grant permission after receiving a response based on academic and rigorous review (Fig. 3-11).

Cultural Properties Related Departments Owner /Site Supervisor

Advice Temples & Shrines Council for Agency for Cultural Affairs Cultural Affairs Maintenance Plan Consultation Request Permission （Preservation and Board of Experts Education of Management Plan ） Nara Pref. Instruction, Application advice Board of Education of The both cultural Nara City properties/landscape -related departments attend the maintenance review Permission Advice committee, and other Landscape Nara City meetings. Council Application Consultation Landscape Related Departments Adjustment

Fig. 3-11 Preservation and management structure for the precincts and the group of religious buildings of temples and shrines

3.2.2 Cultural Landscape Associated with Shintoism of Kasuga-Taisha and Kasugayama Primeval Forest

Among the factors affecting the property summarised in Table 3-1, the matters corresponding to the Cultural Landscape Associated with Shintoism of Kasuga-Taisha and Kasugayama Primeval Forest are shown below. This subsection summarises the details and the current conditions thereof including the detailed measures.

Table 3-6 Factors affecting the property and the details thereof (Cultural Landscape Associated with Shintoism of Kasuga-Taisha and Kasugayama Primeval Forest) +: Positive impacts, -: Negative impacts, ( ): Potential impacts : Items and their (potential) negative impacts for which necessary measures have already been taken.

Page no. of Factors affecting the property (Items corresponding to the group of buildings) Impacts Descriptions corresponding descriptions Improvement of visitors’ convenience by enhancing convenience facilities, information transmission facilities , 1.5 Interpretative and etc. Promotion of understanding of the property. 1. Development (±) visitation facilities Potential risk which could alter the environments p. 36 exhibiting the mode of the religion of the 8th century, depending on the extent of improvement/ development p. 45 2.1 Ground transport (－) infrastructure 2. Transportation Infrastructure 2.4 Effects arising from Impact of exhaust gasses, dust, soot from automobiles use of transportation (－) arising from the tour road running through the p. 29 infrastructure Kasugayama Primeval Forest 4. Environmental － pollution 4.4 Air pollution ( ) 7. Local conditions affecting physical 7.7 Pests (－) Oak wilt in the Kasugayama Primeval Forest p. 43 fabric 8.1 Ritual/ spiritual/ Maintenance of authenticity (i.e. “usage/functions” religious and ＋ “spirituality/sensitivity”) by continuing religious use and associative uses the protection as a sacred site 8. Social/cultural uses Facilitation of the understanding of visitors about the of heritage 8.6 Impact of tourism, property through the use for tourism and recreation visitors, and recreation (±) activities Impact on the property caused by events held therein 9.1 Illegal activities (－) 9. Other human Damage of the components of the cultural landscape activities 9.2 Deliberate destruction (－) p. 44 of heritage Trees downed by storms a nd flood s caused by typhoon, 10.1 Storms (－) p. 44 10. Climate change etc. and severe 10.6 Temperature change (－) weather events 10.7 Other climate change － Changes in vegetation due to climate change p. 43 impacts ( ) 11.2 Earthquake (－) Collapse of the components of cultural landscapes caused by earthquake p. 44 11. Sudden ecological Damage to buildings/structures and the destruction of or geological 11.4 Avalanche / landslide (－) environments of precincts caused by landslide disasters events (e.g. Kasuga -Taisha ) 11.6 Fire (wildfires) (－) Burning of trees caused by forest fire p. 44 Expansion of nagi (nageia nagi ) forest arising from 12.1 Translocated species － p. 43. 12. Invasive/alien progressing vegetation changes Triadica species or 12.2 Invasive/alien － Significant increase in the Chinese tallow tree ( hyper-abundant terrestrial species sebifera ) p. 43 species 12.5 Hyper-abundant － Bias in vegetation caused by selective feeding damage by species shika deer (Cervus nippon ) p. 43 13.1 Low impact Development /accumulation of management technique s for the research/monitoring ＋ preservation of natural environments through plant and animal 13. Management and activities ecological research institutional factors Daily maintenance management undertaken mainly by 13.3 Management ＋ activities Kasuga-Taisha, as well as the protection of the Kasugayama Primeval Forest as a sacred site

(1) Conditions/Methods for Cultural Landscape Preservation → Factors 8.1, 10.6, 10.7, 12.1, 12.2, 12.5, 13.1

Dense forests integrally extend around the range from the shrine pavilions of the Kasuga-Taisha to Mt. Mikasa and Kasuga, which are regarded as a sacred zone. The sacred forests have been deeply connected with the traditional view of nature of the Japanese people since the birth of primitive nature worship, and handed down to date, while forming the cultural landscape associated with Shintoism, indigenous religious beliefs of Japan, integrally with the precincts and the group of religious buildings of the Kasuga-Taisha. The precincts and the group of religious buildings of the Kasuga-Taisha as well as the Kasugayama Primeval Forest are designated as a national treasure, important cultural properties, historic site, and special natural monument under the Act on Protection of Cultural Properties. The Act severely restricts any act to alter the existing state or to exert impact on the preservation thereof. The precincts and the group of religious buildings of the Kasuga-Taisha that serve as the elements to form this cultural landscape are being preserved in good condition, as previously stated in the previous subsection 3.2.1 “Precincts and Group of Religious Buildings of Temples and Shrines”. Since the bans on hunting and tree felling in 841, the greater part of the Kasugayama Primeval Forest has been protected as a sacred site into which no man is allowed to intrude. Even today, except for a walking path developed as a nature trail, there is a total ban on entering the forests, which, accordingly, maintain satisfactory preservation conditions. On the other hand, phenomena affecting the botanical composition and biodiversity of the primeval forest are gradually appearing, such as: (i) the expansion of nagi ( nageia nagi ) forest arising from progressing vegetation changes; (ii) a significant increase in Chinese tallow trees ( Triadica sebifera ), an alien species; and, (iii) bias in vegetation caused by selective feeding damage by shika deer (Cervus Nippon ; which have been protected with great care since ancient times as “the messenger deer of the gods” of the Kasuga-Taisha, and are designated as a natural monument nowadays); i.e. increase in the plant species that the deer do not eat or the decrease/loss of those the deer like. Currently, countermeasures against those threats are being considered, while surveys are being undertaken on the plants and animals in order to develop appropriate management techniques for them.

(2) Reinforcement of Preventive Measures against Disasters, etc. → Factors 9.1, 9.2, 10.1, 11.2, 11.6

As previously stated in the previous subsection 3.2.1 “Precincts and Group of Religious Buildings of Temples and Shrines”, the group of religious buildings of the Kasuga-Taisha as elements forming the cultural landscape are provided with appropriate p reventive measures against disasters . The greatest threat to the Kasugayama Primeval Forest comes from forest fire. As a countermeasure against it, fire hydrants have been installed; and, fire drills are being practiced. Incidentally, the felling of potentially dangerous trees is conducted only along the walking path, as a measure against storm and flood damage caused by typhoon, etc.

Table 3-7 Preventive measures against disasters (cultural landscape) Fire Prevention/Fighting Measures Fire Hydrant Equipment Automatic Fire Fire Automatic Alarm

ihnn retr Lightning Arrester Anti-earthquake Crime Measures Measures Component Parts Prevention against Disaster Drill Fire Hydrant/ FireHydrant/ Fire Monitor FireMonitor (Antiseismic Drencher Drencher Sprinkler Measures Typhoon Reinforcement )

Categorization Based on the on Based Categorization WorldHeritage Patrol/Night watch Pruning of Surveillance Implementation of potentially Disaster drill once C: Kasuga-Taisha 〇〇〇〇 Camera seismic evaluation dangerous a year Infrared Detectors trees utrlLnsae Landscape Cultural Forest fire drill

Convention Convention once a year (in coordination Felling of between the Nara potentially Park D: Kasugayama Patrol only during dangerous Administration 〇 Office, Nara Primeval Forest daytime trees along the walking Prefecture, Nara path City Fire Department, and Wakakusa Branch of Nara City Fire Brigade )

(3) Current state of interpretation/promotion → Factors 1.5, 2.1, 2.4 The precincts and the group of religious buildings of the Kasuga-Taisha are described in the previous subsection 3.2.1 “Precincts and Group of Religious Buildings of Temples and Shrines” (p. 36). Entry into the Kasugayama Primeval Forest is prohibited except for research, management, etc. The accessible walking path is appropriately maintained forming the beauty of the view integrated with the forest.

Layout of Promotion (Convenience) Facilities < Forest > Tour Road (P edestrian only)

TourTour RoadRoad (Accessible (Accessibleby car) by car) Prohibited Area

Toilets Resting Places Parking Lot

Property

Fig. 3-12 Layout of promotion/convenience facilities (D: Kasugayama Primeval Forest)

(4) Preservation and Management Structure → Factor 13.3 The group of religious buildings and precincts of the Kasuga-Taisha are described in the previous subsection 3.2.1 “Precincts and Group of Religious Buildings of Temples and Shrines”. The Kasugayama Primeval Forest is managed by the Nara prefectural government, designated as the management organisation under the Act on Protection of Cultural Properties, and the Nara Park Administration Office (of Nara Prefecture) undertakes practical management. In addition, this administration office works on the environmental preservation of the vast extent of Nara Park as a whole including the Kasugayama Primeval Forest, and endeavors to protect the primeval forest by implementing preventive controls against the destruction of nature due to human intervention, as well as forest fire prevention measures. Meanwhile, in order to conduct any act that changes the current conditions, it is necessary to obtain the permission of the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs in accordance with the procedures of “the changes to current conditions” provided for in the Act on Protection of Cultural Properties. The commissioner for Cultural Affairs shall refer any such matters to the Council for Cultural Affairs established by the national government, and grant permission after receiving a response based on academic and rigorous review at the Subdivision on the Cultural Properties including a large number of the members of the JAPAN ICOMOS National Committee. (Fig. 3-13).

Cultural Properties Related Departments Owner /Site Supervisor

Advice Nara Park Office Council for Agency for Board of Education of Cultural Affairs Cultural Affairs Nara Pref.

Consultation Permission Request Board of Experts Education of Preservation and Nara Pref. Instruction, advice Application Management Plan Board of Maintenance Plan Education of Nara City The both cultural Invitation of properties/landscape Suggestions -related departments Residents attend the maintenance review Suggestions Advice Permission Public Landscape committee, and other comments, etc. Council of Nara Nara City meetings. City Application Consultation

Landscape Related Departments Adjustment

Fig. 3-13 Preservation and management structure for Nara Park including Kasugayama Primeval Forest

3.2.3 Archaeological Sites of Nara Palace Site

Among the factors affecting the property summarised in Table 3-2, the matters corresponding to the archaeological sites of the Nara Palace Site are shown in Table 3-8 below. This subsection summarises the detail and the current conditions thereof including the detailed measures.

Table 3-8 Factors affecting the property and the details thereof (Archaeological Sites of the Nara Palace Site) +: Positive impacts, -: Negative impacts, ( ): Potential impacts : Items and their (potential) negative impacts for which necessary measures have already been taken. Page no. of Factors affecting the property Impacts Descriptions corresponding (Items corresponding to the archaeological sites) descriptions Improvement of visitors convenience and promotion of understanding of the property by enhancing convenience facilities , information transmission facilities, and 1.5 Interpretative and 1. Development (±) exhibition of buried structural remains visitation facilities using various skills/techniques Potential impacts on buried structural remains due to development/improvement p. 50 works 2.1 Ground transport (－) infrastructure 2. Transportation Roads and a railroad crossing the Nara p. 47 infrastructure 2.4 Effects arising from use of Palace Site transportation (－) infrastructure Facilitation of the understanding of visitors about the property through the use 8. Social/cultural 8.6 Impacts of tourism/ visitor/ (±) for tourism and recreation activities uses of heritage recreation Impacts on the property caused by events p. 51 held therein 9.1 Illegal activities (－) 9. Other human Damages to structural remains, etc. p. 49 activities 9.2 Deliberate destruction of (－) heritage 10 . Climate change and － Flooding due to river bank erosion (e.g. severe weather 10.2 Flooding ( ) around the East Palace Garden) events Progress of study on ancient capital 13.1 Low impact research/ through excavation; ＋ 13. Management monitoring activities Development/accumulation of techniques and for the restoration of buildings institutional 13.2 High impact research/ (－) Excessive excavation p. 48 factors monitoring activities Establishment of liaison meetings 13.3 Management activities ＋ between the organisations concerned

(1) Preservation conditions/methods of archaeological sites → Factors 2.1, 2.4 The Nara Palace Site is a precious site that carries down the ancient capital system in the East Asian region including Japan. Since 1922, the site has been strictly preserved as a cultural property designated by the national government. At present, almost the whole area of the palace site is protected as a special historic site, while controlling the “changes to current conditions”, etc. Meanwhile, since the commencement of systematic excavation by the national government in 1955, an excavation survey has been continuously conducted by the Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties. The research to date has found that the structural remains of the Nara Palace Site exist almost symmetrically along the east-west central line in the area, and, accordingly, any excavation survey is, in principle, to be conducted only on a symmetrical part (half part) per excavation. After the completion of an excavation survey, the excavation report that summarises the results thereof is published, and the survey results are utilised in a broad range of spheres.

The structural remains unearthed at the Nara Palace Site are extremely fragile because they are composed of soil and/or wood. Accordingly, they are backfilled to the original position for preservation immediately after the completion of the excavation. In addition, in order to secure the maintenance of all preservation circumstances including unexcavated structural remains and archaeological artefacts, the drainage system has been conserved, and the groundwater level and water quality are periodically checked by provided observation holes. In association with the construction plan of the Keinawa Expressway (Yamato-Kita Road), in September, 2006, the Nara National Highway Office of the MLIT established “Yamato-Kita Road Groundwater Monitoring Study Committee” composed of experts of cultural properties, groundwater, and geology that has been undertaking investigations about groundwater-monitoring policy, countermeasures against abnormal fluctuations in groundwater, and policies for risk mitigation. The committee held meetings six times until December, 2011, and discussed: (i) the investigation/analysis of the current state of the groundwater level; (ii) soil investigation/analysis of the Nara Palace Site; (iii) examination of the preservation mechanism of wooden tablets; (iv) examination of the detail of groundwater monitoring, groundwater-level control criteria, and the actions for groundwater preservation in case any abnormal situation occurs in the groundwater level, during an engineering work; (v) field verification methods for risk mitigation within the Nara Palace Site as well as the setting of monitoring areas during engineering work. The committee will continuously examine the preservation mechanisms of the Mokkan (wooden tablets) based on the results of soil investigations of the Nara Palace Site, and integrally develop the risk mitigation plan through which the effectiveness of the groundwater monitoring system is verified and various risks are assumed beforehand.

line prefectural General Line, Kizu-Heijo

Identification of property

Excavation completion areas (Miyato Street)(Miyato Road Municipal Line, Daigoku

a aNar Major regional road regional Major -Seika Line -Seika

National Route 24

Nara -Ikoma Line, Major regional road

Fig. 3-14 Excavation completion areas within the Nara Palace Site (As of March, 2014. Created based on the illustration provided by the Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties)

(2) Reinforcement of preventive measures against disasters Since the WHL inscription in 1998, disaster/crime prevention patrols have been conducted.

Table 3-9 Preventive measures against disasters (Archaeological site)

Fire Prevention/Fighting Measures

Fire Hydrant Lightning Arrester Anti-earthquake Automatic Fire Fire Automatic Measures Disaster Component Crime Prevention Measures /Fire Monitor /Fire lr Alarm Fire Hyd Fire against prevention Parts Measures (Antiseismic Drencher Drencher Sprinkler Typhoon drills Reinforcement) rant rant

Categorisation Based the on World Disaster/crime prevention patrol once a month Archaeological site Archaeological HeritageConvention Organiser: Liaison Council on Safety/Security of Nara H: Nara Palace Site (composed of 10 organisations including the Palace Site national, prefectural, and city governments, fire stations, police stations, NNRICP, NPOs, etc.) * Commencement in 2009

(3) Current state of interpretation/promotion → Factor 1.5

At the Nara Palace Site, in order to let the visitors know the value of the unseen buried structural remains in a comprehensible manner, a range of plans for archaeological site development, including the reconstruction (full-scale interpretation) of the Former Imperial Audience Hall, Suzaku Gate, and East Palace Garden are proceeding. With regard to the development of the Nara Palace Site, “Methods and Significance of Educational Development at the Nara Palace Site” attached to the written nomination for inscription provides explanation. As the World Heritage Committee requested further explanation even after that, the national government responded by submitting a report entitled “Approach to the Preservation, Conservation, Management, Interpretation, and Promotion of the “Nara Palace Site,” and Its Future Direction”. With regard to the reconstruction (full-scale interpretations) of the former Daigokuden-in (i.e. Former Imperial Audience hall compound) currently being examined, research regarding shape, design, and structure is to proceed; and, the compound-element, the reliability of which is conceivably ensured, is to be reconstructed in stages. For further preservation and promotion of the Nara Palace Site, a Japan-specific cultural property, since 2008, maintenance, interpretation and promotion have been conducted for the site as a national government park.

Layout of Promotion (Convenience) Facilities < H: Nara Palace Site > Area o pen to the public at all times Management Office Exhibition Facility Toilets (including those provisional) Resting Places (including those provisional) Parking Lot Parking Lot /Bus terminal (temporary)

Temporary Walls Transportation Terminal Planned Area

Temporary仮設駐Parking 車場 Property Lot: To be moved outside等 the property range遺産範囲外へ

Fig. 3-15 Layout of promotion/convenience facilities (H: Nara Palace Site)

(4) Preservation and management structure → Factors 13.1, 13.2, 13.3

The preservation and management of the Nara Palace Site are implemented by the “Liaison Council on Preservation and Promotion of Nara Palace Site” composed of the: (i) Agency of Cultural Affairs (“ACA”) that possesses the land and undertakes the preservation and management of cultural properties; (ii) MLIT Asuka Historical National Government Park Office that undertakes park improvement projects which aim at the appropriate preservation/promotion of the Nara Palace Site; (iii) Nara prefectural government as the management organisation; (iv) Nara municipal government that has jurisdiction over the area in the vicinity of the site; and (v) Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (“NNRICP”) that undertakes excavations and studies, in close coordination with each other. In case an owner intends to conduct any act that alters the present state, the owner should, in accordance with the procedures for “the changes to current conditions” provided for in the Act on Protection of Cultural Properties, obtain the permission of the Commissioner of the Agency for Cultural Affairs. Then, the commissioner for Cultural Affairs shall refer such matter to the Council for Cultural Affairs established by the national government, and grant permission after receiving a response based on academic and rigorous review at the Subdivision on the Cultural Properties including a large number of the members of the JAPAN ICOMOS National Committee. (Fig. 3-16). In addition, it is stipulated that the MLIT Nara National Highway Office that is undertaking the development of the Yamato-Kita Road, construction of which is planned to occur within the Historic Environment Harmonisation Area to the east of the buffer zone neighboring the Nara Palace Site, as well as groundwater level monitoring, shall report the state of progress to the Agency of Cultural Affairs as required.

Cultural Properties Related Departments Owner所有者・管理者/Site Supervisor Study Institution

Advice ACA Council for ACA MLIT NNRICP Cultural Affairs Board of Education Coordination

Consultation of Nara Pref. Board of Consent Education of Nara Pref. Deliberation Board of Education of Nara Basic Concepts for Preservation Improvement City Request Basic Concepts Promotion Plan Experts Basic Plan for National Instruction, advice Advice Deliberation Government Park Landscape Nara Municipal Invitation of Council of Suggestions Government (Preservation Management Nara City Residents Consultation Plan) * Unformulated Suggestion s Landscape景観部局 Related Departments Public comments, etc. Liaison Council on Preservation and Promotion of Nara Palace Site

Fig. 3-16 Preservation and management structure of the archaeological sites of the Nara Palace Site

3.3 Current Conditions of Surrounding Environments

To comprehend the current state of surrounding environments, in the same manner as for the property, in line with the “factors affecting the property” shown on the format of periodic report to the Section II (Periodic Reporting Section II.3) of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, we have summarised the presence/absence of the factors affecting the surrounding environments, according to the clusters of surrounding environments (each vicinity of Kasugayama, Gangô-ji, Nishino-kyô, and the Nara Palace Site) shown in Fig. 3-10, page 53.

Nara Palace Site Vicinity Kasugayama Vicinity

Nishinoky ô Vicinity

Tôdai -ji Gangô -ji Property Kôfuku -ji Yakushi -ji Buffer Zones Kasuga -Taisha Tôshôdai -ji Historic Environment Kasugayama Nara Palace Site Harmonization Area Primeval Forest Fig. 3-17 Clusters of surrounding environments

Among the factors affecting the property summarised in Table 3-2, the matters corresponding to the surrounding environments are shown below. This subsection summarises the details and current conditions thereof including the detailed measures.

Table 3-9 Factors affecting the property and the details thereof (Surrounding Environments) +: Positive impacts, -: Negative impacts, ( ): Potential impacts : Items and their (potential) negative impacts for which necessary measures have already been taken. Factors affecting the property No. of p age (Items corresponding to surrounding Impacts Descriptions corresponding to descriptions environments 1.1 Housing development (－) 1.2 Commercial (－) development Expansion of neighboring residential areas, etc. 1.4 Accommodation (－) facilities, etc. 1 Development Improvement of visitors convenience and promotion of understanding of the property by enhancing

convenience facilities, information transmission 1.5 Interpretative and (±) facilities, etc. visitation facilities Potential negative impacts on the property,

depending on the scale and detail of development. The construction plan of the Ch ūō Shinkansen 2.1 Ground transport (－) maglev line (it is planned to go through the vicinity infrastructure of Nara City.) Kasugayama vicinity: Environmental deterioration 2 Transportation in the area, used as a park, caused by transportation Infrastructure infrastructure (－) 2.4 Effects arising from Nara Palace Site vicinity: Impacts on the buried use of transportation structural remains and landscape caused by the infrastructure construction of the Keinawa Expressway Negative impacts may be exerted on the property, 3. Utilities or Service 3.2 Renewable energy (－) depending on the scale and contents of renewable Infrastructure facilities energy facilities such as solar panel s, etc. Impacts on environments caused by air- pollution 4 Pollution 4.4 Air pollution (－) p. 29 factors (excluding the vicinity of Nara Palace Site) 11 Sudden ecological Gangô-ji vicinity: Spread of fire from surrounding or geological 11.6 Fire (wildfires) (－) city area p. 35 events

Nara City is an extremely unique ancient city that has accomplished development founded on historical and cultural accumulation that began with the construction of the Nara Capital, and which boasts a rich and beautiful natural environment together with a large number of magnificent cultural properties. In order to preserve the city environment in the area forming a good natural landscape, in 1937, the designation of scenic zones was introduced in accordance with the City Planning Act. Since then, in 1965, scenic zones were expanded. In addition, in 1970, the height of buildings, building coverage ratio, and setback distance from the external wall were regulated in separate steps. In the meantime, in association with rapid urbanisation after WW2, Nara City also underwent rolling waves of residential land development. In opposition to this, around 1965, a public opinion calling for the protection of the landscapes of ancient cities including Nara, Kyoto, and Kamakura was mounted. With these increases of public awareness as a background, in 1966, the “Act on Special Measures concerning Preservation of Traditional Scenic Beauty in Ancient Capitals” was

promulgated, while designating the Preservation Areas of Historical Natural Features. Furthermore, in 1967, from among the preservation areas of historical natural features, especially important areas for the preservation of historical natural features were designated as the “Special Preservation Area for Historical Natural Features”; since then, in 1982, the area was expanded on a large-scale. Meanwhile, prior to the designation of building height control districts, important for the conservation of the landscapes of urban areas, the “Research Study on Landscape Improvement of Nara City” carried out in 1971 proposed that cityscape control should be established so that the lines of sight from the Nara Palace Site and the shore of Oike-pond located to the west of Yakushi-ji towards the Great Buddha Hall of Tôdai-ji and the five-storeyed pagoda of Kôfuku-ji can be secured as a criterion. In response to this proposal, in 1980, for the purpose of the maintenance of environments and the preservation of landscapes of the urban areas, Building Height Control Districts were designated, followed by restrictions on building height established in detail in 1987. Owing to these measures, Nara’s representative landscapes, including the sceneries of Mt. Wakakusa, the Great Buddha Hall of Tôdai-ji, and the five-storeyed pagoda of Kôfuku-ji seen from the Imperial Audience Hall Site in the Nara Palace Site have been preserved. After entering the 1980s, however, in the urban area neighboring Gangô-ji and other areas, traditional wooden buildings were increasingly rebuilt to steel-framed or steel-framed reinforced concrete constructed buildings, causing confusion in the historic cityscape. In order to address such changes, to preserve the precious landscapes, and to create attractive landscapes, the Nara municipal government enacted the “Cityscape Ordinance of Nara City” in 1990, based on which the cityscape formation areas were designated in 1994. Furthermore, in association with the enactment of the ordinance, in 1992, the “Basic Plan for Cityscape Formation of Nara City” was formulated. Even after the WHL inscription of the property in 1998, in association with the delegation of authority from the Nara prefectural government in 2002, the “Nara City Outdoor Advertisement Ordinance” was formulated to impose necessary restrictions on outdoor advertising matters for the maintenance and formation of good landscapes/scenic beauty. This ordinance provides strict limitations on outdoor advertisements by designating the identification areas of each property, buffer zone, and historic environment control areas as a prohibited area under the ordinance above. In 2010, in response to the enforcement of the 2004 Landscape Act, the “Nara City Landscape Plan” was formulated as t guidelines for the combination of various related measures above implemented in Nara City, and for proceeding with more integrated landscaping, while fully revising the “Cityscape Ordinance of Nara City” to the “Mahoroba Landscape Development Ordinance”, under which important areas for landscape formation were designated.

Through the above measures, the vicinity of each component part is regulated in a number of ways, depending on individual local characteristics (Refer to pages 61-64, Table 3-11, and the Appendix). The buffer zones and the historic environment harmonisation areas outlined below may provide conceptual explanations about such regulations.

(i) Buffer Zones The vicinities of each property have been comprehensively conserved in the past by a range of acts and ordinances regulating the design, shape, colour, height, etc. of buildings and structures. Among these vicinities, certain areas necessary for the protection of each component part are ranked as buffer zones. The historical natural features, scenic beauty, perspectives, and cityscape ensure the value of each component part. (ii) Historic Environment Harmonisation Area Among the control areas under the acts and ordinances that aim to conserve scenic beauty and perspectives, and to maintain the environments of urban areas, the areas to comprehensively conserve the entire heritages are ranked as historic environment harmonisation areas. These areas aim at harmonisation between the historic scenic beauty and perspectives and urban development, etc. of Nara, the ancient capital.

This section provides the summary of the relevant acts and regulations as well as the outlines of each system about

buffer zones, and the four clusters of surrounding environments thereof (i.e. Kasugayama vicinity, Gangô-ji vicinity, Nishino-kyô vicinity, and Nara Palace Site vicinity) one by one.

3.3.1 Vicinity of Kasugayama

The vicinity of Kasugayama is designated as an Area for Preservation of Historical Natural Features, and a Special Zone for Preservation of Historical Natural Features under the Ancient Capitals Preservation Act, and as a Scenic Zone under the Nara City Scenic Zone Ordinance based on the City Planning Act. In addition, a range including Tôdai-ji, Kôfuku-ji, and the Kasugayama Primeval Forest is designated as Nara Park, a Place of Scenic Beauty, under the Act on Protection of Cultural Properties.

1) Kasugayama area: Area for Preservation of Historical Natural Features / Special Zone for Preservation of Historical Natural Features under the Ancient Capitals Preservation Act The fundamental principles of the controls on the acts affecting the property in the Kasugayama area stipulated in the “Nara City Historical Natural Features Preservation Plan” are stated below.

The preservation of historical natural features in this area shall aim to preserve the natural environments of the Nara Park, integrated with the historic buildings of the Kasuga-Taisha, Kôfuku-ji, Tôdai-ji, and other temples and shrines, while focusing on the regulations on changes in landform including the construction of buildings and other structures on top of or on a ridgeline of the hills such as Mt. Kasuga, Mt. Mikasa, Mt. Wakakusa, etc. that form a landscape background, as well as on tree or bamboo felling. Furthermore, the preservation shall, with regard to the primeval forest, integrated with the historical properties such as stone Buddhist images standing along the walking path of the Kasuga-Okuyama (Kasugayama primeval forest), mainly aim to preserve the beauty of forest.

2) Kasugayama scenic zone: Scenic zones under Nara City Scenic Zone Ordinance (City Planning Act) – The policy for the preservation of the Mt. Kasuga scenic zones stipulated in the “Policy for Scenic Beauty Preservation of Nara City” is as follows:

The policy shall aim to maintain and preserve the important landscapes of Nara including the views towards the buildings of national treasures and important cultural properties such as Tôdai-ji, Kôfuku-ji, and the Kasuga-Taisha as well as the neighboring green tract of fields and mountain ranges, while envisaging the preservation of beautiful natural landscape of “Ao-gaki” (lit. a chain of blue mountains like a fence) formed with the “Yamato-Aogaki” mountains forming the eastern edge of the Nara Basin and the Kasuga Fault Scarp. Furthermore, the policy shall, in order to preserve the landscapes composing the representative scenery of entire Nara, i.e. city areas and rural areas including rice fields and orchards, gently connected to low mountain ranges, pay attention to the preservation of green tracts of land and the design and shape of buildings.

3) Nara Park, Place of Scenic Beauty: Place of Scenic Beauty under the Act on Protection of Cultural Properties The basic policy of the preservation management/promotion plan provided for in the “Preservation Management and Promotion Plan for Nara Park, Place of Scenic Beauty” is summarised below.

1．The Nara Park, a Place of Scenic Beauty, composes the landscape with scenic beauty, the essential value of the Place of Scenic Beauty, with the landscape features in which natural elements, historic and cultural elements, and park elements are integrated. Accordingly, appropriate preservation management shall be undertaken not only for each individual element but also for the interaction of those elements that produce integrated value. 2．In the light of the formation process of the Nara Park, the Places of Scenic Beauty from the Meiji period to the

present, after dividing the precincts, gardens, mountains, forests, etc. that form this Place of Scenic Beauty into areas, the essential value of each area shall be leveraged, while proceeding with appropriate preservation management corresponding to a wide variety of spatial structure. 3．The Nara Park has a close relationship not only with the designated area of the Place of Scenic Beauty but also with the landscape of the surrounding areas. The landscapes of such areas are also considered to be the components of the Nara Park, the Places of Scenic Beauty. Therefore, appropriate landscape formation shall be integrally progressed with the surrounding areas. 4. For the Nara Park, a Place of Scenic Beauty, having the property of the World Heritage “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara”, the preservation management and promotion thereof shall be appropriately harmonised with each other so that many Japanese nationals can enjoy its broad range of values, and that it can receive various types of visitors as a park. 5．The preservation management and promotion of the Place of Scenic Beauty shall be proceeded with by paying due consideration to the history of the Nara Park that has been succeeded ceaselessly through the lives and livelihoods of the temples/shrines concerned local residents, and by coordinating with local activities related to the Nara Park in cooperation with each other. 6．In order to push forward the preservation management and promotion of the Nara Park, a Place of Scenic Beauty, it shall be proceeded with to frame a structure among the relevant departments and other organisations.

3.3.2 Vicinity of Gangô-ji

The vicinity of Gangô-ji in which the vestiges of traditional townscapes of the time period from the Edo period to the pre-WW2 years remain, is designated as an “Urban Landscape Formation Area” and “Landscape Formation Important Area” by the Mahoroba Landscape Formation Ordinance under the Landscape Act.

1) Gangô-ji Area: Naramachi Town Historical Natural Features Formation Important Area - Landscape Formation Important Area under the Mahoroba Landscape Formation Ordinance (based on Landscape Act) The policy for the landscape formation of the Naramachi town, Historical Landscapes Formation Important Area, stipulated in the “Nara City Landscape Plan” is summarised below.

Naramachi town is the town that transmits the vestiges of the traditional townscapes of the time period from the Edo period to the pre-WW2 years to the present day, while endowing peace, comfort, and spiritual happiness to residents and even to visitors as the “town to settle down”. We shall promote the landscape formation which expresses scenic beauty with a rich history by carefully conserving: (i) the topography and town distribution characterizing the Naramachi’s townscape; (ii) buildings built by traditional construction method including temples, shrines and the machiya traditional townhouses; and, (iii) historic properties such as the images of Khitigarbha-bodhisattva, and by handing down the traditional activities including traditional industries/events and new events as well as the cultural properties such as narrative literatures and oral traditions that have been succeeded in each district to the following generations. We shall strive to form the landscapes suitable as a tourism hub in the City of International Culture and Tourism by promoting the landscape formation that expresses: (i) historical natural features in which historic townscape of Naramachi town and the surrounding mountains including Mt. Kasuga are integrated with each other; and, (ii) integral landscape together with the neighboring historic properties by maintaining a view towards the five storeyed pagoda of Kôfuku-ji. We shall promote the improvement of living environment and landscape by making good use of the advantages of this human-touch community worth settling down.

3.3.3 Vicinity of Nishino-kyô

The vicinity of Nishino-kyô is designated as: (i) an Area for Preservation of Historical Natural Features and the Special Zone for Preservation of Historical Natural Features under the Ancient Capitals Preservation Act; (ii) a scenic zone under the Nara City Scenic Zone Ordinance based on the City Planning Act; and, (iii) a Landscape Formation Important Area under the Mahoroba Landscape Formation Ordinance based on the Landscape Act.

1) Nishino-kyô Area: Area for Preservation of Historical Natural Features /Special Zone for Preservation of Historical Natural Features under the Ancient Capitals Preservation Act

The fundamental principles of the controls on the acts affecting the property in the Nishino-kyô area stipulated in the “Nara City Historical Natural Features Preservation Plan” are summarised below.

The principles for the preservation of the historical natural features in this area shall mainly aim to preserve the natural environments integrated with Yakushi-ji and Tôshôdai-ji, and selectively control the buildings and structures against the field of views between the two temples and that along the prefectural road Nara-Yamato Koriyama –Ikaruga line.

2) Nishino-kyô Scenic Zone: Scenic Zone under the City Planning Act The policy for the preservation of the Nishino-kyô scenic zone stipulated in the “Nara City Scenic Zone Conservation Policy” is summarised below.

The policy shall be based on the fact that this zone features in both near and distant views: (i) a natural landscape located at the eastern edge of the Nishino-kyô hill, composed of the western hilly parts and the lowlands along the Akishino River; and, (ii) the historic site, temples, and shrines including the mausoleum of Emperor Suinin existing at the foot of the hill. Especially, the policy shall, in principle, aim to conserve the historical landscape including Tôshôdai-ji, Yakushi-ji and their forests, as well as the townscape of temple settlements. In addition, it shall aim to conserve: (i) the view from the Nishino-kyô hill; (ii) green tracts of the hill and temples/shrines overlooked from the basin under the hill; (iii) rows of houses of neighboring settlements around temples and shrines; and, (iv) the view harmonised with rural landscape incorporated with the pagoda of Yakushi-ji.

3) Nishino-kyô Historical Landscape Formation Important Area: under the Mahoroba Landscape Formation Ordinance based on the Landscape Act The landscape formation policy for the Nishino-kyô Historical Landscapes Formation Important Area stipulated in the “Nara City Landscape Plan” is summarised below.

This area is located to the east of the world heritage, Yakushi-ji and Tôshôdai-ji, and is required with the landscape formation for which sufficient consideration about the relationship with the world heritages should be paid as the harmonization zone thereof. Especially, it is necessary for ensuring the landscape perspective from the Oike-pond towards the eastern range of mountains within the city area (including the world heritage and Mt. Kasuga) to

actively carry out: (i) the conservation of large tract of farmland within the area; (ii) landscape guidance targeting buildings and structures; and, (iii) the elimination of landscape-impedance factors. This plan shall aim to promote the “Nishino-kyô, Cultural and Tourism Area – Development of the Community Filled with Water, Green, and Row of Ancient Roofs” under the following policies by dividing the area into the northern and southern areas. In the northern area, it shall be promoted to form the vista towards the range of mountains, serial street landscapes, and waterfront space, to actively utilise the dotted farmlands as an open space, and to form the living environment with rich water and green. In the southern area, it shall be promoted to conserve large tracts of farmlands through the scheme for improvement of agricultural infrastructure and other measures, to ensure the landscape perspective towards the range of mountains including Mt. Kasuga, and to improve the space which expresses a historical natural feature.

3.3.4 Vicinity of Nara Palace Site

The Vicinity of the Nara Palace Site is designated as: (i) an Area for Preservation of Historical Natural Features and a Special Zone for Preservation of Historical Natural Features under the Ancient Capitals Preservation Act; and, (ii) a scenic zone under the Nara City Scenic Zone Ordinance based on the City Planning Act.

1) Nara Palace Site Area: Area for Preservation of Historical Natural Features, Special Zone for Preservation of Historical Natural Features - Ancient Capitals Preservation Act The fundamental principles of the controls on the acts affecting the property in the Nara Palace Site area stipulated in the “Nara City Historical Natural Features Preservation Plan” are summarised below.

The principles for the preservation of the historical natural features in this area shall mainly aim to preserve the natural environments integrated with the Nara Palace Site and the large-scale tumuli, to control the buildings and structures around the Nara Palace Site and the northern hill thereof, to control the changes in land characters as well as tree or bamboo felling, and to preserve waterfront landscapes including the Mizukami-ike pond.

2) Narayama Scenic Zone: A scenic zone under the City Planning Act The policy for the preservation of the Narayama scenic zone stipulated in the “Nara City Scenic Zone Conservation Policy” is summarised below.

The policy shall take into consideration the preservation of the Nara Palace Site, the great landmark within the area, and the skyline of the Saki hill located behind the site, and, in principle, aim to harmonise the tumuli dotted around the hillside with a residential area composed of the houses standing in a row in front of the woodland of the tumuli. It shall also aim to harmonise the historic sites including the tumuli and the Nara Palace Site, designated as the Special Zone for Preservation of Historical Natural Features, with the landscape of neighboring residential areas, and to take into consideration the formation of good living environments.

3.3.5 Management Structure

As the management structure for surrounding environments, the local governments have already established a coordination/cooperation structure between relevant departments illustrated below, and it has functioned to specification and expectation since the WHL inscription.

- The Nara prefectural government has established the Land Use Coordination Council (Chairperson: Chief of the Regional Development Department, Staff members: Regional Measures Division); meanwhile, with regard to large-scale developments, adjustment is made between the relevant departments (30 divisions/sections). On the other hand, the Nara municipal government has established the Nara City Urban Issues Coordination Council and the Pre-development Consultation Council to undertake the similar functions. - For granting permissions/licenses under the land use control acts and regulations including the City Planning Act, Ancient Capitals Preservation Act, Scenic Zones Ordinance, etc., the system to consult with the Board of Education of Nara Prefecture (Cultural Properties Preservation Division) and the Board of Education of Nara City (Cultural Properties Division) serves as “checking function”. - Due to the system that obliges those undertaking the large-scale development projects exceeding one hectare to carry out, in advance, a survey on the existence of archaeological sites, the cultural properties-related departments can obtain the information about large-scale development projects (both public and private works) in a relatively early stage. - With regard to public works, both the Board of Education of Nara Prefecture (Cultural Properties Preservation Division) and the Board of Education of Nara City (Cultural Properties Division) are to implement a hearing investigation from the division in charge of the development within the previous year of the year in which the project is to be undertaken.

Cultural Properties City Planning Related Department s Related Departments

(ACA ) （MLIT ） City Planning Council

Board of Adjust ment Education of Nara Pref. Nara Pref. Board of Residents Education of Public comments, etc. Nara City Adjust ment Landscape Related Nara City Departments Deliberation

Nara Pref.

Nara City Adjustment

Fig. 3-18 Management structure for surrounding environments – Decision of city planning (Nara Prefecture/City), Project permission/approval (national government/prefectural government)

Cultural Properties Related Department s Project Undertakers

(ACA )

Board of Adjust調整ment 奈良県教委Education of (National government Nara Pref. Experts or) prefectural/ Board of municipal governments 奈良市教委 Education of Nara City Residents Adjust調整ment Development guidance/ Public comments, etc. Landscape related Deliberation Departments

Landscape Nara Pref. Council of Nara City Nara City

Adjustment

Fig. 3-19 Management structure for surrounding environments – Implementation of public works (Areas except for those designated such as historic sites, etc.)

Cultural Properties Project Undertakers Related Department s

Board of 奈良県教委Education of 調整Adjust ment Nara Pref. Private Undertakers 奈良市教委Board of Education of Nara City Adjust ment Deliberation

Development guidance/ Permission Landscape related Departments

Landscape Nara Pref. Council of Nara City Nara City Pre-development Consultation Council

Fig. 3-20 Management structure for surrounding environments - Development projects of private sector (Areas except for those designated such as historic sites, etc.)

Table 3-4 Outline of each system

Systems/Governing Permission/ Penal Principles Restrictions on Acts of Construction, Etc. Acts and Regulations Notification Code - Acts to c hanges to the current conditions is prohibited to freeze/preserve Special Zone for historical natural Preservation of features. Historical Natural - Only the minimum The buildings/structures shall not: (i) exceed 5 meters in height, 30 square meters of the total floor area (e.g. agricultural Penal extent of acts may be Permission servitude Features / Ancient permitted. warehouse, etc.); and, (ii) significantly disharmonise with historical natural features in shape and design. or fine Capitals Preservation - It is possible to Act demand compensation for loss or purchase, depending on conditions. Area for Preservation of Historical Natural Restrictions on acts to Notification Advice/recommendation, when needed for the preservation of historical natural features Fine Features / Ditto change current conditions 1. Construction, extension, renovation or relocation of buildings and other structures - Location, shape, and design shall not significantly disharmonise with surrounding scenery.* - In the case where the premises of a building is developed land, trees and plants necessary for the maintenance of scenic beauty shall be Fine raised. 6 - A building shall have the h eight , building coverage ratio , setback distance , and g reen coverage ratio that meet the criteria below. 3 Building Setback distance (m) Green Category Height coverage coverage Height of slope of cut and (m) Adjoining fill embankment (m) ratio (%) Road side land side ratio (%) Categ ory I 8 20 3 1.5 40 2 Category II 10 30 2 1 30 3 Category III 10 40 2 1 20 4 Category VI 12 40 2 1 20 4 Scenic Zone / Nara Control on acts such as building construction, Category V 15 40 2 1 20 4 City Scenic Zone 2. Construction, extension, renovation or relocation of structures (except for buildings ) development of building Permission Ordinance (City - Location , shape , and design shall not significantly disharmonise with surrounding scenery. * lots, tree/bamboo felling, 3. Changes of colours of buildings and other structures Planning Act) etc. - The colours shall not disharmonise with surrounding scenery . 4. Changes of land character istic s including the development of building lots , reclamation of land , reclamation of public waters - Trees and plants shall be raised so as not to disharmonise with surrounding scenery , while not preventing the growth of surrounding trees. 5. Felling of tree s or bamboo - It shall be less probable to spoil surrounding scenery, and fall under any of the following items: - Felling to the minimum necessary for the construction of buildings/structures, development of building lots, etc. - Selective cutting of forest - Clear -cutting (not exceeding one hectare ) of the forest ensured to regrow after the felling 6. Gathering of sand, gravel and cobble stone - The gathering method shall not be strip gathering, while being unlikely to affect the maintenance of the scenic beauty of surrounding areas . 7. Outdoor storage of soil /stone , wastes and recycling resources - It shall be unlikely to affect the maintenance of the scenic beauty of the stored land and its surrounding areas. Items Repair criteria Landscape formation criteria Landscaping criteria (Subsidised work) (Subsidised work) Fine Urban Landscape The landscape formation The wall surface line s of the existing townscape shall be aligned. In the case where the Notification Location Location line is unavoidably set back, the continuity of the townscape should be maintained by Formation Area / criteria have been providing a traditional fence, etc.

Systems/Governing Permission/ Penal Principles Restrictions on Acts of Construction, Etc. Acts and Regulations Notification Code

Mahoroba Landscape established for Buildingstructures Formation Ordinance control/guidance on buildings, etc. Repair of Traditional shape of premises that form the current townscape shall, in principle, be buildings or landscaping Premises based on the criteria is maintained. subsidised. Structure In principle, the conventional wooden frame construction method shall be used. In cases Structure in which any other method is used unavoidably, the scale and shape should harmonise with the surrounding landscape . To traditional The height of buildings shall not exceed 8 meters inside a 10 meters deep range from the Height buildings, in front road boundary, and 15 meters outside the 10 meters deep range. principle, the A building to adjoin the front road A building to adjoin the front road shall by and shall by and large be built at full width large be built at full width of the frontage, and maintenance work Width of the frontage. that no vacant space adjoining the front road for the current shall be provided. conditions or

Design of Roof shall, in principle, be covered Roof shall be a gabled roof covered with restoration repair appearance with Japanese roof tiles formal tiles (pantiles/formal tiles), having an work shall apply Roof/eaves (pantiles/formal tiles), meanwhile, the entrance in the ridge direction. Roof pitch shall mainly for the roof pitch shall be 4.5/10 as a be 4.5/10 as a standard. The tori-bisashi eaves maintenance of standard . shall be provided on the first floor portion. appearance The external walls shall be covered The external walls shall be covered with a coat thereof. Ext. walls with a coat of plaster, with a wainscot of plaster, with a wainscot. as a criterion. 6 4 Fittings shall be wooden or aluminium Fittings shall be wooden or aluminium sash Entrance, (woodgrain, black, brown, etc.). The entrance windows, sash (woodgrain, black, brown, etc.). etc. fitting shall use a lattice door. Other openings shall have a wooden lattice at the front thereof. colour White, black, brown, light brown and grey shall be used as a criterion. Wall / Mud wall , Makabe (the wall with exposed timber Traditional ones such as mud wall , Makabe fence pillars) or hedge shall be used, while taking into (wall with exposed timber pillars) or those consideration the continuity of the townscape . designed of a similar style . Gate The ga te shall have unity with walls/fence s and Traditional ones such as M unamon gate and other building structures, while taking into Yakuimon or those designed of a similar style. consideration the harmony with surrounding landscape and the continuity of townscape. A parking lot adjoining a road shall, in Parking lot A parking lot adjoining a road shall, in principle, principle, not be provided. In the case where it not be provided. In the case where it is unavoidably is unavoidably provided, it shall have (for commercial provided, it shall have walls/fence, gate, hedge, etc. walls/fence, gate, hedge, etc. to harmonise with use) to harmonise with the neighbouring landscape. the neighbouring landscape. Incidentally, such walls/fence and gate shall meet other criteria. No advertising matters except for those for oneself Outdoor shall be installed. Even those for oneself shall advertising matters harmonise with surrounding landscape in its location, size, design, etc. Changes of land In the case where a project undertaker changes land characters characteristics, the conditions after the change shall not significantly spoil surrounding landscape.

Systems/Governing Permission/ Penal Principles Restrictions on Acts of Construction, Etc. Acts and Regulations Notification Code Naramachi Town, Historical Landscape Formation Important Area Items Design guidelines The wall surface lines of the existing townscape shall be aligned. In the case where the line is unavoidably set Layout back, the continuity of the townscape should be maintained by providing a traditional fence , etc. Premises Traditional shape of premises that form the current townscape shall, in principle, be maintained. In principle, the conventional wooden frame construction method shall be used. In the case where any other Structure method is used unavoidably, the scale and shape should harmonise with surrounding landscape.

Scale The height of buildings shall not exceed 8 meters inside a 10 meters deep range from the front road boundary, Height and 15 meters outside the 10 meters deep range. Width A building to adjoin the front road shall by and large be built at full width of the frontage. Buildings/ structures

Shape/design Roof shall, in principle, be covered with Japanese roof tiles (pantiles/formal tiles), meanwhile, the roof pitch Roof/eaves shall be 4.5/10 as a standard. External walls The external walls shall be covered with a coat of plaster, having a wainscot as a criterion. The design guidelines have Entrance/ Fittings shall be wooden or aluminium sash (woodgrain, black, brown, etc.). been established for the windows, etc. Landscape Formation regulations and guidance Colours White, black, brown, light brown and grey shall be used as a criterion. Important Area / on buildings/structures in Others White, black, brown, light brown and grey shall be used as a criterion. Mahoroba Landscape Notification the area in which Formation Ordinance Mud wall s, Makabe (the wall with exposed timber pillars) or hedge shall be used, while taking into landscape formation Walls/fences (Landscape Act ） consideration the continuity of townscape. should integrally be The gate shall have unity with walls/fence and other building structures, while taking into consideration the 6 Gate 5 addressed. harmony with surrounding landscape and the continuity of townscape. A parking lot adjoining a road shall, in principle, not be provided. In the case where it is unavoidably provided, Parking lot it shall have walls/fence, gate, hedge, etc. to harmonise with the neighbouring landscape, while taking into consideration the harmony with s urrounding landscape and the continuity of townscape. advertisingmatters Outdoor No advertising matters except for those for private use shall be installed. Even those for private use shall Common harmonise with surrounding landscape in its l ocation , size, design, etc. Outdoor advertisements Rooftop-surface advertisements shall not be installed. installed on buildings, etc. Stand-alone outdoor An advertiser should try to avoid installing advertisements around a crossing. advertisements Changes of land In the case where a project undertaker changes land character istic s, the conditions after the change shall not character istic s significantly spoil surrounding landscape. Vending machine The landscape-design type shall be used; otherwise, it shall be enclosed with a wooden lattice.

oiiain Notification Nishino-kyô Historical Landscapes formation important Area The design guidelines Items Design Guidelines have been established Landscape Formation for the regulations and Common Careful attention shall be paid to the landscape perspective towards Mt. Kasuga and Mt. Ikoma and the Important Area / guidance on surrounding streetscape, as important factors for landscape. ctures Buildings Mahoroba Landscape buildings/structures in Layout A comfortable and affluent space shall be secured by providing vacant lands, on which planting is possible, as Formation Ordinance the area in which much as possible. ） (Landscape Act landscape formation Building/structure shall have a scale and height that harmonise with the surrounding building s and natural should integrally be Scale environments . / addressed. stru Shape and design Shape and design shall take into consideration harmonisation with good surrounding landscape, and be well-balanced as a whole building.

Systems/Governing Permission/ Penal Principles Restrictions on Acts of Construction, Etc. Acts and Regulations Notification Code Shape / design (Colours/ Materials ) The colour of the roof shall be black, dark grey, dark brown or dark green. Greening A p arking lot and bicycle -parking lot shall be provided at an appropriate location , and open space thereof shall have trees and plants as possible. Consideration should be given to make use of the existing state of geographical features as possible, to Act of development minimise changes in geographical features, and, to avoid producing long and massive retaining walls or slopes. Changes of land In cases in which there are historic structural remains or good trees, etc., careful attention shall be paid to characteristics preservation and promotion thereof. Pile of materials It shall be considered that such piles have a location and size hard to see from a public space such as roads.

atr matters advertising Outdoor Common No advertisements except for those for private use shall be installed. Outdoor advertisements installed on No rooftop-surface advertisements shall be installed. buildings, etc. Stand -alone outdoor advertis ements An advertiser should try to avoid installing them around a crossing. Vending machine The landscape-design type shall be used. Class I Special Zones No construction shall be permitted, except for the renovation and reconstruction of existing buildings. Penal Quasi-National Park Protection of good natural /Natural Parks Act landscapes Permission Class II Special Zones Height limit not exceeding 13 meters. Building area not exceeding 2,000 square meters. Building coverage servitude 6 ratio is 10%, 15%, or 20%, depending on each lot area. There are more restrictions under public acts. or fine 6 Class III Special Zones Controls necessary for the conservation/formation of good natural environment, Penal Forest reserve/Forest Act and the Permission Tree felling, gathering of soil, gravels, or tree roots, and changes of land characteristics including reclamation servitude maintenance/promotion of or fine functions as the public interests owned by forests. Control on development/construction Penal Urbanisation control acts for the conservation of Permission Only the specific structures/buildings used for agricultural/forestry industries and fisheries, or the buildings used as the residence of the people servitude area/ City Planning Act natural environments by who operate such works are permissible. or fine restraining urbanisation The maximum limit of Confirmation 15 meter- height control

building height has been (It is possible Types 15 meter- 15 meter- district (Relaxed pitched 20 meter- 25 meter- 31 meter- Building height control established for the to exceed 10 meter- height slant line height roof type), Eaves height: height Penal district/ City Planning height height 40 meter- height servitude Act conservation of limits, if control district height control control Not exceeding 10 control control control control district or fine townscape/landscape, and permission is district district meters, Max. limit: 18 district district district for securing sunlight. obtained) meters Confirmation Category I Exclusive (It is possible Building coverage ratio (%) Floor area ratio (%) Height (m) Setback distance (m) Protection of good housing Penal Low Building environment associated to exceed servitude Residential Zone/City limits, if Planning Act with low buildings permission is 30 - 60 50 - 100 10 1.0 - 1.5 or fine obtained)

3.4 Focus of Attention and Policy for Plan Formulation Precincts of Buddhist Temples and Shinto shrines/Group of Religious Buildings

Assessment of Current Preservation Management Focus of Attention/Policy for Formulation of the Plan

[Protection of Outstanding Universal Value] [Focus of Attention] - The Act on Protection of Cultural Properties firmly Definition of preservation management method for the group protects Outstanding Universal Value by heavily of buildings restricting changes to current conditions and by carrying [Policy] out appropriate preservation management. This plan shall, based on the continuance of the current - Despite not being explicitly provided, preservation repair initiatives, explicitly state the approach to preservation, repair, work for each building faithfully uses traditional methodology, etc. techniques under the supervision of experts. - According to the above, the authenticity of “shape/design”, “materials/material quality”, “traditions/skills”, and “location” is assured. [Transmission of Outstanding Universal Value] [Focus of Attention] - For the precincts of each temple, improvement works are Establishment of the basic policy on stance towards the undertaken, while paying careful attention to the improvement of precincts of temples authenticity of “use/functions” and Each component part undertakes improvement works towards “spirituality/sensitivity” as religious facilities. individual purposes, and the basic policy as the world heritage - The review process in accordance with the Act on that provides a picture of religion in the 8th century has not yet Protection of Cultural Properties is applied to the been shared among them. environmental improvement of the precincts of temples [Policy] including those not the components of Outstanding The basic policy shall be established on the stance of Universal Value. Accordingly, the adoption of modern improvement towards the precincts of temples and shrines. elements unharmonised with the surrounding area * The policy shall coordinate with the existing improvement become subject to administrative plans, and serve as the guidelines when formulating a new guidance/recommendation. improvement plan. [Preservation Management Structure] [Focus of Attention] - The owners or site supervisors of each temple and shrine Definition of the preservation management structure for the undertake preservation, management and maintenance in group of buildings and the precincts of temples and shrines close coordination with the Agency of Cultural Affairs Although the current preservation management structure is and experts. appropriate, it is further necessary to build the perspective as the world heritage into the review process especially for the improvement of the precincts. [Policy] The existing structure shall continue as the foundation, and be defined so that it can obtain the understanding of the relevant foreign organisations centering around the WHC. In addition, the comprehensive preservation management structure for the whole property shall be enhanced.

Cultural Landscape Associated with Shintoism of Kasuga-Taisha and Kasugayama Primeval Forest

Assessment of Current Preservation Management Focus of Attention/Policy for Formulation of the Plan

[Preservation Management Structure] [Focus of Attention] - The owners or site supervisors of each component part Definition of preservation management method for cultural undertake preservation, management and maintenance in landscape close coordination with the Agency of Cultural Affairs and [Policy] experts. The existing structure shall continue as the foundation, and be defined so that it can obtain the understanding of the foreign organisations concerned centering around the WHC. In addition, the comprehensive preservation management structure for the whole property shall be enhanced.

Archaeological Sites of Nara Palace Site

Assessment of Current Preservation Management Focus of Attention/Policy for Formulation of the Plan

[Protection of Outstanding Universal Value] [Focus of Attention] - The Act on Protection of Cultural Properties firmly protects Definition of preservation management method for Nara Palace Outstanding Universal Value by heavily restricting changes Site to current conditions and by carrying out appropriate [Policy] preservation management. This plan shall, based on the continuance of the current - Fragile archaeological sites composed of earth and wood initiatives, explicitly state the approach to preservation, repair, including buried archaeological artefacts such as Mokkan methodology, etc. (wooden tablets) are firmly protected by filling an appropriate thickness of earth and by monitoring groundwater quality/level. [Transmission of Outstanding Universal Value] [Focus of Attention] - On the premise of the preservation of the underground Definition of review process towards the assurance of reliability structural remains, above the ground, restoration in and improvement of restoration (reconstruction) (reconstruction) projects are being undertaken to transmit the [Policy] value thereof. In keeping with the fact that the WHC requested the government of Japan to provide a comprehensive report on the validation of the reconstruction of buildings on the Nara Palace Site, the policy including review process (procedures for progress) and the principles of improvement shall be defined, in order to assure and improve the reliability of the restoration (reconstruction) in the future, and to be able to obtain the understanding of the foreign organisations concerned. Furthermore, this plan shall present the necessity for studying the structure to make correction in line with domestic/overseas discussions, study results, and technological progress. [Preservation Management Structure] [Focus of Attention] - Since multiple organisations have joined the preservation Definition of preservation management structure for Nara Palace management of the Nara Palace Site in association with its Site becoming a national government park, a liaison council [Policy] composed of the organisations/institutions concerned to The existing structure established in response to becoming a coordinate with each other. Meanwhile, the Agency of national government park shall continue as the foundation, and Cultural Affairs mainly works on the preservation be defined so that it can obtain the understanding of the foreign management of the property (incl. buried structural remains); organisations concerned centering around the WHC. In addition, and the MLIT works on the improvement thereof, in close the comprehensive preservation management structure for the coordination with experts. whole property shall be enhanced.

Surrounding Environments

Assessment of Current Preservation Management Focus of Attention/Policy for Formulation of the Plan

[Harmonisation between Preservation and Development of the [Focus of Attention] Property (Tourism/Commerce)] Definition of approach to the preservation of surrounding - With the system of the “buffer zones” and “Historic environments for which careful attention is paid to Environment Harmonisation Areas”, generally satisfactory harmonization between preservation and development environments are being maintained. [Policy] - The current conditions of the development plans including the With regard to the preservation of surrounding environments, Keinawa Expressway (the Yamato-Kita Road) construction the approach to the preservation of surrounding environments plan, etc. have been reported to the WHC, as required. for which careful attention is paid to harmonization between preservation and development shall be defined again, in keeping with urban planning, trend of tourism/commerce, and future development plans. The current conditions of the development plans including the Keinawa Expressway (the Yamato-Kita Road) construction plan, etc. shall continue to be reported to the WHC from now on as well. [Preservation Management Structure] [Focus of Attention] - The Nara prefectural government has established the Land Definition of preservation management structure Use Coordination Council. For large-scale developments, [Policy] adjustment is made between the relevant departments (30 The existing structure shall continue as the foundation, and be divisions/sections). defined so that it can obtain the understanding of the foreign organisations concerned centering around the WHC. - The Nara municipal government has the Nara City Urban Issues Coordination Council and the Pre-development Consultation Council to undertake the similar functions. - For granting the permissions/licences under the land use control acts and regulations including the City Planning Act, Ancient Capitals Preservation Act, Scenic Zones Ordinance, etc., the system to consult with the Board of Education of Nara Prefecture (Cultural Properties Preservation Division) and the Board of Education of Nara City (Cultural Properties Division) serves as “checking function”.

Whole Property

Assessment of Current Preservation Management Focus of Attention/Policy for Formulation of the Plan

[Preservation Management Structure] [Focus of Attention] - The structure of preservation management for the whole Formulation of preservation management plan property is undefined. [Policy] - A wide range of site supervisors including the national This plan shall lay down the policy for the preservation government, prefectural/municipal governments, religious management of the whole property, and provide the guidelines corporations, etc. are involved in the preservation for the preservation of the value as the world heritage when management. formulating individual preservation management plan. [Focus of Attention] Definition of preservation management structure [Policy] The preservation management plan shall thoroughly be notified for its strict implementation.

Chapter 4 Visions and Basic Policy for Conservation Management

In line with the “Statement of Outstanding Universal Value” (p. 10) of the world heritage “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara”, and in keeping with the preservation and promotion of the value, we hereby establish the visions for the preservation management and the basic policies composed of the three pillars; “Preservation Management of Outstanding Universal Value”, “Integral Preservation with Surrounding Environments”, and “Promotion of Interpretation and Promotion”.

Vision for Comprehensive Preservation Management of “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara”

1. Preservation management of Outstanding Universal Value The “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara” is composed of five Buddhist temples (Tôdai-ji, Kôfuku-ji, Yakushi-ji, Gangô-ji, and Tôshôdai-ji), one Shinto shrine (Kasuga-Taisha), associated cultural landscape (Kasuga-Taisha and Kasugayama Primeval Forest), and archaeological sites, the Outstanding Universal Value of which is evaluated as “these places provide a vivid and comprehensive picture of religion and life in the Japanese capital in the 8th century, a period of profound political and cultural change” under the four criteria of ii), iii), iv) and v). The value shall strictly be preserved. 2. Comprehensive preservation with surrounding environments In the vicinity of “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara”, such historic scenic beauty is preserved as lush green natural environments including the “Yamato-Aogaki” (lit. a chain of blue mountains like a fence) surrounding the Nara basin, historic townscape around temples, and rural landscapes. We shall aim at the comprehensive preservation with those surrounding environments, while sustaining the coexistence with the lives of the local residents living there. 3. Facilitation of interpretation and promotion Interpretation and promotion shall be facilitated so that local residents and domestic/overseas visitors can deeply understand the value of the property. By so doing, the value of the property will further increase, and that sustainable preservation management can be attained.

Basic Policies 1. Preservation Basic Policy 1: Definition of the elements that express Outstanding Universal management of Value Outstanding Universal Basic Policy 2: Preservation management depending on the type of elements Value Basic Policy 3: Addressing the factors that affect the property in accordance with the Act on Protection of Cultural Properties, Ancient Capitals Preservation Act, Urban Planning Act, Landscape Act , etc.

2. Comprehensive Basic Policy 5: Establishment of Area-Specific Directionality in Preservation preservation with in Line with Relationship with Component Parts

surrounding Basic Policy 6: Coexistence with the lives of local residents environments

3. Advancement of Basic Policy 7: Interpretation/promotion based on the characteristics of each interpretation/ component part promotion Basic Policy 8: Continuance of research/studies and results presentation

Buffer Zone Nara Palace Site Vicinity Historic Environment Harmonisation Area Kasugayama – Nara Palace Site Buffer Zone Kasugayama Vicinity

Historic Environment Harmonisation Area Buffer Zone Nishino -kyô – Nara Palace Site Nishino -kyô Vicinity Buffer Zone Gangô -ji Vicinity

Legend Tôdai -ji Gangô-ji Property Kôfuku-ji Yakushi-ji Buffer Zones Kasuga-Taish Tôshôdai-ji a Historic Environment Kasuga-Taisha Nara Palace Site Harmonisation Area Primeval Forest Fig. 4-1 Target of the Plan

Fig. 4-2 Appearance of Nara in the 8th Century (Miniature Model of Restored Nara Capital)

A: Tôdai-ji B: Kôfuku-ji

C: Kasuga-Taisha D: Kasugayama Primeval Forest

E: Gangô-ji F: Yakushi-ji

G: Tôshôdai-ji H: Nara Palace Site

All the photos above were taken by YANO Takehiko.

Chapter 5 Preservation Management of Outstanding Universal Value

5.1 Definition of Elements to Express Outstanding Universal Value

The group of buildings, cultural landscape and archaeological sites that compose “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara” transmit a picture of the Japanese capital in the 8th century up to the present time. Furthermore, the long history of Nara, which developed and changed as the ancient capital where a large number of people continued to live even after the transfer of the capital to Kyoto, up to the present day, has accumulated in layers and coexisted in the same space. Fig. 5-1 summarises the “Elements necessary to express Outstanding Universal Value” that comprise the value of the world heritage including various tangible and intangible elements existing in the identification of the component parts, over ground and buried structural remains, etc. as well as other elements. In addition, Figs from 5-2 to 5-8 shows the distribution thereof.

Subjects of comprehensive preservation management of world heritage “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara” Elements included in identification of the property

Group of buildings: Tôdai-ji, Kôfuku-ji, Kasuga-Taisha, Gangô-ji, Yakushi-ji, Tôshôdai-ji

a. Elements to express Outstanding Universal Value (i ) Group of historic buildings (National Tangible elements: 67 elements incl. Nandaimon, Tôdai-ji treasures/Important cultural properties ） Intangible elements: Faith, spirituality Tangible elements: Underground structural remains/ (ii) Precincts incl. underground structural archaeological artefacts remains/archaeological artefacts (Historic site) Intangible elements: Faith, spirituality b. Elements closely associated with those to express Outstanding Universal

(i) S tructures to compose religious space Buildings used for religious activities integrally with the group of buildings Convenience facilities (e.g. parking lot), management facilities , (ii) Facilities for preservation/promotion and interpretation facilities c. Elements not directly associated with Outstanding Universal Value Elements other than those above

Archaeological sites (cultural landscape): Kasuga-Taisha, Kasugayama Primeval Forest

a. Elements to express Outstanding Universal Value

(i) Tangible element Shrine precincts, forests, pavilions, underground structural remains/artefacts, etc.

(ii) Intangible elements Integrity between shrine precincts and forests, faith, spirituality

b. Elements closely associated with those to express Outstanding Universal

(i) S tructures to compose religious space Buildings used for religious activities performed within precincts Convenience facilities (e.g. parking lot), management facilities, (ii) Facilities for preservation/promotion and interpretation facilities Elements other c. Elements not directly associated with Outstanding Universal Value than those above

Archaeological Site: Nara Palace Site

a. Elements to express Outstanding Universal Value (i) U nderground structural Structural remains and buried archaeological artefacts (foundation remains/ archaeological artefacts stones, roof tiles, earthenware, wooden tablets, etc.) of Nara Palace Site

b. Elements① 地下遺構、遺物 closely associated with those to express Outstanding Universal Presentation of (i) Facilities for preservation/promotion: Presentation of structural remains reconstructed buildings, (incl. reconstruction presentation) platform (ii) Facilities for preservation/promotion: Convenience Convenience facilities (e.g. parking lot), facilities management facilities, and interpretation facilities Elements other c. Elements not directly associated with Outstanding Universal Value than above Elements located at buffer zone

(i) Natural elements Natural/ developed landform, rivers, trees (planting), etc.

(ii) Human elements Buildings, structures (incl. roads), etc. Elements located at the vicinity of the property (mainly in historic environment adjustment area)

(i) Natural elements Natural/ developed landform, rivers, trees (planting), etc. (ii) Human elements Buildings, structures (incl. roads), etc.

Fig. 5-1 Subjects of the comprehensive preservation management of the world heritage “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara”

< Legend > Components of Outstanding Identification of Property Universal Value Buffer Zones Group of Historic Buildings Historic Environment Precincts incl. underground Harmonization Area structural remains/ archaeological artefacts Fig. 5-2 Component of the Property (A: Tôdai-ji)

< Legend > Components of Outstanding Identification of Property Universal Value Buffer Zones Group of Historic Buildings

Historic Environment Precincts incl. underground Harmonization Area structural remains/ archaeological artefacts Fig. 5-3 Component of the Property (B: Kôfuku-ji)

< Legend > Identification of Property Components of Outstanding Buffer Zones Universal Value Historic Environment Precincts incl. underground Harmonization Area structural remains/ archaeological artefacts

Fig. 5-5 Component of the Property (D: Kasugayama Primeval Forest)

5.2 Preservation Management Corresponding to Category of Components

It is necessary for the preservation of Outstanding Universal Value of “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara” to strictly preserve the “Elements to express Outstanding Universal Value” defined in 5.1. The elements other than those above shall properly be maintained and managed in harmony with the “Elements to Express Outstanding Universal Value”. In addition, relocation or removal shall be considered as needed. Meanwhile, the attribute of those elements to be necessarily preserved varies between: (i) “the precincts of temples and shrines/group of religious buildings” centering around the buildings on the ground; (ii) “Cultural landscape associated with Shintoism of Kasuga-Taisha and Kasugayama Primeval Forest” with a landscape in which forests as natural object and human lives therein are integrated; and, (iii) “Archaeological sites of the Nara Palace Site” focusing around buried structural remains. In line with the above, and in accordance with the approaches summarised below, element-specific preservation management shall be made.

Table -5-1 Category of elements and approach to preservation management (1/2) Category of Elements Approach to Preservation Management Elements to express Outstanding Strict preservation Universal Value Historic group of buildings In light of the necessity for appropriate repair for the aged deterioration, etc. of (National treasure/Important wooden buildings, daily maintenance, preservation and repair shall be cultural properties) undertaken. In so doing, authenticity in design/shape, raw materials/quality of material, tradition/techniques, and location/setting shall be maintained. Precincts of temples and shrines/ Group of religiou of shrines/ Group and temples of Precincts Furthermore, in keeping with the preservation of intangible elements including faith and spirituality, purpose of use/functions as religious buildings shall be maintained. Precincts including buried Buried structural remains/archaeological artefacts shall be maintained under structural remains/archaeological the condition that they are preserved underground, except for excavation for artefacts (historic site) academic research. With regard to the parts on the ground, in keeping with the preservation of intangible elements including faith and spirituality, purpose of use/functions as religious space shall be maintained. Elements closely associated with Appropriate maintenance management those to express Outstanding Universal Value Structures to compose religious For the buildings used for religious activities integrally with the historic group space of buildings, appropriate maintenance management harmonised with the design/shape, raw materials/quality of material, tradition/techniques, and location/setting of the historic group of buildings shall be performed.

Facilities for preservation/ Appropriate maintenance management shall be conducted for each facility for

ulig sbuildings promotion conveniences (parking lot, etc.), management, and interpretation, in order to facilitate them to fulfill their functions of preservation/promotion. For new construction or renewal of the facilities, possibility of those to be provided outside the designated area as a cultural property shall preferentially be considered. Furthermore, even in cases in which improvement becomes necessary within the designated area, permission must be obtained under the Act on Protection of Cultural Properties, which specifies that the work scale should be of the minimum necessary, and that the place with the least impact should be considered before conducting landscaping, etc. Elements not directly associated with These elements shall, as needed, be landscaped, relocated or removed. Outstanding Universal Value

Table -5-1 Category of elements and approach to preservation management (2/2)

Type of Elements Approach to preservation management auaaaPiea oet Forest Primeval Kasugayama ofShintoismKas landscapewith associated Cultural Elements to express Outstanding Strict preservation Universal Value Tangible elements Kasuga-Taisha and the Kasugayama Primeval Forest are composed of artificial structures such as the shrine pavilion and natural objects such as the shrine forests. Although the trees composing the shrine forests are living plants which inevitably change including through growth, withering and death, the changes caused by external factors including man-made alteration and or invasive alien species shall be prevented to maintain the appearance as a natural forest. Intangible elements Such intangible elements shall be maintained as the continuity between Kasuga-Taisha and the Kasugayama Primeval Forest, integrity as a space, purpose of use/functions as a religious space, and or spirituality/sensitivity as a sacred site . Elements closely associated with those Appropriate maintenance management to express Outstanding Universal Value Structures to compose religious For the buildings used for religious activities, appropriate maintenance space management shall be conducted, in order to facilitate them in fulfilling their functions for such activities. Facilities for preservation/ Appropriate maintenance management shall be conducted for each facility g-asaad uga-Taishaand promotion for conveniences (parking lot, etc.), management, and interpretation, in order to facilitate them in fulfilling their functions of preservation/promotion. For new construction or renewal of the facilities, the possibility of those to be provided outside the designated area as a cultural property shall preferentially be considered. Furthermore, even in cases in which improvement becomes necessary within the designated area, permission must be obtained under the Act on Protection of Cultural Properties, which specifies that the work scale should be of the minimum necessary, and that the place with the least impact should be considered before conducting landscaping , etc. Elements not directly associated with These elements shall, as needed, be landscaped, relocated or removed. Outstanding Universal Value Elements to express Outstanding Strict preservation Universal Value Buried structural remains/ Buried structural remains/archaeological artefacts shall be maintained archaeological artefacts under the conditions that they are preserved underground, except for excavation for academic research. Furthermore, in order to preserve underground organic artefacts such has Mokkan (wooden tablets), the groundwater level shall be maintained. For the use of the parts on the ground, it shall be postulated that no

rhelgclstso aaPlc ie PalaceSite Nara sitesof Archaeological impacts are exerted on the preservation of buried structural remains/ archaeological artefacts, and that restoration to their original state is possible. When installing interpretation facilities, etc. at the parts on the ground, buried structural remains/archaeological artefacts shall be strictly protected by filling an appropriate thickness of earth . Elements closely associated with those Appropriate maintenance management to express Outstanding Universal Value Facilities for preservation/ Appropriate maintenance shall be conducted in order to facilitate these promotion: Presentation of facilities to fulfill their functions as the interpretation facilities to transmit structural remains (incl. the value, and to form a landscape suitable to the Nara Palace Site. reconstruction presentation) Facilities for preservation/ Appropriate maintenance management shall be conducted for each facility promotion: Convenience facilities for conveniences (parking lot, etc.), management, and interpretation, in order to facilitate fulfilling their functions of preservation/promotion, and to form a landscape suitable to the Nara Palace Site. For new construction or renewal of the facilities, the possibility of those to be provided outside the designated area as a cultural property shall preferentially be considered. Furthermore, even in cases in which improvement becomes necessary within the designated area, permission must be obtained under the Act on Protection of Cultural Properties, which specifies that the work scale should be of the minimum necessary, and that the place with the least impact should be considered before conducting landscaping, etc. Elements not directly associated with These elements shall, as needed, be landscaped, relocated or removed. Outstanding Universal Value

5.3 Addressing the factors affecting the property in accordance with the Act on Protection of Cultural Properties, Ancient Capitals Preservation Act, Urban Planning Act, Landscape Act, etc.

Among the factors affecting the property shown on the format of periodic report to the Section II (Periodic Reporting Section II.3) of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre that we summarised in Chapter 3 “Current State of Property and its Surrounding Environments” (pages 31-32), the negative impacts caused by acts conducted within the identification of the property shall be prevented mainly by the clause of the prohibition on changes to current conditions, etc. in accordance with the Act on Protection of Cultural Properties. The negative impact on the value of the property caused by acts conducted within buffer zones and historic environment harmonisation areas shall be prevented by the provisions of the Ancient Capitals Preservation Act, City Planning Act, and landscape ordinance that have been effective since the WHL inscription of the property, and, in addition, by the control/guidance measures added to the landscape ordinance under the Landscape Act enacted after inscription.

5.4 Development and maintenance of human resources who protect Outstanding Universal Value

To firmly preserve the Outstanding Universal Value of “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara” into the future, each relevant organization including the direct supervising organisations of every component part (e.g., temples and shrines, Nara Prefecture, Agency of Cultural Affairs, and the MLIT), the administrative organisations that have jurisdiction over cultural properties (e.g., the Board of Educations of Nara City and Prefecture, Agency of Cultural Affairs), the organisations that control and guide the development acts within the surrounding areas (e.g., Nara City, Nara Prefecture, and the MLIT) should necessarily develop and maintain human resources who have correct knowledge of the purpose of the World Heritage Convention and the value of “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara” as well as expertise in the preservation management of the cultural heritage. Considering the fact that at administrative organisations, a staff member belonging to a section generally moves to another section within several years, it is necessary for the maintenance of the Institutional memory, knowledge and skills to be retained at each organisation or department to strive to transmit the knowledge or to succeed to the skills by, for example, actively participating in training programs organised by the Agency of Cultural Affairs and the Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties.

81 Chapter 6 Comprehensive Preservation with Surrounding Environments

6.1 Establishment of Area-Specific Directionality in Preservation in Line with Relationship with Component Parts

The eight component parts of the world heritage “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara” are distributed in the eastern and western areas within the central part of Nara City. Tôdai-ji, Kôfuku-ji, Kasuga-Taisha, and the Kasugayama Primeval Forest are located on the boundary between the old city and the range of mountains in the east; meanwhile, Gangô-ji is situated in the center of the old city. On the other hand, Yakushi-ji, Tôshôdai-ji, and the Nara Palace Site are located in the rural area of the western suburb of the old city. However, the area between Yakushi-ji/Tôshôdai-ji and the Nara Palace Site has already been urbanised due to a trunk road running in the east-west direction. The vicinity of the component parts are urban spaces where modern people live in modern society. While maintaining the atmosphere of the ancient capital, through the changes in the history from the 8th century to the present, each area now has different characteristics and functions. Accordingly, the directionality of preservation based on area-specific characteristics shall be established, and comprehensive preservation with a focus on the component parts existing in each area shall be performed.

Buffer Zone Nara Palace Site Vicinity Historic Environment Harmonisation Area Kasugayama – Nara Palace Site Buffer Zone Kasugayama Vicinity

Historic Environment Harmonisation Area Buffer Zone Nishino -kyô – Nara Palace Site Nishino -kyô Vicinity Buffer Zone Gangô -ji Vicinity

Table 6-1 Directionality of preservation based on area-specific characteristics

Areas Characteristics Directionality of Preservation Methodology of Preservation

- Historical landscapes - Coexistence shall be framed - Restrictions on “Changes to Current composed of: (i) the between: (i) the preservation Conditions” related to the Special Zone for natural environment of of historical natural features Preservation of Historical Natural Features Nara Park integrated and scenic beauty suitable (Ancient Capitals Preservation Act) with as the surrounding - Restrictions targeting the building coverage the historic buildings of environments of Tôdai-ji, ratio, height, setback distance, appearance, and Tôdai-ji, Kôfuku-ji, Kôfuku-ji, and other factors of buildings related to the scenic Kasuga-Taisha, etc.; Kasuga-Taisha; and; (ii) the zones (Nara City Scenic Zone Ordinance, City Vicinity of and, (ii) the surrounding function of the city park, Planning Act) Kasugayama green tracts of land, quasi-national park, etc. that - Restrictions on “Changes to Current farmlands and low rise occupies a majority of the Conditions” related to historic sites and places built-up districts buffer zone. of scenic beauty (Act on Protection of Cultural stretching to the range - A view towards the cultural Properties) of mountains landscape integrally formed - Restrictions on “Changes to Current by Kasuga-Taisha and Conditions” related to quasi-national parks Kasugayama Primeval (Natural Park Act) Forest shall be preserved. - Historical landscape - Coexistence shall be framed - Restrictions on the arrangement, structure, spreading over the old between: (i) the preservation height, appearance, etc. of buildings related to precincts of Gangô-ji of historical natural features the landscape formation area (Mahoroba that once had a vast suitable as the surrounding Landscape Formation Ordinance), historical Vicinity of temple grounds, while environments of Gangô-ji, landscapes formation important area (ditto) Gangô-ji transmitting the vestiges and; (ii) the function of the (Naramachi of the traditional place of local residents’ town) townscapes of the time lives. period from the Edo Buffer zones Bufferzones period to the first half of the Showa era (1926 – 1989 ) - Historical landscape - Historical natural features - Restrictions on “Changes to Current composed of: (i) the and scenic beauty suitable Conditions” related to the Special Zone for natural environments as the surrounding Preservation of Historical Natural Features spreading over from the environments of Yakushi-ji (Ancient Capitals Preservation Act) Akishino river to and Tôshôdai-ji shall be - Restrictions targeting the building coverage Vicinity of Nishino-kyô hill (green preserved. ratio, height, setback distance, appearance, and Nishino-kyô tracts of land/ farmland) other factors of buildings related to the scenic integrated with zones (Nara City Scenic Zone Ordinance, City Yakushi-ji and Planning Act) Tôshôdai-ji; and, (ii) settlements and low-rise residential area - Historical landscape - Historical natural features - Restrictions on “Changes to Current composed of: (i) the and scenic beauty suitable Conditions” related to the Special Zone for natural environments of as surrounding Preservation of Historical Natural Features Saki hill (green tracts of environments of the Nara (the Ancient Capitals Preservation Act) and the land/farmland) Palace Site shall be Area for Preservation of Historical Natural integrated with the Nara preserved. Features (ditto) Palace Site; and, (ii) - Restrictions targeting the building coverage Vicinity of settlements and low-rise ratio, height, setback distance, appearance, and Nara Palace residential areas other factors of buildings related to the scenic Site zones (Nara City Scenic Zone Ordinance, City Planning Act) - Restrictions targeting the building coverage ratio, height, setback distance, appearance, and other factors of buildings related to the Category I Exclusive Low Building Residential Zone (City Planning Act )

- Historical landscape - Historic environments that - Restrictions on “Changes to Current composed of: (i) the ensure the visual integrity of Conditions” related to the Special Zone for natural environments of the vicinities of the Nara Preservation of Historical Natural Features Saho hill (green tracts of Palace Site and (the Ancient Capitals Preservation Act) land) that divides the Kasugayama shall be - Restrictions targeting the building coverage northern edge of the maintained. ratio, height, setback distance, appearance, Nara Palace urban area, while - Especially, a view from the and other factors of buildings related to the Site －Mt. connecting between the Nara Palace Site towards scenic zones (Nara City Scenic Zone Kasuga vicinities of the Nara the hill with the Great Ordinance, City Planning Act) HistoricEnvironmen Palace Site and Buddha Hall of Tôdai-ji and - Restrictions on building height related to the Kasugayama in the the five-storeyed pagoda of building height control district (City Planning east-west direction; and, Kôfuku-ji shall be Act) (ii) low-rise residential preserved. areas

t Harmonisa t - Historical landscape - Historic environments that - Restrictions targeting the building coverage composed of: (i) natural ensure the visual integrity of ratio, height, setback distance, appearance, environments the vicinities of the Nara and other factors of buildings related to the (farmland) spreading Palace Site and Nishino-kyô Category I Exclusive Low Building

tion tion Area over the plain of the shall be maintained. Residential Zone (City Planning Act) Nara basin while - Especially, the view from - Restrictions on building height related to the connecting between the Oike-pond towards the building height control district (City Planning Nishino-kyô vicinities of the Nara Great Buddha Hall of Act) －Nara Palace Site and Tôdai-ji and the - Restrictions on the acts of development and Palace Site Nishino-kyô in the five-storeyed pagoda of construction related to the urbanization north-south direction; Kôfuku-ji shall be control area (City Planning Act) and, (ii) low-rise preserved. - Restrictions targeting the arrangement, residential areas structure, height, appearance, and other factors of buildings, related to the historical landscapes formation important area (Mahoroba Landscape Formation Ordinance/Landscape Act)

6.2 Coexistence with the lives of local residents Nara City in which “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara” exists is not only a representative historic city of Japan but the city of international culture and tourism that many domestic and overseas tourists visit to search for a sense of Japanese history and cultures. The city is also a major destination of school excursions of elementary schools and junior high schools from all over Japan, serving as a living reference book. The Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines comprising “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara” are all representative Japanese temples and shrines at which Buddhist and Shinto priests perform religious activities on a daily basis, and are places of faith that a large number of worshippers visit. What maintained Nara as a city for more than 1300 years to the present state above is the sustained cultural heritage that has a long history beginning with the construction of the Nara Capital. Therefore, further protection of this cultural heritage will support the lives of local residents. On the other hand, in the light of social changes after the high economic growth period and the diversification of values among people, it is necessary to aim for the adjustment between the preservation of cultural heritages/historic environments and the lives of local residents.

Especially for the maintenance and improvement of the landscape in harmony with the value of “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara” in the surrounding environments such as buffer zones, etc., nothing is more indispensable than the consent of the local residents. Although there are many local residents highly interested in history and culture, and some of them are involved in the protection of the world heritages and cultural properties, acting as Supervisors for Cultural Properties Protection Guidance or volunteers, it is still important to cultivate and deepen the understanding of more people in order to sustain the coexistence with the lives of the local residents. To this end, the opportunities for local residents to be involved in the preservation of the world heritages shall be ensured by: (i) keeping local residents informed about the value and the preservation conditions of the world heritage “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara”; (ii) reflecting the information, opinions, requests, etc. from local residents on the efforts including cultural properties protection and landscape preservation; and, (iii) supporting the spontaneours approaches by local residents themselves.

Chapter 7 Advancement of Interpretation/Promotion

7.1 Interpretation/promotion based on the characteristics of each component part

(1) Interpretation/promotion of precincts of temples and shrines and the group of religious buildings Each temple and shrine composing “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara” still serves as a religious facility today, while, at the same time, accepting general tourists who come to enjoy seeing the representative structures of cultural properties or sculptures of Japan. The interpretation/promotion is performed by the temples and shrines on their own initiative. To develop or improve the facilities necessary for the interpretation/promotion, permission of the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs is required after going through legal formalities specified by the Act on Protection of Cultural Properties, on the premise that the component parts of Outstanding Universal Value including underground structural remains are not impaired.

(2) Interpretation/promotion of cultural landscaped associated with Shintoism of Kasuga-Taisha and Kasugayama Primeval Forest The cultural landscape formed with the Kasuga-Taisha and the Kasugayama Primeval Forest is basically divided into two: one is seen from various vantage points in Nara City outside the property, and the other is seen within the precincts of the Kasuga-Taisha, inside the property. The Kasugayama Primeval Forest is sacred land on which hunting and tree felling have been prohibited since ancient times. Admittance is prohibited even today, and will not be allowed in the future as well, except for a walking path.

(3) Interpretation/promotion of archaeological site in Nara Palace Site

To transmit the value of the Nara Palace Site that has almost no trace left on the ground, it becomes necessary to express the buried structural remains on the ground. Accordingly, the Agency of Cultural Affairs established the basic policies for preservation development and zoning by formulating “the Basic Concepts for Preservation Development of Nara Palace Site, Special Historic Site” in 1978, and “the Promotion Plan for Basic Concepts for Preservation Development of Nara Palace Site, Special Historic Site” in 2008. This approach was followed by “the Basic Plan for Asuka Historical National Government Park, Nara Palace Site Historical National Government Park, and Nara Palace Site Area” (December, 2008, MLIT). For the interpretation/promotion of the Nara Palace Site, on the premise that the buried structural remains are filled with an appropriate thickness of earth, and that no impacts are exerted on the groundwater level to properly preserve the wooden archaeological artefacts including the wooden tablets, etc. buried underground, preservation development using various skills/methods shall be conducted in future in accordance with the basic policies and zoning above. With regard to the “restoration (reconstruction)”, it shall, in principle, be completed right above the structural remains, on the premise that the preservation of the structural remains is not hindered. Prior to the commencement of the reconstruction work, many types of drawings from general to partial detail drawings are made to review the merits, demerits, flaws, unclear points, etc., not to mention the creation of the “Restoration” miniature model. A reconstruction review committee composed of academic experts and representatives of the relevant organisations shall be established to carefully proceed with the work. This preservation development shall be based on sufficient excavation and study results; while, however, taking into consideration the safety and use of the park. In addition, the councils of the national government and meetings of affiliated thereof shall strictly and technically review “To what extent the ‘reconstruction’ can be allowed”, dependent on each individual case. After that, the work shall go through legal formalities to obtain permission (or consent) of the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs for the changes to current conditions.

Basic Policies for “the Basic Concepts for Preservation Development of Nara Palace Site, Special Historic Site”

Aiming at: (i) A place at which Japanese nationals can experientially comprehend the ancient capital; (ii) A base of research and study improvement; and, (iii) A place for the development and accumulation of skills and techniques for the preservation, repair, and maintenance of archaeological sites/artefacts.

Sub-entrance Area Sub-entrance Area

Imperial Domicile Former Imperial Audience Hall Complex Latter Imperial Audience Hall Complex

East Former State Latter State Palace Halls Halls Garden

Suzaku Gate

Identification of property (H: Nara Palace Site) Main Entrance Area Transportation Terminal planned Site Identification Nara Palace Site Historical Park

Structural Remains Based on excavatio n survey results, the existence of the underground structural remains is clearly Presentation Zones presented on the ground of original location thereof by using various types of methods such as partial reconstruction, three-dimensional presentation, and planar presentation. For promotion and utilisation, Structural these zones are to provide a certain amount of information about the form and function of each area of Remains Present ed the palace in the Nara period. Re construction Zones of By progressing researches and studies based on the results of excavation surveys, and by gathering the Buildings, etc. results thereof, a building or structure shall be reconstructed as strictly close as possible to the original Reconstructed at the original location. For promotion and utilisation, these zones are to provide visual-perceptual Buildings Planned experience of the Nara Palace in the Nara period. to be reconstructed South Face Improvement These zones are the ancient road of the Jobo system (lit. grid -like arrangement of streets and avenues). Zones To the extent possible, the road is improved in the form of reconstruction including trees lining the street. For promotion and utilisation, these zones are to serve as a garden path following the original role.

Shade Tree Zones Tree planting is to be conducted mainly for the purpose of blocking a view from a street or adjacent houses as well as for landscaping.

Study/Management/ These zones are to be composed of the two types of facilities: one is those for study, management and Presentation Facilities the storage of archaeological artefacts; and the other is those for presentation to provide information Zones about the Nara Palace. In other words, these zones are to have functions to serve as a s tudy base for the Nara Palace and to provide information related to the Nara Palace to the visitors.

Ponds/H erb Garden / The existing ponds to prevent flooding are to be maintained. The open space is conserved and managed Square Zones as necessary. Other sections are to be maintained and managed in good conditions as herb garden. For promotion and utilisation, these zones are to serve mainly as a green land for multipurpose use including the site of various events, etc. Area that conserves current environments Fig. 7 -1 Zoning for improvement of Nara Palace Site (Based on the “Promotion Plan for Basic Concepts for Preservation Development of Nara Palace Site, Special Historic Site” (May, 2008) 88

Presentation method and place to express the buried structural remains on the ground

1．The method of Iconography to symbolically express the spatial volume of an ancient building as well as the pillars and the positions thereof by planting pollarded Japanese boxwoods (Buxus microphylla var. japonica ) like the pillars: [Subject] Imperial domicile zone

2．The method to express only the planar scale of an ancient building together with a podium and foundation stones on the ground by using modern stone materials: [Subject] A zone used as the central place of rituals in the latter half of the 8th century

3．The method to enable visitors to closely examine buried structural remains clearly exposed through excavations by installing a shelter above the buried structural remains

4．The method to express the original space and appearance of an ancient building at full scale and shape (“Reconstruction”): [Subjects] Limited to the four places below. The “reconstruction” rules/principles shall be complied.

(i) Government office area of the Ministry of the Imperial Household, an administrative organ (Reconstruction was completed in 1975, and presentation commenced in the same year)

(ii) South-facing Suzaku Gate on the front side (Reconstruction was completed in 1998, and presentation commenced in the same year)

(iii) East Palace Garden: A large garden stone was placed and exposed on the original position, while covering the surface of the other area of the garden and a pond with gravels for repair. (Presentation commenced in 1998, reconstruction was completed in 2000)

(iv) Former Imperial Audience Hall Compound, the pivotal part in ritual space (Main building of the Former Imperial Audience Hall: reconstruction was completed in 2010. Meanwhile, the reconstruction of the corridors with tile-roofed mud wall including the east-facing corridor, west-facing corridor, north-facing corridor, and south-facing corridor, courtyard open space, the Minami-mon (lit. south gate), and the Tôzai-rô (lit. the east and west multi-storeyed buildings) is planned to commence after 2014. Incidentally, an interpretation space for the outline of the Former Imperial Audience Hall Compound is to be secured in the west-facing corridor and the west multi-storeyed building.

Meanwhile, areas for which no excavation/special presentation is yet planned are to be left untouched as grasslands or wetlands to ensure the preservation of buried structural remains.

Rules and Principles of “Restoration” of Historic Buildings at archaeological Sites

1. Regarding the “reconstruction” of the historical buildings on the archaeological site, the principles indicated below are to be strictly followed: 1) The “reconstruction” is necessary or beneficial for the protection of the original historical remains. There is also a universal need for it because it not only provides a complete interpretation and presentation for the public, but also helps experts to conduct further research and studies. These roles of “reconstruction” have clearly been indicated in the Article 7 (paragraph-3) of the “Charter for the Protection and Management of Archaeological Heritage” adopted by ICOMOS in Lausanne, Switzerland, 1990. 2) The “reconstruction” will not cause any damage or have any other negative impact on the existing authentic historical remains. 3) To be faithful to the state of the site, the “reconstruction” must be evidenced by historic archives, archaeological findings, and other related documentation. 4) Similar materials and traditional craftsmanship conforming to the historical evolution of the site must be used whenever possible for the “reconstruction.” 5) The reconstructed parts must be reversible, so that whenever considered inappropriate, they can be corrected or undone to restore the original state of the heritage site.

7.2 Continuance of Research/Studies and the Transmission of Results

The value of “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara” that transmits a picture of the Japanese capital of the 8th century to the present was disclosed based on the results of research and studies exhaustively carried out over many years, triggered by excavation of archaeological sites and repairs of architectural structures. In addition, the reconstruction of buildings has also provided great opportunities for research, studies and experiments of construction methods, techniques and raw materials. On the other hand, the entire picture of the 8th century Japanese capital has not become totally clear. Each component part has an extremely high academic value and potentiality as an information resource for further understanding the picture of the 8th century Japanese capital and even the history after the 9th century, promising further discoveries through future research and studies. Accordingly, research and studies including excavations shall continue systematically at the Nara Palace Site and the other temples and shrines, and the results thereof shall be transmitted to both domestic and overseas parties to assist in the elucidation of history.

Chapter 8 Monitoring

Since 2001, the Nara prefectural and municipal governments have continued each year to monitor the items in Table 8-1 determined by the Agency of Cultural Affairs as “the indexes related to the measurement of preservation conditions”. This monitoring is to be continued, and the results thereof are used as basic data for periodical reports to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. Among the issues about which the WHC have requested reports, the state of progress of which reportage is continuously requested, are described in Monitoring Item B-1, Protective Measures of the Inscrolled Property. Among the periodical reports above, Section I related to the overall state of the world heritages of Japan is to be created by the national government; meanwhile, Section II related to the preservation conditions of each individual property is to be created by the prefecture in which the properties exist. Section II related to “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara” is created mainly by the Nara prefectural government with the cooperation of the Nara municipal government, while asking the Agency for Cultural Affairs for confirmation. At the Nara prefectural government, the Cultural Property Preservation Division of the Board of Education of Nara Prefecture creates guidelines, and the said division and Culture Promotion Division jointly work on Section II. After that, the Culture Promotion Division compiles it. Meanwhile, at the Nara municipal government, the Cultural Assets Division of the Board of Education of Nara City works on the creation of both the guidelines and Section II.

[Structure of Monitoring Organisations]

(1) Implementing Authorities

Name: Nara prefectural government Division to contact: Culture Promotion Division Address: Nobori-oji-cho 30, Nara City

Name: Board of Education of Nara City Division to contact: Cultural Properties Division Address: 1-1-1 Nijo-oji Minami, Nara City

(2) Supervising Authority

Name: Agency for Cultural Affairs Division to contact: Monuments and Sites Division/Architecture and Other Structures Division, Cultural Properties Department Address: 3-2-2 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Table 8-1 Monitoring items and descriptions

Major items Minor items Detail 1. Name of world heritages 2. Year of tentative-list inclusion, recommendation, and inscription - Whether or not any change was made after the WHL A: Introduction 3. Inscription criteria inscription; if yes, details of the change 4. Significance of inscription 5. List of inscribed properties - Whether or not any change was made to the protective measures under the Act on Protection of Cultural Properties - Whether or not any change was made to the protective measures under other related acts and regulations 1. Protective measures for inscribed - Update of progress report on management and maintenance property plans - Update of progress report on coordination/cooperation structure with local residents - Whether or not the WHC recommendation was received. If yes, the details and measures taken B: Inscribed - State of damage (cause, date, damage scale, countermeasures, property and impact on the value of a property) - State of repair of an inscribed property (building) 2. Preservation state of inscribed - State of maintenance of an inscribed property (historic site, property place of scenic beauty) - Status of permissions granted for acts to change the current conditions or to affect the preservation (Act on Protection of Cultural Properties, and other acts and regulations) - Risks that the inscribed property faces or is liable to face 3. Disaster prevention and - Preparations against risks (Disaster prevention measures) management of inscribed property - Fire prevention management structure - Acts and regulations to control the use of buffer zone - Range of buffer zone 1. Conditions of buffer zones - State of buffer zone - Buffer zone management structure (within a municipality and C: Buffer zones among local residents) - Acts of development that permit, administratively guide, or 2. Acts of development, etc. in are recommended as a target of the related acts and buffer zones regulations 1. Research on the value of inscribed - Title of study, study period, researcher, method/contents, D: Research and property and the results thereof results, creation of report (Title and outline) study 2. Scientific study on the protection - Domestic/international expert meetings, etc. of inscribed property - Scientific study - Facilities (guidance boards of world heritage, etc.) 1. Presentations/information - Printed matter, etc. (major printed matter created by local provision about world heritages authorities) 2. Presentation symposiums, - Name, opening date, venue, host/ co-host, contents (theme, seminars, organization of photo number of participants, etc.) exhibition, etc. (as major events) E: Education, public - Elementary /junior high educational institutes (teaching awareness, materials, field trips, training/ practice, etc. and educational promotion 3. Coordination with school programs for other schools) education - Higher educational institutes (teaching materials, field trips, training/ practice, etc. and educational programs for other schools) 4. State of participating in UNESCO - Title of programme programmes (Youth forums, etc.) - Outline - Owners or management organisatios of inscribed property F: Preservation 1. Structure of preservation - Administrative guidance authorities management management authorities - Supervising authority structure - collaborating organisations

- Implementing authorities 1. Structure of monitoring - Administrative guidance authorities authorities - Supervising authority G: Monitoring - Collaborating organisations activities - Major indexes 2. Major indexes for measuring the - Installation conditions of measuring equipment preservation state of the objects - Measuring method/measured results - Undertakers/cooperators of monitoring activities 1. Exchange with management H: Exchange organisations, etc. of other world - Name of the world heritage site with other heritages within Japan - Name of the management organisations, etc. world 2. Exchange with management - Dates of the exchange heritages organisations, etc. of other world - Details and results of the exchange program heritages in overseas countries - Number of visitors (Number of those: (i) to Nara City; and (ii) per inscribed property) - Tourism-related industries (Number of: (i) lodging facilities 1. Tourism within Nara City with sales amount; and, (ii) restaurants, etc.) - Tourism-related facilities (Name of facilities, opening hours, usage fee, number of users) I: Data and - Resident composition (population, number of total households, statistics age and gender-specific populations, gender-specific working 2. Socioeconomic circumstance population) surrounding the property (within - Major local industries (Type of industries, land-use conditions) Nara City) - Transportation (main transportation means and transportation network, traffic volume of roads, and the means of transportation to from the inscribed property)

94 Chapter 9 Enhancing Comprehensive Preservation and

Management

To aim at the strict implementation of the Comprehensive Preservation and Management Plan, and enhancing the preservation management, the following approaches shall proceed.

(1) Establishment of Liaison Coordination Meeting (provisional name) (i) Implementing authorities: Nara prefectural government and Nara municipal government (ii) Implementation date: In 2015 (iii) Purpose To share the latest preservation conditions and issues of preservation and promotion of “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara”, and to keep each other well informed about the comprehensive preservation and management plan between the relevant departments, by providing periodical opportunities for liaison and coordination (iv) Outline - Sharing information about conservation conditions By utilising the opportunity, provided every year, for collecting information about the preservation of the property from the relevant departments in order to make a periodical report subject to the World Heritage Convention, information thus collected is aggregated and shared between the relevant departments. Furthermore, by comprehending whether or not any issue about preservation management arises, addressing (if needed) adjustment between the departments. - Understanding the world/domestic trends in preservation management of world heritages Domestic/overseas case studies about the latest trends in preservation management of world heritages are collected, reviewed, and shared between the relevant departments. - Coordination with relevant parties/organisations The coordination with related temples and shrines, academic experts, local companies, NGOs, and local residents are taken into consideration.

(2) Amendment of Landscape Plan (i) Implementing authorities: Nara municipal government (ii) Implementing date: In 2016 (iii) Purpose The plan shall aim to enhance the preservation of the buffer zones and the Historic Environment Harmonisation Area by reflecting the basic approach of the “Landscape Perspectives Conservation and Promotion Plan of Nara City” formulated in 2014 on the landscape plan. (iv) Outline - Adoption of conservation/promotion of landscape perspectives The plan shall aim to adopt a landscape perspectives conservation/promotion system which contributes to ensure the perspectives between the component parts as well as the integrity and views between buffer-zone areas. - Adoption of the landscape impact assessment system against large-scale buildings, etc. Amendment of the design guidelines The plan shall aim to adopt the landscape impact assessment system through which impacts on surrounding landscapes, views and perspectives can be predicted beforehand. Specifically, constructors/project managers shall create “landscape impact assessments” as a self-assessment tool in accordance with the design guidelines for the acts of large-scale development/construction, and the city mayor shall, in the light of the opinions of the Nara City Landscape Council composed of academic experts, etc., examine the assessment, and notify the constructers/project managers of the result of the examination. Furthermore, the Design Guidelines for the acts of large-scale development/construction shall be amended for landscape design guidelines so that for more effective landscape guidance, they

include the establishment of colour criteria, etc. corresponding to local characteristics. - Expansion of landscape formation important areas / Amendment of design guidelines The plan shall aim to promote landscape formation corresponding to the characteristics of each area by expanding the Naramachi town historical landscape formation important area including the buffer zone of Gangô-ji, and by setting up a new historical landscape formation important area around Yakushi-ji including its buffer zone. In addition, the design guidelines for landscape formation important areas shall be amended so that for more effective landscape guidance, they include the establishment of colour criteria, etc. corresponding to local characteristics.

Appendix Acts and Regulations