Imperial Palace Heydzё-kyu was in the most northern point of the city Heydzё, which was the capital of the ancient Japanese state in the VIII century. Construction of the ancient capital was started in the year 708 in the northern part of the Nara basin, in the southwest of the modern city of Nara. The role of the capital city Heydzё-ke (meaning "Citadel Capital of the world") served to 784, when it was decided to move the capital to the city of Muko. Construction on the new location lasted ten years, but to nothing lead, and so the 794 was built "capital of the world" Heian, then Kyoto.

City Heydzё was designed on the basis of a chessboard - Chinese system of urban planning. The model for Heydzё (and then to Heian-kyo) became Chang'an - the capital city of the Tang Dynasty. From the heights of the city Heydzё looked like irregular rectangle. Its area was about 24 square meters. kilometer, while the population in the best of times reached 100 thousand people.

Two years after the start of construction of the imperial court he has moved to a new residence - the palace Heydzё-kyu. Main Street - Red Phoenix Avenue - started from the gate Radzёmon, held at the central part of the city and ended at the gates of the Imperial Palace Sudzakumon. Prospect divided city on the left and right sides, each of which had its own market. Other avenues and streets divided the left and right sides into quarters-rectangles. In the middle of the VIII century to the right side it was built the so-called external area, next to which the monastery was built Todaydzi - the main Buddhist shrine of ancient Japan.

Imperial Palace occupied an entire block in the northern part of the city. It was surrounded by earthen wall height of 6 meters and a width of about three meters. On the grounds of the Palace quarter is a large reception hall, the residence of the emperor, the buildings of ministries and departments, as well as rooms for servants. The whole complex is located on an area of ​​more than one square. kilometer.

For the construction of the palace complex hand ordinary people was leveled large playground. From mountain rivers wood is delivered, and on the slopes of the nearby hills were built kiln tiles, which have to produce about 6 million. All these plates to the construction site were farmers on their backs.

Next to the imperial palace settled most noble and close to the court of citizens. Rank officials also affects the size of the site allotted to him. The court of higher rank could build up to a few tens of thousands of square meters. meters, and these estates with lots of buildings reminiscent of a town in town.

While Heydzё-ke considered the capital in the city continuously built temples, only the state, there were more than forty.