It was the largest capital ever, nearly six miles east-west and more than five miles north-south. In the center of the northern part of the city was the walled palace called the “Imperial City” with the residence to the north and the administrative office just in front. The rest of the city was divided by eleven north-south streets and four east-west streets. There were 108 walled buildings each with four gates. The Japanese adopted the city's urban plan, placing the imperial headquarters in the northernmost part of the city, in the capital Kyoto (it was the nation's capital from around 795 until