The timeline of Japanese history consists of important territorial, cultural, and political events in Japan, which includes its predecessor states. To read about the background to these events, see History of Japan.
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Centuries: 1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th10th11th12th13th14th15th16th17th18th19th Modern Japanese periods: MeijiTaishoShowaHeiseiReiwa
Paleolithic period Year Date Event90,000The supercolossal eruption of the Aso Caldera ejected approximately 1,000 cubic kilometers (240 cu mi) of tephra, which covered the majority of the Japanese archipelago.30,000The supercolossal eruption of the Aira Caldera in Kagoshima deposited a 35 cm (14 in) layer of tephra across Kyushu and southern Honshu, with an additional 10 cm (3.9 in) falling on the Kantō Plain.14,000The first settlers of the Japanese archipelago, known as the Jōmon people, arrived. They had a diverse socioeconomic structure consisting of hunter-gatherers and early agriculturalists.
3rd century BC Year Date Event300 BC The mass migration of groups from the Asian continent to the Japanese archipelago marked the transition to the Yayoi period. Japanese society transitioned to a settled agricultural economy. Yayoi immigrants were integrated with the indigenous population, resulting in a synthesis of new cultural influences and existing practices.
1st century Year Date Event57 Emperor Guangwu of Han issued the King of Na gold seal to the coalition of Japanese states in northern Kyushu led by the state of Nakoku.
2nd century Year Date Event 180 The Civil War of Wa ends, bringing shamaness-queen Himiko to power in the Yamatai clan somewhere in either Northern Kyushu or Central Honshu.
3rd century Year Date Event 201 The Nagata Shrine, Hirota Shrine and Ikuta Shrine, the oldest surviving Shinto shrines in Japan, are founded by the legendary Empress Jingū. 238 Himiko sends the first emissaries from Japan to China. 248 Himiko dies and is succeeded by 13 year old Queen Toyo after a brief civil war. Some rebels, preferring a male successor, fled Yamatai and founded the Miwa court in Nara. 250 The Kofun period and Yamato period starts, which marks the founding of Yamato entity in Nara associated with the Sujin line of emperors. 266 Toyo sends an embassy to Emperor Wu of Jin. 283 The Hata clan, led by Yuzuki no Kimi, settles in Japan, introducing sericulture (silk farming).
4th century Year Date Event 346 The Makimuku site is abandoned, possibly due to invaders such as Baekje and Gaya confederacy men, indicating large changes of the Miwa court. 350 Unification of Yamato Province. 362 Emperor Chūai of Miwa court is replaced by Emperor Ōjin of Kawachi court (Saki Court), marking the expansion of Yamato Province to the Kinai region.
5th century Though very little is known about the 5th century in Japan, it is noted that the period was marked by volatile inter-state warfare, complex alliances, submissions and betrayals. Some of the Yamato polity's partners were Baekje and Gaya confederacy, while enemies included Goguryeo, Silla and various Chinese groups. Few records of the era survive; those that exist are controversial. Year Date Event 404 Goguryeo–Wa conflicts between Wa, Baekje, and Gaya against Goguryeo and Silla 413 King of Wa sends first recorded tribute to the Jin. 430 Yamato polity become a regional power after subjugating several states in West Japan.461 Chronology of the Japanese historical records becomes consistent. All earlier dated entries are reconstructed from foreign or archaeological sources. Baekje sends an embassy to Japan, as confirmed by both Japanese and Korean records.
6th century Year Date Event 500 Iron tools become widespread in archeological record, marking the advent of Iron Age in Japan. 507 Kawachi court is succeeded by King Ohoto of Koshi (Keitai line of kings) in Asuka court. 527 With the suppression of the Iwai Rebellion, the Yamato polity is firmly entrenched in Tsukushi Province, Kyushu.538 Seong of Baekje introduces Buddhism to Japan. The Asuka period starts, and the Imperial capital is transferred to Asuka. Yamato polity achieve de facto political dominance with full conquest of Shikoku and Kyushu islands. 562 The last states of Gaya confederacy are destroyed, marking extinction of Japonic languages outside Japan. 587 The religious war (Soga–Mononobe conflict) ends with the victory of the pro-Buddhist Soga clan. 593 The Soga clan takes control of Japan with the installation of Empress Suiko on the throne.
7th century Year Date Event 603 Introduction of the Twelve Level Cap and Rank System in Japan 607 The first embassy under the command of Ono no Imoko is sent to Sui China. 630 The first of Japanese missions to Tang China 645 The Asuka period ends with the power of the Soga clan broken in the Isshi incident and Nakatomi clan becoming the dominant power. 646 22 January The Hakuhō period starts with the Taika Reform. 660 Japanese, under command of Abe no Hirafu, massacre the Mishihase people in Hokkaido. The Japanese do not return to Hokkaido until over 700 years later. 662 Japanese enter the Baekje–Tang War. 663 The Japanese navy is decisively defeated in the Battle of Baekgang, marking the withdrawal of Japan from Korean politics. 665 First coastal defences of Kyushu were built at what is now the Ōnojō Castle Ruins. 668 The Ōmi Code is adopted, starting the Ritsuryō law system. 670 First population census. 672 Succession conflict results in the Jinshin War. 673 With the reign of Emperor Tenmu, Japan becomes an empire. 684 684 Hakuho earthquake, severe tsunami and subsidence at Tosa Province. 689 Asuka Kiyomihara Code, incorporating a citizens registration and pestilence reporting system, is adopted. 694 The Imperial capital is transferred to Fujiwara-kyō.
8th century Year Date Event 701 The Taihō Code legal system is accepted. 709 The Fort Ideha is established near modern Akita, marking the start of submission of the Emishi people in the Tōhoku region to Japanese. 710 The Nara period starts after Empress Genmei establishes the capital of Heijō-kyō. 711 The law prohibiting nobles from restricting peasant's access to non-agricultural areas is enacted. Stagnation in cultivated land area begins and continues until the 14th century. 712 The Kojiki is completed. 713 The provinces are ordered to compile cultural and geographical records, known as fudoki. 718 Fujiwara no Fuhito compiles the Yōrō Code (the update of Taihō Code) which is accepted in 757. 720 The Nihon Shoki (1st volume of historical chronicles Rikkokushi) is completed. November Murder of governor Kamitsukenu no Ason Hirohito and subsequent punitive expedition to Mutsu Province. 721 The Hayato rebellion ends after a year and half of fighting, marking the complete subjugation of Southern Kyushu. Severe drought occurs and the government attempts to mitigate it by clearing farmland in the Mutsu Province. 724 Emperor Shōmu was enthroned. Also, the site of the Taga Castle, near to modern Sendai, is founded. 731April A fleet of 300 Japanese vessels is defeated on the east coast on Silla.Lee Injae、Owen Miller、Park Jinhoon、Yi Hyun-Hae, "Korean History in Maps", p. 696 (60)735 Genbō and Kibi no Makibi return from China. A major smallpox epidemic spreads from Kyushu, resulting in a third of the population perishing, 10 years of social instability and 4 transfers of the Imperial capital through Kuni-kyō, Shigaraki Palace and Naniwa-kyō before returning to Heijō-kyō in 745. 740 28 September The Fujiwara no Hirotsugu rebellion erupts on Kyushu. 741 Shōmu establishes the provincial temples as a part of shift from Confucianism to Buddhism, impacted by ongoing epidemic and famine. 743 The Ritsuryō law system incorporates the right of eternal land ownership by any squatter in an attempt to mitigate rampant vagrancy. 745 Establishment of the centralized rice tax system. 749 End of first smallpox epidemic. 751 The Kaifūsō poetry anthology is completed. 752 The Great Buddha of Nara at Tōdai-ji is completed with the assistance of Bodhisena from India. 754 Priest Ganjin arrives from China.757 Fujiwara no Nakamaro defeats an attempt by Tachibana no Naramaro to seize power. The Yōrō Code completes the evolution of Ritsuryō law system. 763 Severe epidemic of unidentified illness begins to spread from the Iki Island. 764 Fujiwara no Nakamaro and Emperor Junnin launches a failed plot against the retired Empress Kōken and the monk Dōkyō. 773 The Thirty-Eight Years War for the subjugation of Tōhoku begins. 781 Emperor Kanmu is enthroned. 784 The Imperial capital moves to Nagaoka-kyō. This was the capital of Japan from 784 to 794. Its location was in Otokuni District, Kyoto, Yamashiro Province. 788 Saichō built Enryaku-ji. 790 Relatively minor smallpox outbreak resulting in large mortality of men aged 30 or below.794 The first shōgun, Ōtomo no Otomaro, is appointed by Emperor Kanmu in 794 CE. A shōgun was the military dictator of Japan with near absolute power over territories via the military. The Heian period starts after Emperor Kanmu moves the capital to Heian-kyō (ancient name of Kyoto). Emperor Kanmu chooses to relocate the capital in order to distance it from the clerical establishment in Nara. 797 The Shoku Nihongi (2nd volume of historical chronicles Rikkokushi) was completed.
9th century Year Date Event 802 After the defeat of the Emishi Isawa confederation and execution of Aterui in the final stages of , the Japanese control the entire Honshu island. 806 The Japanese kana scripts (invention popularly attributed to Kūkai) have evolved as distinct from Chinese characters. 809 Emperor Saga ascends to the throne, resulting in a 32-year long relatively peaceful period. 810 The Kusuko incident, abortive attempt by retired Emperor Heisei to seize power and return the capital to Heijō-kyō. 814 Second major outbreak of smallpox epidemic killing "nearly half" of the Japanese population. 814 Emperor Saga's 7th son is demoted to commoner status under the name Minamoto no Makoto, starting the Minamoto clan.815 Shinsen Shōjiroku, the first compilation of Japanese genealogical data, is completed. The Kōnin Code, a land reform promoting land reclamation and large-scale landed estates, is issued. 823 Emperor Junna ascends to the throne.829 23 January Kūkai establishes the first public school in Japan. Emperor Ninmyō ascends to the throne. 835 Death of Kūkai. 839 Last envoy to Tang China sent (some later embassies were cancelled). 840 Nihon Kōki (3rd volume of historical chronicles Rikkokushi) was completed. 842 The Jōwa incident marks the rising power of the Fujiwara clan. 842 Emperor Montoku ascends to the throne. 853 February Minor outbreak of smallpox. Outbreaks continue with average interval of 30 years until smallpox becomes endemic by 1061. 855 Large-scale insurrection by the Emishi people of northern Japan. 857 Large-scale insurrection by Tsushima Province. 858 The Fujiwara clan solidify their rule over Japan with the installation of Emperor Seiwa; Fujiwara no Yoshifusa becomes Sesshō. 859 Construction begins on Iwashimizu Hachiman-gū.869 Shoku Nihon Kōki (4th volume of historical chronicles Rikkokushi) was completed.9 JulyDevastating 869 Sanriku earthquake and tsunami occur off the Tohoku coast. 866 Ōtenmon Incident. 876 Emperor Yōzei ascends to the throne. 878 March Akita Castle is overrun during the with the background of heavy drought and famine, resulting in growing independence of Dewa Province. 879 Nihon Montoku Tennō Jitsuroku (5th volume of historical chronicles Rikkokushi) was completed. 884 Emperor Yōzei is deposed; he is replaced by Emperor Kōkō.887 Ninna earthquake. Emperor Uda ascends to the throne; Ako Controversy around edict issued naming Fujiwara no Mototsune as Kanpaku. 894 Sugawara no Michizane advocates for ending Japanese embassies to China. 897 Emperor Daigo ascends to the throne.
10th century