Naniwa-kyō (難波京) is a historical Japanese capital city, which was located in present-day central Osaka city.
Traces of ancient palaces in Naniwa were found in 1957. After the Kofun period, the Early Naniwa Palace was established as Japan's first capital in 651 during the Asuka period and is sumed up with the Late Naniwa Palace that was established from 726 to 784 in the Nara period afterwards. Through more recent excavations, the existence of a city was confirmed, at least for the latter period in the 8th century.
