Japanese history By 64694 710 the first capital is established at Nara the first capital of Japan is made 710 the first capital is established at Nara 794 start of the Heian period 794 start of the Heian period 1185 Minamoto no Yoritomo becomes the first shogun of Japan 1185 Minamoto no Yoritomo becomes the first shogun of Japan 1467 beginning of the Warring states period 1467 beginning of the Warring states period 1543 first contact between Japanese and Europeans and beginning of trade 1545 first contact between Japanese and Europeans and beginning of trade 1573 the Azuchi-Momoyama period begins 1573 the Azuchi-Momoyama period begins 1603 the beginning of the Tokugawa shogunate 1603 the beginning of the Tokugawa shogunate 1635 the sakoku (“locked country”) period begins 1635 the sakoku (“locked country”) period begins 1853 the arrival of the United States navy fleet commanded by Matthew Perry 1867 the Meiji Restoration