despite the good news, shōmu did not return to heijō-kyō immediately, but stayed in kawaguchi until december 4. he continued his journey east, then north via mino province and back west along the shores of lake biwa to kuni in yamashiro province (today in kizugawa) which he reached on january 6, 741. places passed along the way included akasaka 赤坂頓宮; today suzuka; 11th m. 14th d.: dec 7）, asake district (朝明郡; today yokkaichi; 11th m. 20th d.: dec 13）, ishiura (石占頓宮; today tado; 11th m. 25th d.: dec 18）, tagi district (当伎郡; today yōrō; 11th m. 26th d.: dec 19）, fuwa (不破頓宮; today tarui; 12th m. 1st d.: dec 23）, yokokawa (横川頓宮; today santō or maihara; 12th m. 6th d.: dec 28), inukami (犬上頓宮; today hikone; 12th m. 7th d.: dec 29）, gamō district (蒲生郡; today near yōkaichi; 12th m. 9th d.: dec 31）, yasu (野洲頓宮; today yasu or moriyama; 12th m. 10th d.: jan 1）, awazu (禾津頓宮; today ōtsu; 12th m. 11th d.： jan 2）, tamanoi (玉井頓宮; today yamashina-ku, kyoto; 12th m. 14th d.）. situated among the hills and near a river north of nara, kuni was easily defensible. in addition, the area was linked with the minister of the right, tachibana no moroe, while nara was a center of the fujiwara clan. on january 6, 741, shōmu proclaimed a new capital at kuni-kyō.