On the other hand, in time periods focusing on diplomacy, or if an emperor wanted to establish themselves at a distance from the existing powers in the Nara Basin, their capitals were placed to the south of the southern coast of Lake Biwa along the inland water system logistics route from the Japan Sea, via Wakasa Bay, Lake Biwa, the Yodo River, Osaka Bay and to the Seto Inland Sea.
他方、外交が重視される時期や、奈良盆地の既存勢力と距離を置きたい場合には、日本海-若狭湾-琵琶湖-淀川-大阪湾-瀬戸内海の内陸水系物流ルート沿いの琵琶湖南岸以南に都が置かれた。