Joya no Kane: Why Japan Rings 108 Temple Bells on New Year's Eve

As the last hours of the year tick down in Japan, a deep, slow sound rolls across towns and cities. A temple bell is struck, and then, after a long pause, struck again. The sound drifts through cold air for hours. This is Joya no Kane, the New Year's Eve bell, and for many people it is the most peaceful way to see the old year out.

This guide explains where the tradition comes from, why the bell is rung 108 times, what the number means, how the custom reached ordinary households through radio and television, and how visitors can take part. It also looks at the bowl of noodles that goes with the evening, toshikoshi soba, and offers practical tips for a New Year's Eve temple visit.

What Joya no Kane Means

Joya no Kane means the bell of New Year's Eve, the one rung on the last night of the year at Buddhist temples. Most temples ring the bell 108 times. In many traditions the ringing is spread across the late evening, with a pause between each stroke so that the sound fades before the next. Some temples strike 107 times before midnight and save the last stroke for the new year, so that the final sound carries people across into January.

The spirit of the ceremony is to let go. The bell sweeps away the troubles and attachments of the past twelve months so that everyone can start the new year with a fresh mind. It is a quiet counterpart to the countdown parties that happen elsewhere, and many people attend it alongside their first shrine visit of the year, called hatsumode.

Why 108 Strokes

The number 108 is important in Buddhism, and sources give several explanations, none of them definitive. The most widely repeated one links it to bonno, the earthly desires or mental defilements that cloud the mind and cause suffering. Strikes of the bell are said to remove them one at a time.

One calculation of the number multiplies the six senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch and thought), by three types of feeling (pleasant, unpleasant and neutral), then by two states (pure or tainted) and three time frames (past, present and future), which comes to 108. Another explanation counts the twelve months, twenty-four solar terms and seventy-two microseasons of the traditional Japanese calendar. Whichever reading you prefer, the number represents completeness, and many visitors simply enjoy counting the strokes.

Origins in Zen Temples

The custom began in Chinese Zen temples during the Song dynasty and came to Japan in the Kamakura period (1185 to 1333). By the Muromachi period (1336 to 1573), ringing the bell on New Year's Eve had become a standard event, and it was believed to protect against bad luck. Because it was tied to the turn of the calendar, it fit naturally into the way Japanese people mark time.

For centuries the bell was something heard mainly by those living near a temple. That changed in the twentieth century. Radio broadcasts that began in 1927 carried the sound across the country, and a live broadcast from Senso-ji in Tokyo in 1929 helped the practice spread to other Buddhist sects. It moved to television in 1955. Today a program of bells from famous temples remains a familiar part of the late-night New Year's Eve lineup in many households.

Temples Where You Can Experience It

Many temples hold the ceremony, but details differ. Chion-in in Kyoto is one of the best known, where a team of 17 monks swings the heavy striking beam to ring its giant bell in the evening. Zojo-ji and Senso-ji in Tokyo are also widely associated with the event, and both begin ringing shortly after midnight according to published descriptions. Smaller neighborhood temples across Japan hold ceremonies that are more relaxed and easier to join.

At some temples, members of the public are allowed to ring the bell. This is often by order of arrival or by advance sign-up, and temples may limit the number of ringers. Some even allow the total count to go beyond 108 as a result. Not every temple takes part: some branches of Jodo Shinshu, a Buddhist school, do not hold the ceremony. Because details change, check the temple's website for the current year's timing and rules.

Toshikoshi Soba

The evening is usually paired with toshikoshi soba, "year-crossing" buckwheat noodles eaten on New Year's Eve. The custom is generally believed to have started around the middle of the Edo period (1603 to 1867), apparently in Osaka, and there are many theories about why. One says that long thin noodles represent a long life and a happy home. Another says that soba is easy to cut, so eating it symbolically cuts away the misfortune of the year. A third says that gold workers once used soba dough to collect gold dust, which makes the noodles a sign of prosperity.

December 31 is reportedly the busiest day of the year for soba restaurants. Many families eat the noodles before midnight, either at home or at a restaurant, and some then head out to a temple or shrine. Convenience stores and supermarkets also sell instant and fresh packs in December, which makes it easy for visitors staying in apartments to join the custom.

Changes in Modern Times

The bell has had to adapt. During the Second World War, many bells were collected for their metal, and some temples used drums instead for a time. More recently, the sound has become a subject of discussion in neighborhoods. Some temples have chosen to stop ringing at midnight, and one temple in Namerikawa moved its ceremony to 2 p.m. in 2021 to keep the tradition going in a way that suited its neighbors. Aging priests have also made all-night ceremonies harder.

These adjustments are a reminder that the custom survives because communities care about it. Visitors can help by being quiet and respectful, listening from a distance rather than crowding, and following the instructions of temple staff. A bell heard in a hushed crowd is at its best.

Tips for a New Year's Eve Visit

Dress very warmly. December nights are cold, and lines can be long. Bring gloves, a scarf and a thermos, and wear shoes that are comfortable for standing. Public transport often runs through the night around New Year's Eve at major stations, but schedules differ by area, so look up the last train and any special timetable.

Arrive early at famous temples, because many areas around them fill up and some close entry once capacity is reached. Switch your phone to silent, keep your voice low, and avoid flash photography. If you are invited to ring the bell, follow the staff's instruction on how to hold the rope and how to bow. And if a famous temple is too crowded, a small local temple can offer an equally memorable and more intimate experience.

Finally, remember that New Year is Japan's most important holiday, so many shops and restaurants close from late December to about January 3. Buy food and supplies in advance, and confirm that your hotel, restaurant and transport plans will be open. A calm evening of noodles and bell sound is easy to enjoy when the logistics are sorted out.