Japanese temple bells are traditionally rung 108 times on New Year's Eve.
The ceremony is called joyanokane and is associated with Buddhist teaching about the 108 earthly desires or worldly passions that cause suffering. Ringing the bell is understood as a symbolic way to leave those burdens behind while entering the new year. The final rings are commonly arranged so that the last one sounds after midnight, marking the transition between years.
Large Buddhist temples attract worshippers for the ceremony, and some allow visitors to take turns striking the bell under supervision. The exact organization differs by temple, but the number 108 is the defining feature. The practice is part of shōgatsu, Japan's New Year season, which also includes shrine visits, special foods, greeting cards, and family gatherings. A common misunderstanding is that the 108 rings represent the days of the year; they instead refer to a Buddhist enumeration of human attachments and desires.