Buddhist temple bells traditionally ring 108 times in Japan on New Year's Eve.
This ritual is called Joya no Kane, a Japanese New Year's Eve observance usually performed shortly before or around midnight. The repeated ringing is associated with the Buddhist idea that human beings are troubled by 108 earthly desires or worldly passions.
Many temples ring the bell 107 times during the old year and once after midnight, symbolically leaving the past year behind. Practices vary: some temples allow visitors to participate, while others reserve the striking for monks or organized groups.
The number 108 also appears in other Buddhist contexts, so it is not simply a count of calendar days or months. Joya no Kane is distinct from Japan's more secular countdown parties, fireworks, and television programs, although all occur during the same New Year period.