In Japan’s New Year celebration, Buddhist temple bells are traditionally rung 108 times.
This ceremony is known as joyanokane. The number 108 is associated with the Buddhist idea of earthly desires or afflictions that cause suffering. Ringing the bell is understood symbolically as helping people leave those troubles behind as the old year ends.
Temples generally begin the sequence before midnight and finish around the change of year, although exact timing and local practice can differ. The sound of the bells is a familiar part of Japanese New Year broadcasts and temple visits.
Japanese New Year, or Shōgatsu, is also marked by family gatherings, shrine or temple visits, special foods, and the sending of New Year cards. The bell ceremony is Buddhist, while many other New Year customs are connected with Shinto practice or broader Japanese seasonal traditions.