Senso-ji temple, where New Year’s Eve bells are rung, is located in Tokyo.
Senso-ji is a Buddhist temple in Asakusa, one of Tokyo’s historic districts. Its New Year observances are part of Japan’s broader oshōgatsu traditions, which include visiting temples and shrines, praying for good fortune, and spending time with family.
At Buddhist temples across Japan, the bell-ringing ritual called joyanokane is traditionally performed 108 times around the turn of the year. The number 108 is associated with the worldly desires or earthly passions that Buddhism teaches people must overcome. The final ringing is connected with entering the new year purified from those troubles.
Senso-ji is often confused with nearby Shinto sites because many visitors visit both during New Year. Senso-ji itself is a Buddhist temple, while Meiji Shrine is a separate Shinto site in Tokyo and is also famous for New Year visits.