Japan’s Buddhist New Year’s Eve bell-ringing ceremony, held 108 times, is called Joya no Kane.
Buddhist temples ring their large bells at the end of the year, traditionally 108 times. The number is linked to the Buddhist idea of 108 earthly desires or worldly passions that cause suffering. Each strike symbolically helps people leave one such attachment behind before the new year.
The ceremony usually takes place late on December 31 and may continue into January 1. Some temples allow visitors to participate by striking the bell, while others conduct the ringing as a formal religious observance. The deep sound of the bell is associated with purification and renewal.
Joya no Kane is different from hatsumōde, the first shrine or temple visit of the year. The two customs often appear in the same New Year season, but they are not names for the same ritual. Practices and exact timing vary among temples.