Strike the bell and welcome the new year at Iwamoto-ji Temple

Ever marveled at those humongous bells at Japanese temples and wondered if they ever get rung? The answer is yes, and one of those traditional bell-ringing ceremonies is called ‘joya no kane’, which takes place on New Year’s Eve

During the over 1,000-year-old ceremony, bells are rung exactly 108 times (a sacred number that represents people’s worldly desires) with the final swing of the beam completed as the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Day. By ringing the bell 108 times, it is believed that people become cleansed of their worries and problems from the past year, so they can welcome the year ahead as a renewed self

The ceremony takes place annually at Iwamoto-ji Temple located near the crystal-clear Shimanto River, where visitors get to savor the quintessential Japanese New Year’s dish of toshikoshi soba (buckwheat noodles) and even strike the bell themselves!

Check for updates and information on Iwamoto-ji Temple here: https://at40010.jp/en/

Iwamoto-ji is the 37th stop on the famous Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage! Learn more here: https://visitkochijapan.com/en/highlights/henro