{"id":774,"date":"2025-12-24T11:41:32","date_gmt":"2025-12-24T02:41:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/?post_type=article&#038;p=774"},"modified":"2026-01-29T09:12:45","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T00:12:45","slug":"a-famous-new-years-eve-tradition-the-powerful-joya-no-kane-at-chion-in-temple-in-kyoto","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/articles\/a-famous-new-years-eve-tradition-the-powerful-joya-no-kane-at-chion-in-temple-in-kyoto\/","title":{"rendered":"The powerful Joya-no-Kane at Chion-in Temple in Kyoto"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>A common event on New Year\u2019s Eve in Japan is <strong>Joya-no-Kane<\/strong> (the New Year\u2019s bell).<br>When the NHK year-end music show <strong>Kohaku Uta Gassen<\/strong> is near the end, you can often hear bell sounds from far away. This is a classic New Year\u2019s Eve scene in Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After the show ends, another TV program, <strong>Yuku Toshi Kuru Toshi<\/strong>, shows New Year\u2019s bells from many places across Japan. Every year, the powerful bell at <strong>Chion-in Temple<\/strong> is often featured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>About 30,000 people gather each year. It is not an exaggeration to say it is one of the most famous in Japan. I went to see the huge temple bell at <strong>Chion-in Temple<\/strong> rung for Joya-no-Kane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From 2025, the Joya-no-Kane viewing at <strong>Chion-in Temple<\/strong> became <strong>paid and requires an advance application<\/strong>.<br>To watch, you need either:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>an online reservation from the official website starting Dec 1, or<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>an in-person reservation at the Chion-in Yuzen-en reception starting Dec 8.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>There are four time slots, 500 people each, for a total of 2,000 people. The online slots filled up quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is Joya no Kane?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>First, let\u2019s look at what \u201cJoya no Kane\u201d is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What does Joy\u0430 mean?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>First, what does \u201cjoya\u201d in \u201cJoya no Kane\u201d mean?<br>\u201cJoya\u201d means the night of \u201cjojitsu.\u201d<br>\u201cJojitsu\u201d means \u201cthe day to remove the old year.\u201d It is the same as New Year\u2019s Eve, December 31.<br>Just like \u201cGantan\u201d means the morning of New Year\u2019s Day, \u201cjoya\u201d means the night of New Year\u2019s Eve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The history of Joya no Kane<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/zyoya1-600x600-1.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-776\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/zyoya1-600x600-1.webp 600w, https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/zyoya1-600x600-1-300x300.webp 300w, https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/zyoya1-600x600-1-150x150.webp 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The culture of celebrating the last day of the year as \u201cjoya\u201d (or \u201cNew Year\u2019s Eve\u201d) is not only in Japan. It also exists in East Asia, such as China, Korea, and Vietnam, where Chinese characters are used.<br>Surprisingly, it is <strong>not directly connected<\/strong> to Buddhism that started in India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The custom of hitting a temple bell on New Year\u2019s Eve started in China and came to Japan in the <strong>Kamakura period<\/strong>.<br>However, \u201cJoya no Kane\u201d becoming common like today is not very old. Up to the <strong>Edo period<\/strong>, records about it are only in small pieces, and it was not a popular public event like it is now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It began to spread after the <strong>Meiji era<\/strong>, and it is said to have become widely common from the <strong>1930s (Showa era)<\/strong>.<br>Around the same time, radio became popular, and the New Year\u2019s Eve bell was broadcast nationwide. This was a big reason it spread.<br>So even though it feels like a very old tradition, \u201cJoya no Kane\u201d is actually <strong>fairly new<\/strong>.<br>Also, in China, where it started, the custom has almost disappeared, so today it is mostly a <strong>Japanese<\/strong> New Year\u2019s Eve event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why ring the bell 108 times?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cJoya no Kane\u201d is usually rung <strong>108 times<\/strong>.<br>People often say this is to remove the <strong>108 worldly desires<\/strong> in Buddhism.<br>Another idea is that 108 is the total of <strong>12 (months) + 24 (solar terms) + 72 (seasons\/markers)<\/strong>.<br>In any case, \u201cJoya no Kane\u201d is <strong>not very strongly tied<\/strong> to Buddhist teaching, and the number 108 is <strong>not that important<\/strong>.<br>Some temples do not count the exact number, so that every visitor can ring the bell. That is also fine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>When is Joya no Kane rung?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"399\" src=\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/zyoya2-600x399-1.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-775\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/zyoya2-600x399-1.webp 600w, https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/zyoya2-600x399-1-300x200.webp 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Joya no Kane is rung from the old year into the new year, and the timing is usually one of these patterns:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Ring 107 times before midnight, then 1 time after the new year starts<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Start ringing only after the new year begins<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Start at a set time before midnight, ring across midnight, and finish in the new year<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Some people say the first pattern is the \u201cproper\u201d one, but <strong>there is no strict rule<\/strong>.<br>Including <strong>Chion-in Temple<\/strong>, the third pattern is the most common.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Chion-in Temple Joya no Kane report<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>On <strong>December 31, 2018<\/strong>, I went to see the \u201cJoya no Kane\u201d at <strong>Chion-in Temple<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A powerful and acrobatic bell ringing<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"437\" src=\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/zyoya17-600x437-1.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-777\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/zyoya17-600x437-1.webp 600w, https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/zyoya17-600x437-1-300x219.webp 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>As you may know from the TV program \u201cYuku Toshi Kuru Toshi,\u201d the temple bell at <strong>Chion-in Temple<\/strong> is so huge that it is rung in a special way.<br>There are <strong>17<\/strong> bell ringers.<br>This includes <strong>1<\/strong> person holding the main rope, and <strong>16<\/strong> people holding the other ropes.<br>The main rope leader is the star, and his movements are very acrobatic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"482\" src=\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/2.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-778\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/2.webp 600w, https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/2-300x241.webp 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The ringers on the side ropes pull back the wooden beam a few times, building up power little by little.<br>Then the main rope leader calls out, \u201cE~i, hito~tsu!\u201d<br>The 16 side-rope ringers repeat the same words and pull the beam far back together.<br>When everyone chants \u201cSo~re,\u201d the side-rope ringers loosen the ropes. At the same time, the main rope leader uses the rebound, almost throwing his whole body forward, and strikes the bell with full force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"470\" src=\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/3.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-780\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/3.webp 600w, https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/3-300x235.webp 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>At the moment of the strike, the side ropes bend and flex heavily.<br>It\u2019s an easy way to see how powerful and fast the hit is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From the point where you enter in front of the large bell tower, the view turns half a circle. This is what it looks like from the bell ringers\u2019 side.<br>You can clearly see the wooden beam swing with strong force and slam into the bell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/zyoya22-600x400-1.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-781\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/zyoya22-600x400-1.webp 600w, https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/zyoya22-600x400-1-300x200.webp 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The main rope leader faces the opposite side of the bell, so you can clearly see his facial expression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Joya no Kane is usually rung at a pace of a little over <strong>once every minute<\/strong>.<br>Because the main rope leader\u2019s role is very hard physical work, they usually <strong>switch leaders every 3 strikes<\/strong>. The side-rope ringers who pull the wooden beam do not need as much strength. The reason there are <strong>16<\/strong> of them is that it matches the idea of the <strong>Sixteen Arhats<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/zyoya23-600x400-1.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-782\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/zyoya23-600x400-1.webp 600w, https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/zyoya23-600x400-1-300x200.webp 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Ending<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>On New Year\u2019s Eve, a great way to finish the year is with Joya no Kane.<br>In Kyoto on New Year\u2019s Eve, trains and some city buses run all night, but there are fewer services, so travel can take more time.<br>However, taxis are still easy to use, just like usual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you use taxis well, you can visit not only <strong>Chion-in Temple<\/strong>, but also several places to see more than one Joya no Kane.<br>At <strong>Chion-in Temple<\/strong>, the bell ringing is special and you mainly watch it. But in many other places, you can also find bells that visitors can ring themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s end <strong>2025<\/strong> with Joya no Kane!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>For sightseeing in Kyoto, leave it to MK\u2019s chartered sightseeing taxi.<\/strong><br>Your private driver is a Kyoto expert who handles both transport and guiding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"450\" height=\"72\" src=\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/\u30d0\u30ca\u30fc\u8cb8\u5207\u89b3\u5149E-2.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-783\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/\u30d0\u30ca\u30fc\u8cb8\u5207\u89b3\u5149E-2.png 450w, https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/\u30d0\u30ca\u30fc\u8cb8\u5207\u89b3\u5149E-2-300x48.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":779,"template":"","article_category":[],"class_list":["post-774","article","type-article","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","en-US"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article\/774","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/article"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/779"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=774"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"article_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article_category?post=774"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}