Festival & seasonal event in Kyoto

Chion-in New Year's Eve Bell: Rehearsal Ringing

Before New Year's Eve, 17 monks practice ringing the giant temple bell, which weighs about 70 tons. Visitors may watch only.

Dates

Dec 27 (Sun)

Hours

From 2:00 PM (closing time: please check with the organizer)

Venue

Chion-in Temple

Nearest station

Higashiyama

Admission

See the official website for prices

About this event

Seventeen Buddhist monks work together to strike an enormous temple bell weighing approximately 70 tons. The rehearsal for Chion-in's New Year's Eve bell-ringing ceremony offers a chance to witness the physical coordination behind one of Kyoto's most distinctive winter traditions. One monk handles the main rope, while the other sixteen pull smaller ropes. Their movements are synchronized by rhythmic calls as they swing the heavy wooden striker against the bell. The extraordinary size of the bell is impressive, but the carefully coordinated movements of the monks are equally fascinating. Visitors may watch the rehearsal but cannot ring the bell themselves.

Highlights

• An enormous temple bell weighing approximately 70 tons
• A distinctive bell-ringing technique involving 17 monks
• One main rope and sixteen supporting ropes
• A rehearsal accompanied by traditional rhythmic calls

Good for

Families interested in Japanese New Year customs and visitors fascinated by traditional Buddhist ceremonies.

Good to know before you go

• Visitors may observe but cannot ring the bell.
• Access to the bell tower may be restricted during crowded periods.
• Restrictions apply to tripods, stepladders and selfie sticks.
• Drone use is prohibited.

Pochikichi's story corner

Why does it take 17 monks to ring Chion-in's bell?

The great bell at Chion-in is regarded as one of Japan's three famous large temple bells. Weighing approximately 70 tons, it requires a striking method quite different from that used for smaller bells.

Seventeen monks work together. One holds the main rope while sixteen others manage smaller supporting ropes. Moving in time with traditional calls, they use their bodies to swing the heavy wooden striker against the bell.

On New Year's Eve, the bell is struck 108 times. In Buddhist tradition, the number 108 represents the worldly desires and attachments that trouble human beings. Ringing the bell symbolizes the cleansing of these attachments before the new year begins.

The rehearsal allows visitors to see the movements used in the main ceremony. So when watching Chion-in's great bell, look not only at its immense size but also at the coordinated movements of the seventeen monks.

Sources: Kyoto City Official Guide: New Year's Eve Bell-Ringing Ceremonies for 2026 (Japanese)

Long ago, around here

What role did Higashiyama play in the history of Buddhism?

Chion-in's history is closely linked to Honen, the founder of the Jodo school of Buddhism. In 1175, Honen established a small hermitage in the Yoshimizu area of Higashiyama, where he began spreading the practice of exclusive devotion to the name of Amida Buddha.

Honen was later exiled to Sanuki. After returning to Kyoto in 1211, he settled at a mountain retreat in Otani, near the site of the present Seishido Hall. Higashiyama became an important setting for the final chapter of his life and his Buddhist teaching.

Chion-in remains the head temple of the Jodo school, preserving this history. The sound of its great bell is part of the religious heritage rooted in these eastern hills. So when walking through Chion-in, notice the slopes and changes in elevation that connect the temple to the landscape where Honen taught.

Sources: Chion-in Official Website: History and Highlights (Japanese)

FAQ

What is Chion-in New Year's Eve Bell: Rehearsal Ringing?

Seventeen Buddhist monks work together to strike an enormous temple bell weighing approximately 70 tons. The rehearsal for Chion-in's New Year's Eve bell-ringing ceremony offers a chance to witness the physical coordination behind one of Kyoto's most distinctive winter traditions. One monk handles the main rope, while the other sixteen pull smaller ropes. Their movements are synchronized by rhythmic calls as they swing the heavy wooden striker against the bell. The extraordinary size of the bell is impressive, but the carefully coordinated movements of the monks are equally fascinating. Visitors may watch the rehearsal but cannot ring the bell themselves.

When is Chion-in New Year's Eve Bell: Rehearsal Ringing?

On Dec 27 (Sun), 2026.

What are the opening hours?

From 2:00 PM (closing time: please check with the organizer)

How much does it cost?

See the official website for prices

Where is it and what is the nearest station?

Chion-in Temple. The nearest station is Higashiyama.

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