News On Japan

Kyoto Temple Turns Iconic New Year Bell Into Ticketed Event

KYOTO, Oct 02 (News On Japan) - The iconic New Year’s Eve bell at Chion-in Temple in Kyoto will shift to a fully paid and reservation-only system this year, with entry limited to 2,000 people, in response to overwhelming crowds in recent years.

Located in Kyoto’s Higashiyama district, Chion-in is known for its New Year’s Eve bell-ringing ceremony, where the bell is struck 108 times to symbolize the cleansing of human desires, a tradition that has long marked the arrival of the new year. The bell itself, built in the early Edo period, stands about 3.3 meters tall, weighs around 70 tons, and is considered one of Japan’s three great temple bells alongside those at Todaiji in Nara and Hokoji in Kyoto. It is also designated as an Important Cultural Property.

In recent years, even the preliminary test-ringing has drawn large crowds, with the main event on December 31st echoing across Kyoto in deep, resonant tones. However, Chion-in announced on October 1st that it will now require advance reservations and introduce an admission fee.

“The number of visitors to Chion-in has exploded during the year-end and New Year period, with lines stretching all the way around the temple grounds,” said Masashi Kuki of the temple’s General Affairs Department. With the rise of social media and a surge in inbound tourism, the event has become so popular that queues sometimes extend for more than a kilometer, occasionally leading to disputes among visitors.

To ensure safety, access will be restricted to 2,000 people with prior reservations. The admission fee is set at 3,000 yen per person, with free entry for elementary school students and younger. Attendees will be divided into four groups of 500, entering the temple in rotation.

“By introducing a fee, we hope not only to control the crowds but also to use the proceeds as a preservation fund for future generations,” Kuki said. The temple also plans to livestream the event, allowing people to take part virtually from home via computer, smartphone, or tablet.

Reservations will open on December 1st through Chion-in’s dedicated website and from December 8th at the temple’s reception office.

Source: YOMIURI

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

After nearly a decade of construction, the newly rebuilt Haneda Line of the Metropolitan Expressway, one of Tokyo’s key arteries linking the city center with Haneda Airport, has been unveiled to the media ahead of its official switch to a new road on October 29th.

The newly launched Takaichi Cabinet moved into full operation on October 22nd, with early personnel decisions revealing a clear conservative tone. Satsuki Katayama was appointed as finance minister and Kimi Onoda as minister in charge of foreign resident policy, underscoring what observers are calling the emergence of a distinct “Takaichi color.”

Authorities in Shiraoi, Hokkaido, have begun culling approximately 460,000 laying hens after a poultry farm in the region’s Iburi area confirmed infections of highly pathogenic avian influenza, marking the first confirmed outbreak of the season in Japan.

Kyoto’s world-famous Arashiyama district, a popular destination for both domestic and international tourists, is facing a growing problem of graffiti etched into the bamboo along its iconic “Bamboo Grove Path,” with more than 350 stalks now damaged — a practice that experts warn could eventually cause bamboo to weaken, fall, and even injure visitors.

Japan’s streaming industry is under growing pressure as foreign giants tighten their grip on the domestic market, with Netflix’s latest move to secure exclusive broadcast rights in Japan for every game of the World Baseball Classic next March highlighting the widening gap.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Travel NEWS

The Jidai Festival, one of Kyoto’s three grand festivals, was held as a parade of people dressed in costumes representing different historical eras made its way through the streets of the ancient capital.

The Shizuoka Prefectural Assembly’s special committee on the preservation and proper use of Mt. Fuji held its fourth meeting on October 21st, hearing from officials of Fujiyoshida City in neighboring Yamanashi Prefecture about their initiatives to curb “bullet climbing” — the practice of ascending the mountain overnight without adequate rest or preparation.

Cold air brought Japan its lowest temperatures of the season on October 22nd, with even northern plains in Hokkaido blanketed by snow.

Dragging heavy suitcases up and down stairs and through unfamiliar places is probably not what you had in mind for your Japan trip - that's where luggage storage and delivery come in. A safe and convenient alternative, these services allow you to ditch those bags and have your best Japan holiday. (Japan Guide)

Kyoto’s world-famous Arashiyama district, a popular destination for both domestic and international tourists, is facing a growing problem of graffiti etched into the bamboo along its iconic “Bamboo Grove Path,” with more than 350 stalks now damaged — a practice that experts warn could eventually cause bamboo to weaken, fall, and even injure visitors.

A historic temple in Ota, Gunma Prefecture, known as the birthplace of the Tokugawa clan name, is at the center of a dispute with local authorities after a once-picturesque pond within its grounds dried up and turned into an overgrown thicket.

The number of foreign visitors to Japan surpassed 30 million in the fastest time ever, according to data released by the Japan National Tourism Organization. A total of 31.65 million people visited the country between January and September 2025, breaking the 30 million mark earlier in the year than ever before.

The Osaka-Kansai Expo, which brought together 158 countries and regions over 184 days before closing on October 13th, now faces a crucial question: how can its legacy be preserved for future generations? Experts say the answer lies not only in what remains physically — such as pavilions, iconic structures, and innovative technologies — but also in how the event continues to inspire people long after the crowds have gone home.