Tokyo 30th/1st,
Japan 2017-2018

An hour before midnight, I go to Zōjō-ji (増上寺) temple. The place is packed with people waiting to celebrate the new year and hear the bells. This is my first time in Japan for new year.

"At midnight on December 31, Buddhist temples all over Japan ring their bells a total of 108 times (joyanokane [ja] (除夜の鐘)) to symbolize the 108 earthly temptations in Buddhist belief, and to get rid of the 108 worldly desires regarding sense and feeling in every Japanese citizen. A major attraction is The Watched Night bell, in Tokyo. A traditional Japanese belief is that ringing bells can rid the sins of the passing year. The bell is rung 107 times on the 31st and once past midnight." .- Japanese New Year. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.