Jul 31, 2014 - 1 min read

Famous Belfry of Eiheiji Temple

Eiheiji Guide 12: The bell tolls on New Year's Eve

By Takako Sakamoto

Community writer

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Belfry of Eiheiji Temple surrounded by tall cedar trees

Famous belfry stands in a silent forest

Close-up look at the famous bell of Eiheiji Temple. This weighs five tons!

Apart from the tolling on New Year's Eve, it's struck four times a day by a monk regularly (morning, noon, afternoon and night)

The wooden belfry was rebuilt in 1963

The belfry stands silently in green woods permeated with the spirit of Zen

This photo story is to guide you step-by-step as you explore Eiheiji Temple in Fukui, the Zen temple of 'Eternal Peace'. The twelfth guide focuses on 'Shōrō-dō (Belfry)', which tolls on New Year's Eve and the sound of it is heard by the ears of locals living nearby or on a special NHK TV program throughout Japan. Apart from that, this five-ton bell is struck four times a day; in a morning, at noon, in the late afternoon and at night. The bell was requisitioned by the Japanese military for the needs of metals during WWII, was returned after the war and molded again. The belfry was rebuilt in 1963 in the Kamakura style.

For other photos, please see these other photo stories, a detailed history, this article, and the other entries to this guide, the links below.