Chion-in Temple prepares for New Year

Every year on New Year's Eve, the Chion-in Temple in Kyoto rings in the new year with a bell that is more than 3 meters high and weighs 70 tons. The bell was cast in the 17th century. To prepare for the big night, about 30 monks conducted a test ringing on December 27, using a beam about 4 meters long with 17 pull-ropes attached. The bell rings 108 times throughout the year from 10:40 p.m. on New Year's Eve.