Byodoin Joya no Kane 2026

Byodo-in's New Year's Eve bell runs from 23:45 on 31 December 2026 to about 01:00; admission is free, though the garden, Phoenix Hall and the museum are closed, and only the south gate is open. Visitors receive a special ema (Year of the Sheep) praying for happiness, first-come, first-served for 1,000 people, while stocks last; bells are rung in groups of five to six per strike.