Todaiji Temple : The Giant Bell That Echoes Through the Ages

At dusk, the bustling Great Buddha Hall of Tōdaiji Temple grows quiet. As the gates close at 5 p.m., the lively chatter of visitors fades into stillness, and a deep, resonant sound begins to drift across the ancient capital of Nara. It is the voice of Tōdaiji’s great temple bell (bonshō) — a National Treasure that has been ringing for more than 1,300 years.

A Living Sound from the Nara Period

Cast in the 8th century during the Nara period, this immense bronze bell continues to sound every evening at 8 p.m. Its low, lingering tone spreads through the city, blending with the night air and wrapping the old capital in a sense of calm timelessness.

Climbing the stone steps from the Great Buddha Hall toward Nigatsudō Hall, visitors reach a small rise called Shōrō-ga-oka, where the oldest active bell in the area still rings. When visiting, please refrain from using flash or bright lights during the bell ringing — the atmosphere is quiet and contemplative, best experienced with respect and silence.

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Temple Bell Story

Ōganeya — The Keepers of the Great Bell

The sacred duty of striking the bell has been passed down through generations of one family known as the Ōganeya, meaning “Great Bell House.” Each night at exactly 8 p.m., a member of this family appears from the direction of Nigatsudō Hall, carrying the thick rope used to swing the wooden striker (shumoku) onto his shoulders. This simple yet solemn act has continued for centuries, symbolizing the enduring connection between sound, faith, and tradition at Tōdaiji.

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A National Treasure of Sound and Craftsmanship

The bell tower that houses this immense bell is also a National Treasure, rebuilt in the Kamakura period. Tōdaiji is the only temple in Japan where both the bell and the tower share this prestigious designation. Weighing about 26 tons, the bell is one of Japan’s largest and oldest. Even the striker alone weighs nearly 200 kilograms.

For nearly 900 years, Tōdaiji’s bell was considered Japan’s foremost temple bell — until the creation of the great bell at Hōkō-ji Temple, an event said to have altered the fate of the Toyotomi clan.

Today, the sound of Tōdaiji’s bell remains a powerful symbol of peace. It invites visitors not only to hear its tone but to feel its resonance — a living echo that connects the present with the spirit of ancient Japan.