| DATE: | December 31, 2005, at 11:50p.m. | |
| PLACE: | Houkou-ji Temple |
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| DIRECTION: | 5-minute walk from the city bus stop at Hakubutsu-kan Sanjusangen-do mae | |
| TEL: | 81-75-531-4928 | |
| ADMISSION: | 200 yen | |
| TEXT: | Visitors can share an experience of ringing this special and huge bell (4.2 meters high and 82.7 tons), known as the “Bell of Kokka Anko.” Ieyasu Tokugawa used the words “Kokka Anko,” inscribed on the bell by Hideyoshi Toyotomi, as a pretext for starting an attack against Toyotomi and bringing about his downfall. Visitors are allowed to ring the bell after the master priest finishs ringing it at 11:50p.m.. However, it is better to arrive around 11p.m. because many visitors are expected every year. When too many people come to ring the bell, a group of two to three people would ring the bell once, until it is ended at 108th. Please come and ring for the New Year. |