40th Annual Japanese New Year Bell-Ringing Ceremony

Join your museum community and ring the bell at one of our most beloved yearly events.

Welcome the New Year by ringing a 2,100-pound, 16th-century Japanese temple bell, leaving behind any regrets or ill luck from 2025. The San Francisco Chronicle calls it “a great way to end a year and start a new year.”

Led by Reverend Gengo Akiba, this inspiring ceremony includes a purification ritual and chanting of the Buddhist Heart Sutra. The bell is struck 108 times to usher in the New Year and curb the 108 mortal desires (bonno) that, according to Buddhist belief, torment humankind.

We encourage visitors to purchase general admission tickets in advance. An admission ticket guarantees entry to the museum, but a separate numbered ticket (available at the entrance to Samsung Hall) is required to ring the bell.

Bell-Ringing Ceremonies

Public Bell-Ringing: 1 PM

All visitors are invited to take part in the afternoon ceremony. Numbered tickets to ring the bell are distributed beginning at 12 PM at the entrance to Samsung Hall on a first-come, first-served basis.

Member Bell-Ringing: 10:30 AM

A morning ceremony is offered for members. Not yet a member? Join today to experience this morning session and other exclusive benefits.

Art Activity

10:30 AM–4:30 PM | Kadomatsu Craft (Japanese New Year Decoration)

Tours and Storytelling

11 AM | New Japanese Clay Tour
11 AM | Family Storytelling (ages 3–6)
12:30 PM | Touch Tour of the Bell for Blind and Visually Impaired Community
2 PM | Collection Tour
2 PM | Family Storytelling (all ages)
3:30 PM | New Japanese Clay Tour

Accessibility

The Asian Art Museum is committed to ensuring our events are accessible to all. This program is wheelchair accessible, and assistive listening devices (ALDs) are available upon request.

As part of the celebration, we invite blind and visually impaired visitors to join a tactile touch tour of the bell at 12:30 PM, with priority seating for the afternoon ceremony. Space is limited.