Todai-ji Bell Tower

Shoro

A Monument of Sound

from the Nara Period

Just north of the Great Buddha Hall in Todai-ji Temple stands the Todai-ji Bell Tower (Shoro), a remarkable structure that houses one of Japan’s largest and oldest temple bells. The current bell was cast in 752, the same year as the Daibutsu's eye-opening ceremony, making it not only a religious artifact but also a symbol of Nara’s spiritual and political centrality during the Nara period (710–794).

The bell itself weighs nearly 26 tons and emits a deep, resonant tone that has been described in classical Japanese literature as “reverberating through the heavens.” The tower’s architectural design—simple yet massive—is a unique example of Tenpyo-style wooden construction, reflecting both Buddhist philosophy and functional durability.

Although often overshadowed by the Daibutsu and the main hall, the Bell Tower is a key piece of Japan’s intangible cultural heritage. It is especially significant during New Year’s Eve, when monks ring the bell 108 times to cleanse human sins, following a centuries-old Buddhist tradition.

Explore the Sights

See photos that bring Shoro to life.

Traditional Japanese wooden temple with a large bell hanging in the center, surrounded by trees and a clear sky in the background.
A large bronze bell hanging inside a traditional Japanese wooden structure, with the view from below showing the bell's suspension and the wooden beams supporting it.
Close-up view of a large bronze bell hanging inside a traditional wooden Japanese temple structure, with a wooden beam and a bamboo pole used for ringing the bell.
Large traditional bronze bell hanging inside a wooden temple structure with a view of the temple roof and trees in the background.
View of a large traditional Japanese temple bell hanging inside a wooden structure, viewed from directly below the bell looking up at the ceiling and support beams, with trees and rooftops in the background.
Large traditional bronze bell hanging inside a wooden structure at a Japanese temple with a distant roof visible outside.
Close-up of a large, dark, circular, stone bell mounted on a wooden structure in a traditional Asian temple.
Large bronze bell inside a wooden temple structure with traditional architecture, trees, and a parked car in the background.
A traditional wooden temple with a large bell in the center, situated on stone steps, surrounded by green trees and a cloudy sky.
A traditional Japanese temple bell tower with a large bell inside, surrounded by greenery and an overcast sky.