(31 Dec 2013) Thousands of locals and tourists crowded into the grounds of Zojoji temple in Tokyo at midnight Tuesday as Japan celebrated the arrival of the new year.

At the stroke of midnight (1500 GMT), priests used ropes to swing a wooden pole against the huge bell at the temple to ring in the new year.

Simultaneously, "2014" lit up in white lights on the modern Tokyo Tower, located close to the temple.

The tolling of bells at midnight is an ancient tradition for Buddhists, who believe that humans are born with 108 worldly desires and that these are removed when a bell is struck 108 times.


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