The bell of Kanzeon-ji Buddhist Temple in Dazaifu City is the oldest one in Japan.

Kanzeon-ji Temple in Dazaifu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, is one of the three prestigious Buddhist temples in Japan as these were equipped with *Kaidan-in.

*Kaidan-in means a facility to give a permission to become a new Buddhist priest.

Many precious Buddhist statues, eighteen important cultural assets included, are housed here. And the old bell in the picture deserves special mention. This bell is thought to be a sibling of the bell of Myoshin-ji Temple in Kyoto, the engravement of which reads being produced in 698. Because the size and figure of these two bells are totally the same, thus they are Japan's oldest temple bells in existence.

Licensed tour guide, travel consultant,

Masahisa Takaki.