[For Seniors] Recreations to Experience in August
At day service centers and other senior facilities, staff are always thinking up recreational activities that elderly participants will enjoy.
We recommend seasonal activities that help stimulate both mind and body.
In this article, we’ll introduce recreational ideas that are perfect for August!
Speaking of August, Japan is full of unique seasonal events like festivals and Obon!
We’ve gathered many activities inspired by the classic sights and sounds of summer.
There are also refreshing ideas you can only experience during the summer, so please use them as a reference.
- [Elderly Care] Summary of Ideas and Recreational Activities Linked to August Events
- [For Seniors] Fun Activities That Liven Up Cool Evening Festivals and Summer Festivals
- [For Seniors] Enjoy September’s Autumn Fun! A Collection of Craft, Game, and Exercise Ideas
- Activities perfect for July for seniors: Introducing games and recreational options
- [For Seniors] Simple Recreational Activities You Can Enjoy While Seated
- [For Seniors] Enjoy Summer to the Fullest! Fun Summer-Only Activities Introduced
- Snacks for Seniors: Refreshing Chilled Sweets Recommended for August
- For Seniors: Festive Attractions to Liven Up Festivals—Games and Recreational Activities
- [For Seniors] Recreational Activities Enjoyable in Large Groups
- [Day Service] August Craft Ideas That Seniors Will Enjoy
- [For Seniors] Enjoyable Day Service: A Collection of Fun Event Ideas
- August quizzes that seniors can enjoy!
- [For Seniors] August Health Tips: How to Enjoy and Stay Comfortable During the Hot Summer
[For Seniors] Recreations You’ll Want to Experience in August (61–70)
Fishing game

How about enjoying a fishing game to get into the summer festival spirit? You know how there’s goldfish scooping at festival stalls.
Let’s try fishing with that festive feeling! Of course, we won’t be catching real fish—prepare fish made from paper or plastic bags, and attach magnets to the tip of the fishing rod and to the fish’s mouth.
Can you manage to hook the fish onto the magnet at the end of the rod?
Awa Odori Exercise

Awa Odori, the traditional performing art of Tokushima Prefecture.
It’s known as one of Japan’s three major Bon dances, and every August a large festival is held in Tokushima City.
Let’s try a set of exercises inspired by Awa Odori! The actual dance moves the hands and feet in quick, intricate ways and has quite a fast pace, but the exercises introduced here are more relaxed—and you can even do them while seated, so no worries.
Move your whole body with big motions and stretch freely as you exercise.
Let’s power through the summer with energy!
Uchiwa making

Uchiwa fans are a summer essential, and making your own makes using one even more fun.
So why not create a fan that’s uniquely yours by drawing your favorite pictures or writing words on it? These days, DIY uchiwa kits are even sold at 100-yen shops.
You could draw summer-themed motifs like seasonal vegetables or goldfish to boost the summer mood, or make a personalized fan with your name on it—how lovely!
Yo-yo fishing

Yoyo fishing is something you’re almost guaranteed to see at summer festivals and temple fairs.
Haven’t most people tried it at least once? It’s easy for anyone to enjoy, anywhere.
These days, you can get all the supplies at a 100-yen shop.
Fill a washbasin or bucket with water and float colorful water balloons on top, and you’ll instantly feel the summer festival vibe! The paper twist made from tissue tears easily when wet, so be careful when you fish.
And it’s nice that you usually get to take one balloon even if you don’t catch any.
ring toss

Ring toss is a game that everyone can enjoy, from small children to adults.
It’s great because you can easily play it indoors.
Let’s enjoy ring toss together and get into the festive summer fair spirit! You can make the rings out of newspaper and the like.
Decide how many rings each person gets, and you can either throw them onto papers marked with different point values to compete for scores, or use plastic bottles as targets and see if you can land the rings on them—both ways are fun.



