Fun Activities and Recreation Games for Boys

plastic bottle rocket

[Summer Vacation] A University of Tokyo Student Tried Launching a Plastic Bottle Rocket [Independent Research]

The “PET bottle rocket” that’s often featured on TV shows and in magazines never fails to make you think, “Wow, that’s amazing.” It’s incredible that it can travel that far without using gunpowder or electricity.

Instead of just being impressed forever, why not gather some rocket-loving kids and make PET bottle rockets together? Some people even make them using only items from 100-yen shops.

While learning about action and reaction forces, you’ll have a lively, hands-on time—guaranteed fun for everyone!

Train Quiz

Which Shinkansen is it? Quiz | Shinkansen Anime for Kids | Shinkansen Quiz

There are passionate railway fans often called railway maniacs or train otaku, right? Even among those fans, their enthusiasm can be further subdivided—some love taking photos, while others want to actually ride the trains.

Boys never stop dreaming about big vehicles! On rainy days when you can’t go outside, let’s have fun with a “train quiz”! Questions like “Which one is the Kodama Shinkansen?” or “What color are the Yamanote Line trains?” might stump even adults who ride trains regularly when they’re suddenly turned into quiz questions.

Just watching trains can give you a little taste of a trip!

sword fighting

Sports Chanbara Class, Tairadate After-School Care Club

For some reason, souvenir shops in tourist spots sell wooden swords and replica blades.

And of course, boys on school trips still buy them! Thinking about it, maybe mock sword fighting is an endlessly fun game for boys.

Roll up an old newspaper—easy to find—and make a sword, then dive in and enjoy some playful dueling! One of the great things about chanbara is the variety: on sunny days, you can play tag outdoors while sparring; on rainy days, hide-and-seek indoors works too.

There’s even an official sport now called Sports Chanbara, so if you’re interested, be sure to check it out!

Fishing game

[Handmade Toys] Everyone Loves It! Let's Play the Paper Cup Craft “Fishing” Game [Tokyo Toy Museum × BabyTube]

Many boys start fishing under the influence of a fishing-loving uncle or other relatives.

If you live far from the sea or a river, why not have fun with a “fishing game”? Instead of catching real fish, you’ll fish for ones made from construction paper or paper cups.

Create the catching mechanism using magnets, hooks—get creative with different ideas.

You can even make the fishing pole by tightly rolling up newspaper.

For big fish, add some clay inside to make them heavier.

It’s a highly recommended activity that’s fun from the moment you start making it!

caster board

RipStik Brave Board Trick Collection 21

A caster board is a skateboard equipped with two swivel wheels.

Its distinctive handling evokes surfing and other board sports, setting it apart from traditional skateboards and making it a topic of conversation.

Tricks are harder with only two wheels, but simply riding it is easier than on a skateboard, and the sense of exhilaration is unbeatable.

Trump ‘Speed’

Let's play cards♪ How to play Speed

Among card games, Speed is one you can really enjoy as an intense two-player battle.

Divide the deck into red and black and give each player their own pile.

First, each player flips four cards face up to form their hand.

At the signal of “Speed,” both players place one card from their pile face up in the center—that’s when the battle begins! From your hand, you play cards that are one number higher or lower than the cards in the center.

Keep repeating this; when your hand runs low, replenish it from your pile.

The first player to use up their pile wins.

Your reflexes are put to the test as you read the situation from the cards on the table.

It’s easy to get swept up in your opponent’s pace while you’re thinking through your moves, and when you lose, it’s so intense you’ll want to shout, “Whoa!!”

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Hane Keisuke

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Plastic model building

[Model Kits] Start Now! Recommended Plastic Models You Can Build Using Only Nippers [Beginner Guide]

The plastic model kit said to have changed history is the Mobile Suit Gundam kit released in 1980, commonly known as Gunpla.

It’s an enormously popular series, with over 2,000 different models released by 2019.

Even boys who had never built a plastic model before all rushed to make Gunpla.

On rainy days, let’s all have fun building model kits together.

You can even buy plastic models of cars, anime characters, castles, and food stalls.

Find your favorite!