[For Adults] Fun Games to Liven Up Your Cherry-Blossom Viewing: Recreation and Party Games
Hanami is already a lot of fun just by eating, drinking, and chatting while admiring the cherry blossoms.
That said, if it’s a long stretch from noon into the night, there are times when the mood dips if you keep the party going nonstop.
And even though it’s spring, March and April can still be quite chilly.
So in this article, we’ve gathered some activities perfect for hanami—light recreation to get you moving and warm you up, as well as lively games to keep idle moments at bay.
It’s geared toward adults, so it’s great for company outings or university groups!
Be sure to check it out!
- [For Adults] Fun recreational games. Perfect for short breaks too!
- [For Kids] Fun Activities for Cherry-Blossom Viewing: Recreation and Games
- Team-based recreational activities for adults that are fun even with large groups
- Fun recreational games that liven up outdoor activities
- Entertainments and performances to liven up cherry-blossom viewing: spring mini games
- Recreation Ideas for Seniors to Enjoy March
- [For Seniors] Fun Spring Recreational Activities: A Collection of Games and Play Ideas
- Games you can play with just conversation. Classic and popular activities you can enjoy without any props!
- [For University Students] A Roundup of Fun Games and Recreational Activities
- Fun activities that liven up a camp: recreational games
- Games and activities everyone can enjoy together. A collection of fun play ideas.
- Indoor games and recreational activities recommended for spring
- Simple mini-games that liven up a party
[For Adults] Fun Games for Cherry Blossom Viewing: Recreational Games (31–40)
scrubbing brush
A tawashi scrubbing brush is a strong ally in the kitchen for scouring off grime, starting with burnt-on residue from frying pans.
Most people have probably touched one or at least seen one.
But when you touch a tawashi without seeing it, you might be startled by its hard, prickly feel.
The person putting their hand in will feel a little thrill, and onlookers will get a kick out of watching them gingerly touch the brush.
They come in a wide variety of shapes—round, long, and more—and their easy availability is another appealing point.
hand
Even if the person putting their hand in can’t see inside the box, people around them can sometimes see what’s in there, right? Why not take advantage of that situation—where only the guesser can’t see—and use someone’s hand as the mystery item? Have the guesser wear an eye mask to block their vision, and have the person in charge insert their hand from the front.
Because they’ll assume “there’s no way that could be in there,” you can expect a big reaction when they touch it.
The reaction may also change depending on whether the hand moves or not.
balloon
This is about whether you can guess just by the feel of touching an inflated balloon.
You might be able to tell that it’s something rounded and filled with air, but distinguishing whether it’s a ball or a balloon seems difficult.
If you press harder, you can sense the thinness of the material, but be careful—press too hard and it might pop.
Some people might even find the tied mouth of the balloon and figure it out from there.
It’s also a prompt where you can enjoy the reactions right before it pops or at the exact moment it bursts.
two-person robe (Nininbaori): a comedic act where two people share one kimono-like garment, with the rear person acting as the arms for the front person
Ninin-baori is a traditional performance enjoyed at parties and banquets.
The person in front wears a cloth, while the person behind plays the “hands,” controlling the movements.
In scenes where they try to make the front person drink or eat dumplings, the awkward hand motions are sure to get laughs.
Adding ad-lib touches—like missing the mouth or moving exaggeratedly—will make it even livelier.
The audience can join in by calling out or offering advice on the movements, creating a stronger sense of togetherness.
It’s a perfect idea for cherry-blossom viewing with a distinctly Japanese atmosphere.
Dizzy Bat Gesture Game
It’s a game where you play charades while dizzy after doing the spinning-bat challenge.
Gesturing while you’re dizzy from spinning the bat is quite difficult, so it gets pretty lively.
It might be even more fun if you offer prizes to those who do well.
[For Adults] Fun Games to Liven Up Your Hanami: Recreational Games (41–50)
Rock-Paper-Scissors ending-change game
A classic punishment-game twist on sentence endings, this one shines as a forfeit in games like rock–paper–scissors or cards, especially during cherry-blossom viewing season.
The loser has to add a funny ending to every sentence they say—like that anime character’s catchphrase or something animal-like.
It’s easy to do, but when it hits you, it’s a pretty annoying penalty.
Senda Mitsuo Game
Everyone stands in a circle.
The first person says “Senda” while pointing at someone.
The person who’s pointed at says “Mitsuo” and points to someone else.
At that moment, the two people standing on either side of the newly pointed person move both hands up and down and say “Naha-naha.” If anyone makes a mistake in this sequence, they lose.
It starts slowly, and as the speed increases, people get flustered and the game gets more exciting.