Make cherry blossom viewing even more fun! A collection of recreation and game ideas to play with kids
With the warm spring weather inviting us outside, many of you are probably planning to go cherry-blossom viewing with your children.
At hanami, you don’t just want to admire the cherry blossoms—you also want to include recreations and games that parents and kids can fully enjoy together.
In this article, we’ll introduce a wide range of ideas to make your hanami time even more special, from sakura-themed games and active movement play to simple activities that require no equipment.
Make the most of those spring moments filled with children’s smiles!
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Make cherry-blossom viewing even more fun! A collection of recreation and game ideas to play with kids (11–20)
Soap bubble
These are soap bubbles you can play with outdoors—perfect for cherry blossom viewing.
They’re such a timeless classic that they hardly need an explanation, but they add a charming touch that enhances the beauty of hanami.
Lately, there are lots of products like bazooka-style bubble makers and giant bubbles, so it’s fun to play with those, too!
Tail Tag Game
The “tail tag” game is played by tucking a headband or towel, used as a substitute for a tail, into your pants and chasing each other.
Everyone starts with a tail.
Within the time limit, protect your own tail while trying to grab your opponents’ tails.
The person who collects the most tails wins.
You can also play in teams; in that case, the team with more members who successfully kept their tails wins.
Work out a strategy—like how to cooperate with your teammates—and give it a try!
Ice tag
In Freeze Tag, when the tagger touches a player, that player can’t move.
However, if a teammate touches them, they can move again and keep running.
The game ends when the tagger has caught all the players.
It’s also fun to set a time limit or define an area where players can run.
If you’re tagged, crouch so it’s clear you’re frozen and wait for a teammate to free you.
Since it’s hard for one person to catch everyone, set multiple taggers.
It’s a game where teamwork is the key to winning.
High Tag
Let me introduce “Taka-oni,” a tag game where you can’t be tagged when you’re in a high place.
The basic rule is that one chaser (the “oni”) pursues the others (“children”), and whoever is tagged becomes the new oni.
In Taka-oni, there’s an added rule: if a child escapes to a high place, they can’t be tagged.
However, being up high doesn’t make you safe forever—each child can stay in the same spot for only 10 seconds.
After 10 seconds, the oni is allowed to tag them, so the child should run away or move to another high place.
Drawing at a cherry blossom viewing!
A gentle, classic recreation where you can freely express yourself while feeling the beauty of cherry blossoms.
Using crayons or colored pencils to draw cherry blossom scenes, you can capture the colors and shapes as you see them in your own way—something both children and adults can get absorbed in.
The key is to enjoy the atmosphere and what you feel in the moment rather than focusing on drawing well.
Creating art outdoors brings a sense of openness and sparks different ideas than usual.
The finished pieces become memories to keep and enjoy looking back on later.
Spend a relaxed time in nature, letting your heart move freely.
Great for events too! Treasure Hunt
The popular recreation “treasure hunt” is fun for both kids and adults.
Hide small treasures and hint cards in parks or open spaces, and search for them using maps and quizzes as clues.
You can split into teams and compete, or everyone can cooperate to reach the goal—the ways to play are up to you.
By adjusting the difficulty, everyone from young children to adults can get totally absorbed.
It naturally sparks conversations and smiles, making it easy for even first-timers to break the ice.
Since you can enjoy the scenery while being active, consider adding it to your cherry-blossom viewing time.
Make Hanami Even More Fun! A Collection of Recreation and Game Ideas to Play with Kids (21–30)
Making a cherry blossom sensory bottle
@kichijyo We made sensory bottles using cherry blossoms we found during hanami. The blossoms drifted slowly and sparkled—it was so beautiful!#Nursery schoolSpring#CherryBlossomProduction#Sensory bottleGunmaFujioka CityNursery school lunch
♬ Fun / everyday / cute BGM(947218) – Shinnosuke Shibata
How about taking a relaxing moment during your cherry-blossom viewing to enjoy a sakura-themed “sensory bottle”? Fill a clear bottle with water, glitter, pink materials, and flower petals to create your own little world of spring.
Just watching it sway gently can calm the mind, offering soothing moments not only for children but for adults as well.
The materials are easy to find and can be enjoyed safely, which is another plus.
You can take the finished bottle home as a keepsake, preserving your cherry-blossom memories in a tangible form.
Enjoy making one with family and friends while soaking in the colors of spring.