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 (31–40)
Drawing Telephone Game
This fun yet challenging “Drawing Telephone” game involves taping paper to someone’s back, drawing with crayons, and passing the image along like a message! Since you can only rely on the sensation on your back, it’s pretty tough.
The more people you have, the higher the difficulty, so the hilarious answers at the final stage are a must-see!
My dress
It’s the season when many flowers bloom in full glory—cherry blossoms, dandelions, white clover, and more.
Why not pick some of these flowers and create your very own dress? The idea is to draw a person wearing a dress on paper, then complete the dress’s pattern by gluing real flowers onto it.
All you do is gather and paste—so it shouldn’t take much time or effort.
If you do this each season and take photos to keep a record, it will become a yearly keepsake.
Isn’t it a wonderful idea to fully enjoy spring?
Karaoke Contest
A classic recreational activity: karaoke.
It’s something everyone can enjoy, from kids to seniors.
Not long ago, karaoke required bulky equipment, but these days you can have fun with just a single microphone—there are models with built-in speakers, and even smartphone apps that let you enjoy karaoke.
While it could be a nuisance in crowded areas where picnic sheets are close together, karaoke would likely be a big hit at a private hanami gathering with just your group.
coyote
Perfect for cherry blossom viewing! Let me introduce the card game “Coyote,” which both adults and kids can enjoy together.
First, each player sticks a card to their forehead without looking at it, so only the other players can see it.
On each turn, everyone totals the numbers on the visible cards, and you must call out “Coyote!” without going over that total.
If the total is exceeded, you’re out.
The last person remaining wins.
For hanami, it’s also a great idea to prepare some prizes! Make your cherry blossom outing one to remember.
A clover flower crown
When you go to a park or riverbank where lots of flowers like white clover and dandelions are in bloom, kids can have fun just by picking flowers.
Since you’re there, gather plenty of blossoms and enjoy a springtime activity by making crowns and rings together.
The children will be thrilled with their lovely crowns and rings.
It’s also nice to keep them on display until they become dried flowers.
Tissue Catch Game
A game you can play with just tissues: the Tissue Catch Game.
One way to play is to drop a tissue from up high as it flutters down and try to catch it.
But in this version, everyone participating holds a single tissue.
While moving around as usual—walking, sitting, and so on—someone suddenly drops their tissue.
The others try to react instantly and grab it.
If no one reacts and it hits the ground, that’s a miss.
The player who collects the most tissues wins.
Impromptu Guess-the-Character Game
It’s a game where you improvise and guess a person’s name from given hints.
You create a parody song that includes a celebrity’s signature phrases, traits, or gags, and the respondent has to guess who it is.
Since everyone participates improvisationally, unexpected mishaps and unique turns of phrase can pop up.
The key is to sing rhythmically in time with the music.
Besides celebrities, movie or TV drama characters also make great prompts.
Try adding this no-props-needed, high-energy game to your cherry-blossom-viewing gathering.
Change Janken
It’s a game where you change your hand after showing your initial rock-paper-scissors sign.
Because you try to read what your opponent is putting out, the mind games are fun—perfect for a cherry-blossom picnic scene.
First, just like regular rock-paper-scissors, both players show a hand.
The key is to hide each player’s hand with a board or something similar so it can’t be seen.
Ask each other questions like, “What hand are you showing now?” and try to read each other’s minds while changing your hands.
Once you’ve decided on your final hand, remove the board and see the result.
Give it a try in settings where you want to deepen communication, like with coworkers or classmates.
Spring Flower Matching Game
Build kids’ concentration while they play! Let me introduce a spring flower matching game.
You’ll need flower illustrations, construction paper, glue, and scissors.
The rules are simple: find pairs of identical picture cards, and the player who collects the most cards in the end wins.
What flowers come to mind when you think of spring? It could be fun to go outside with the children and look for flowers to turn into cards.
Remembering where previously flipped cards were is an important key to success! It’s also great because you can adapt it for each season.
Spring Things Bingo
Let’s aim for bingo! Here are some ideas for a spring-themed bingo.
When you think of spring, things like cherry blossoms, tulips, and Children’s Day come to mind! How about sharing words that pop into your head and creating your very own bingo card? It’ll feel fun when you find matching words with your friends or family.
If you’re playing at a preschool, it’s also great to turn each idea into a simple illustration, cut them out, and paste them to make your bingo cards.
Give it a try!