[For Kids] Fun Activities for Cherry-Blossom Viewing: Recreation and Games
When we think of spring, we think of cherry blossoms—and cherry blossoms mean hanami, right?
In this article, we’ll introduce games and activities that are perfect for kids at hanami!
Hanami often takes place in parks or small open spaces.
Parks are great because they have playground equipment for children, but not all hanami spots are equipped with play structures.
We’ve gathered activities and games that kids won’t get bored with anywhere, and that the whole family and friends can enjoy together!
We’ll introduce a variety of ideas, from classic outdoor games that require no equipment to activities that make use of nature.
Be sure to check them out!
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- Indoor games and recreational activities recommended for spring
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- Backyard play ideas: Easy ways to have fun with kids! How to make use of your garden
[For Kids] Recommended Games for Cherry Blossom Viewing: Recreational Activities and Games (31–40)
Singing Game: Riding the Bus
The hand-play song “Riding on the Bus.” This is a fun activity with choreography where you sit on the ground and sway as if you’re riding on a bus.
The bus driver and the passengers can link together, and the more people there are, the more fun it gets—that’s the highlight! Children’s songs at a cherry-blossom viewing—how peaceful and pleasant it sounds!
Did you know? A dandelion whistle.
Dandelions blooming here and there in spring are probably a familiar flower that everyone often sees.
But did you know you can make a whistle from a dandelion stem? If you make a small slit at the end of the stem, put it to your lips, and blow, it makes a “poo” sound.
It’s a perfect pastime for the spring season!
bamboo-copter
The traditional toy that’s been around for ages: the bamboo copter.
There’s something so charming about how it whooshes upward when you spin it with your palm.
These days you can even find them at 100-yen shops, so try playing with one with the kids during cherry-blossom viewing.
See how high you can make it fly—when you look up, you might spot the cherry blossoms, too.
A beautiful spring scene.
Tug of war
Hanami is usually held in larger parks—that’s the classic choice, right? And here’s a game that’s perfect precisely because it’s in a park: tug-of-war! You don’t get many chances to play tug-of-war outside of events like school sports days, but if you try it on an occasion like this, it’s surprisingly exciting! It’s fun for just the kids, or for parents and children teaming up together, too!
Fukuwarai game using your own face
It takes a little preparation, but this “Fukuwarai game with your own face” is guaranteed to be a hit.
As the name suggests, you make color copies of your own face outline and facial features and play Fukuwarai with them.
The familiar face arranged all out of place is hilarious, so it’s sure to liven things up.
You could even secretly make Fukuwarai sets using the faces of the people joining the cherry-blossom viewing party.
[For Kids] Recommended Cherry-Blossom Viewing Activities: Recreation and Games (41–50)
Let’s dance! Senbonzakura
When it comes to Hatsune Miku, the signature song is Senbonzakura.
It’s a hugely popular Vocaloid track known by everyone from kids to adults.
How about dancing to Senbonzakura as a classic “sakura song” while enjoying the cherry blossoms? Whether they love dancing, aren’t so good at it, or feel shy about performing in front of others—let’s have everyone dance together! It’s a once-a-year event, and with the spring warmth and the open-air atmosphere, dancing is sure to lift everyone’s spirits.
Adults might even join in too (haha).
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!