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!
- [For Adults] A Collection of Recreation and Game Ideas to Liven Up Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing)
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- [For Kids] Let’s Play in English! A Collection of Fun Recreational Activities and Games
- Fun nature activities that children will love. Recreational games.
- [Sakura Quiz] Trivia & Fun Facts Quiz about Cherry Blossoms for Kids
- Backyard play ideas: Easy ways to have fun with kids! How to make use of your garden
- [Elementary School] Games and Recreational Activities to Enjoy at a Forest School Camp
- A simple and fun co-op game that enhances teamwork
Make Hanami Even More Fun! A Collection of Recreation and Game Ideas to Play with Children (41–50)
Shiri-moji Showdown
Shiri-moji, often used for penalty games, is exactly what it sounds like: a game where you write letters with your butt! It’s a simple idea—using your backside to draw characters—but it’s surprisingly tricky and really fun.
You can use it as a forfeit, or play it like a lively quiz where others guess the letters you’re “writing.”
Make cherry-blossom viewing even more fun! A collection of recreation and game ideas to enjoy with kids (51–60)
A Day in the Life of Daruma
Daruma-san’s Day is played almost the same way as Daruma-san ga Koronda (Red Light, Green Light).
The difference is the call: instead of a fixed phrase, the caller says “Daruma-san [did] ___,” which lets them direct various actions.
For example, if they say “Daruma-san laughed,” everyone has to follow the instruction and laugh.
If you fail to do the instructed action, you get caught.
Just like Daruma-san ga Koronda, you can play it anywhere, and even slightly older kids will enjoy it.
If you find yourselves with some free time during cherry-blossom viewing, be sure to try it with your family.
Let’s try it! Practice introducing yourself.
At large cherry-blossom picnics centered around children, there are often chances for kids who don’t know each other to gather—maybe because the mothers are acquaintances or it’s part of a hanami event.
In times like these, try enjoying self-introductions as a fun icebreaker! Some children may feel a bit nervous about introducing themselves.
Help ease their nerves while letting everyone learn their names, favorite foods, and favorite games.
If the adults join in the introductions too, it can liven things up and help the kids relax.
10-second stopwatch challenge
How accurate is everyone’s internal clock? The second hand on the clocks we casually look at—feeling exactly one second is actually pretty tricky, isn’t it? Using a stopwatch, close your eyes and try to stop it at exactly 10 seconds! It’ll be exciting to give a prize to the person who gets the closest!
human disentanglement puzzle
The human knot is a game where a group of people hold hands and, by stepping over and ducking under each other, tangle themselves up like a puzzle.
Then, at a “ready, go,” everyone works together to untangle the knot back into a single circle.
It looks simple, but it’s surprisingly tricky—perfect as a group recreation activity!
Perfect as a gift! Easy cup sushi
If you want to enjoy a bit of cooking before cherry-blossom viewing, cup sushi is a great option.
All you need are vinegared rice and whatever toppings you like.
If you buy cups at a 100-yen shop, it’s super easy—just add your favorite toppings on the rice.
Making enough for everyone and bringing them as a treat is a lovely idea.
A four-leaf clover made with origami!
The plant that appears in the opening song of “Rascal the Raccoon,” white clover (shirotsumekusa), is called “clover” in English.
It seems this little tidbit isn’t widely known.
Also, the origin of the idea of why four-leaf clovers bring good luck isn’t very clear.
Hmm, but the ambiguity makes it all the more romantic! How about making a four-leaf clover out of origami, since it’s so hard to find one in real life? You can make one from a single sheet, create a larger one by connecting several pieces, or use scissors to give it a more realistic finish—choose a project suited to your child’s age and enjoy crafting clovers together.
It’s lovely to display your finished pieces in a classroom or at home!