[For Seniors] Liven Up Cherry-Blossom Viewing! Fun Games and Recreational Activities
When the warm days continue, the cherry blossoms bloom and it becomes the season to enjoy beautiful pink and white flowers.
Many older adults may be looking forward to cherry-blossom viewing unique to this time of year.
In this article, we introduce games and recreational activities that can help seniors enjoy cherry-blossom viewing even more.
We’ve gathered games that everyone can enjoy together at day service centers, senior facilities, or with family and friends.
Please use them as ideas for a fun cherry-blossom viewing time.
- [For Seniors] Fun Spring Recreational Activities: A Collection of Games and Play Ideas
- For Seniors: Games and Recreational Activities to Enjoy in April
- [For Seniors] Activities to Enjoy March: Games, Crafts, Music, and Snack Recreation
- [For Seniors] Fun Recreational Activities Without Equipment
- For Seniors: Come, Spring! Recommended March Craft Ideas for Daycare Services
- [For Seniors] Simple Recreational Activities You Can Enjoy While Seated
- [For Seniors] Enjoy safely even during the COVID-19 pandemic: Seated activities
- [For Seniors] Spring Haiku. Spring Activity
- [For Seniors] Exciting Team-Based Recreational Activities
- [For Seniors] Simple Tabletop Games: Fun and Engaging Recreational Activities
- [For Seniors] Recommended! Seasonal Recreational Activities
- [For Seniors] Introducing Whiteboard Activities That Liven Up Spring!
- [For seniors] April haiku. Exciting
[For Seniors] Liven Up Your Cherry-Blossom Viewing! Fun Games and Recreational Activities (21–30)
Flag-raising game

Listen carefully to the commands and try the flag-raising challenge! Here are some ideas for a flag-raising game.
In this game, you hold red and white flags and follow commands like “Raise red, lower white,” raising and lowering the flags accordingly.
It’s a simple yet classic game with unique rules that test your concentration and has been loved for generations.
Just tape cut construction paper onto straws or chopsticks to make the flags, and you’re ready to go! Even if you get tripped up, it’s great to keep the mood light and enjoy the challenge.
Karaoke Contest

Karaoke—everyone loves it! You don’t need a big, old-school karaoke setup anymore.
There are handy microphone-style products packed with karaoke songs now on the market.
The repertoire isn’t just current hits; it also includes plenty of children’s songs and traditional tunes.
If you’re doing it indoors, having an organ or piano accompaniment will make it even more exciting.
You can also pick up castanets and tambourines at 100-yen shops, so why not get some to boost the fun?
[For Seniors] Liven Up Your Cherry-Blossom Viewing! Fun Games and Recreational Activities (31–40)
Haiku contest

On pleasant spring days with nice weather, it’s great to go outside and make haiku together.
You can enjoy yourselves by selecting each other’s poems, or turn it into a vote and rank them—the ways to enjoy haiku are limitless.
Have fun with the cheerful vibe of a grown-up field trip!
Newspaper Rock-Paper-Scissors

It’s sure to be an exciting match! Try the Newspaper Janken challenge! Have two older adults sit facing each other.
Place a long, narrow strip of newspaper on the table, then play rock-paper-scissors.
The winner tries to grab the newspaper, while the loser must hold it down so it can’t be taken.
By the way, if the newspaper tears, you lose.
It’s a brain-engaging activity where you play janken, instantly recognize the outcome, and act immediately.
Recreations that use both mind and body stimulate the brain and can help prevent dementia.
Enjoy a fun time laughing together with other participants.
Let’s play frisbee

Here’s a game using a frisbee.
Stand empty plastic bottles on the floor, and have the seniors throw a frisbee to knock them down.
Frisbees had a bit of a boom in Japan from the 1970s to the early 1980s, so some seniors may have played with them back then.
The game might also bring back fond memories.
Forming teams and competing for points can make it more exciting, but of course, it’s plenty of fun to play solo as well.
Fox Dance

Let me introduce the Fox Dance that you can enjoy together with older adults.
It’s recommended because you can move your body while sitting in a chair.
After making a fox shape with your hands, use your arms and hands to dance.
The song has a quick tempo, but move within a comfortable range.
Once you get used to the moves, it could be fun to add some marching steps from the second round.
When it’s time to turn your neck, be careful to avoid falls.
The Fox Dance might be a great opportunity to spark new communication!
Makimaki Apple Game

As a recreation activity for day services or childcare settings, we propose the “Roll-Up Apple Game”! First, place paper apple motifs on construction paper and attach them.
Set them a short distance away; connect the stick and paper with clear tape, then roll the stick to wind the tape and draw the apples toward yourself.
It should get very lively if several people compete! By starting with the crafting process, participants can experience both making the materials and playing the game.
Please give it a try together and have fun!



