[For Seniors] Origami Crafts to Brighten Hinamatsuri: A Collection of Decorative, Festive Ideas
As the season gradually brings more warm days, why not make Hina Matsuri decorations and feel the arrival of spring? One of origami’s charms is that with just a single sheet of paper you can create seasonal colors right at your fingertips—three-dimensional Hina dolls, lanterns, peach blossoms, and more.
The careful, fingertip-focused process invites a pleasant sense of concentration, and displaying your finished pieces will instantly bring a spring-like feel to your space.
In this article, we introduce Hina Matsuri origami ideas that older adults can enjoy while working on them.
Each piece lets personality shine through in its expressions and colors, so pick the ones that catch your eye and give them a try.
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[For Seniors] Origami Crafts to Brighten Hinamatsuri: A Collection of Decorative Ideas (11–20)
Hanging ornaments of plum blossoms and Japanese bush warblers
As spring approaches, plum blossom and bush warbler hanging ornaments are lovely items that let you enjoy a spring atmosphere indoors.
Fold 7.5 cm square origami paper in half twice to make a triangle.
After folding so the triangle is divided into three equal parts, draw petal shapes and cut them out with scissors.
Open it up, attach patterns made with a hole punch, add slits, and you’ll have a three-dimensional plum blossom.
For the bush warbler, use four types of origami in different colors and sizes.
Draw and cut out the body, wings, and beak for each.
Once all the parts are assembled, attach them to a paper cord along with the plum blossoms, and you’re done! It’s very easy to make, so give it a try.
Wreath, three-dimensional Hina decoration
This is a decoration that conveys a sense of splendor, featuring spring motifs such as Hina dolls, peach blossoms, tachibana, and cherry blossoms.
The base is made by linking rings formed from strips of origami cut into long, narrow pieces and rolled up, and each ring is adorned with a motif to add color.
Decide what colors to use for the rings and, to match them, what colors to use for the motifs, creating the piece while considering the overall balance.
Depending on the size of the motifs, you can also make the rings stand out, so adjusting that balance is another important point.
Hinamatsuri rice-cracker container
The Hina-doll arare container is an origami piece characterized by a structure where the box portion and the doll’s head are made separately and then combined later.
By standing and folding one side of the box’s wall to the opposite side, it becomes the doll’s torso.
The head and hat can be made from one half sheet of origami paper.
When displayed, it not only has a three-dimensional look, but you can also enjoy using it during snack time by putting small arare inside.
Choosing colors and patterns reminiscent of kimono makes it visually vibrant and perfect for seasonal festivities.
Lining them up on a desk or wall adds color to the space, and the fact that you can actually pick them up and enjoy them is part of the charm of this origami idea.
Temari and hanging decorations of flowers
Let’s make a temari hanging ornament that looks adorable swaying in the breeze.
Cut both plain origami paper and patterned origami paper into circles.
Glue the plain and patterned pieces together alternately, then attach them to a string.
If you also add pieces cut into plum blossom and cherry blossom shapes in the same way, you’ll have a very cute hanging decoration.
March, when Hinamatsuri is celebrated, can still have chilly days, but on warm days, open the window and enjoy watching your hanging ornament gently sway.
You can buy various patterned origami papers at 100-yen shops, so make it with whatever designs you like!
A hina doll with a three-dimensional kimono
How about three-dimensional Hina dolls you can stand up for display? The kimono is made by layering three sheets of origami paper.
Using a patterned sheet on top makes it look more festive.
The charm is that you can enjoy your favorite color combinations.
Fold the paper in half twice, matching the edges each time, then cut out one square section.
Stack the three cut pieces slightly offset from each other to create a beautifully layered kimono.
After folding the body and face parts, attach them together to form a cone-like shape, dress it in the kimono, and draw the face to finish.
Add optional decorations like a crown or a fan to your liking.
Hina dolls made from paper balloons
Let’s make Hina dolls using paper balloons made from origami! It’s recommended to choose traditional Japanese patterns for the origami to match the dolls’ kimono designs.
First, accordion-fold the paper both vertically and horizontally to create a 4×4 grid.
Place the paper with a corner facing you, then fold it up to the crease just before the far edge and unfold.
Continue shifting one crease at a time, making folds as you go.
Leave only the last corner folded, apply this process across the entire square, then turn the folds so the pattern faces outward and shape it into a hexagon.
Finally, inflate it, attach the faces and other features made from separate paper, and you’re done!
[For Seniors] Origami crafts to brighten up Hinamatsuri: A collection of decorative ideas (21–30)
Hinamatsuri decoration – rabbit
In this idea, first cut 2 cm off the top of the origami paper, then align the left and right edges and fold it in half three times to make creases only on the upper half.
Once you’ve made the creases, open the paper and fold the bottom edge up at a position 7 cm from the bottom.
For the top, fold it down 1.5 cm from the top to make a crease that will serve as a glue flap.
Next, along the creases, make cuts from the top down to the level of the bottom edge you folded up.
Then turn the paper over, make mountain folds so that the cut sections form loops, and glue the glue flap to the front side of the bottom edge.
Once you’ve done the same for all the remaining sections, glue the two ends together to form a ring.
This will be the body of the Hina doll.
Finally, make a rabbit face out of construction paper, create a head ornament and a fan, let the rabbit hold the fan, and you’re done.
By giving the rabbit whatever expression you like, you can add a touch of individuality!
