[For Seniors] Hinamatsuri Recreation: Fun Ideas for Games, Crafts, and Snack Making
How about some recreation ideas for older adults to enjoy during the Hinamatsuri season? We’ve handpicked ideas that naturally get the mind and body moving while having fun—such as seated games like target practice and bowling with Hina-doll motifs, shell matching, enjoyable crafts for display, and seasonal snack activities.
These special, season-only events provide positive stimulation for physical and cognitive functions in older adults.
Enjoy time filled with smiles while chatting with those around you.
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Hinamatsuri activities for seniors: Fun ideas for games, crafts, and snack-making (81–90)
Making a shell netsuke
A cute netsuke-style strap made from seashells.
It would surely be appreciated at Hinamatsuri, where girls take center stage.
First, paste pieces of Japanese-patterned fabric onto the shells and attach them with glue.
It will likely be quite delicate work with your fingertips, but once finished, it could become a wonderful little treasure.
Like a charm, you can attach it to personal items or give the finished piece to someone as a gift—there are many ways to enjoy it.
Hina Decoration Game
Many of you have probably arranged Hina dolls for your children or grandchildren.
For those people, this Hina Display Game might give you an edge! Compete to see who can arrange the Hina dolls the fastest and most accurately.
We recommend making the dolls and stands out of paper cups and construction paper.
Keep a sample arrangement nearby and line them up while looking at it.
Even if you can place the Emperor and Empress, actually arranging the three court ladies and the five musicians can get a bit confusing.
It’s a perfect brain-training game—challenging even for those who already know the correct layout and might still make mistakes while looking at the sample!
Jūnihitoe Completion Game
Let’s all work together to transform the day-service staff and family members into an Ohinasama and Odairisama wearing junihitoe! Some of you may have experience dressing people in kimono, but when it comes to the junihitoe, the level of difficulty is on a whole different scale.
Because multiple layers of robes must be worn, it’s quite a task not only for the person being dressed but also for the person doing the dressing.
Still, if we cooperate, we’ll be fine! As you enjoy the process, imagine people in the Heian period going through the same kind of effort.
Peach Blossom Wreath Making
Wreaths are fun to make and fun to display, and here’s one you can create using nothing but origami—no special supplies needed! It’s a beautiful wreath with blooming peach blossoms, perfect for Hinamatsuri (Girls’ Day).
Cute, vibrant floral decorations are especially delightful for women.
Starting from scratch with origami is also great finger exercise.
It’s a recommended activity that lets you enjoy both the making process and the pleasure of decorating with the finished piece.
Sakuramochi Making
There’s a custom of eating sakura mochi on Girls’ Day (Hinamatsuri), isn’t there? Sakura mochi—pretty pink rice cakes tinted with food coloring and wrapped in salted cherry leaves—look charming and feel very springlike.
Did you know sakura mochi differ between the Kansai and Kanto regions? They’re surprisingly easy to make either way, so how about trying them as a Hinamatsuri activity?
Making a hanging decoration of plum blossoms with origami
When it comes to spring flowers, cherry blossoms come to mind, but in February and March, plum and peach blossoms are at their best.
How about creating a festive display to decorate your walls or doors with plum blossoms, which are cute and feel very traditionally Japanese? You can easily make it with materials like origami paper, colored paper, glue, and mizuhiki cords—things you likely have at home or can get at a 100-yen shop.
Fold a fan with gold origami paper, then hang lots of plum blossoms made from origami.
Origami is also great for practicing dexterity, so I highly recommend it.
[For Seniors] Hinamatsuri Recreation: Fun Ideas for Games, Crafts, and Snack-Making (91–100)
Handmade hina-arare (Hinamatsuri rice crackers)
Hina-arare is sold in supermarkets around this season, but why not try making it yourself? The ingredients—mochi, powdered sugar, cinnamon, matcha, and so on—are surprisingly easy to gather, which is part of the appeal.
If you make it yourselves, you can enjoy additive-free, body-friendly arare.
It’ll be a fun group activity: everyone chatting and cooking together, then enjoying the results afterward—twice the delight in one go!