[For Seniors] Hinamatsuri Recreation: Fun Ideas for Games, Crafts, and Snack Making

Sakuramochi Making

How to Make Sakura Mochi – A Useful Recipe

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?

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Hane Keisuke

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Making a hanging decoration of plum blossoms with origami

Hanging plum blossom decorations — origami — make any room look luxurious!

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.

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utatane

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Hishimochi Puzzle

@e6u42

Hishimochi Puzzle ★★ A game where two red and two white players stack colored boxes to match the sample. It serves as brain training. Materials: 36 empty milk soap boxes, origami paper in three colors, and paper cups with 2 male dolls and 2 female dolls attached.#Asahikawa#Asahikawatranslation#WelfareCaregiverCaregivingElderlyNurse#KohakuHome-visit nursingHelper RecruitmentCaregiver recruitmentTarget practice#ElderlyRecreationRecreation for the elderlybeanbags#activities#kindergartan#preschoolactivities#elderycare#older#nursinghome#movement#activating#happykid#etkinlik#kidsactivies#homeschool#preschoolactivities

♪ Happy Doll Festival – Yumi Baba / Wakakusa Children’s Choir

I want to play at the Hinamatsuri (Girls’ Day) event! Here’s an idea for a hishi-mochi puzzle.

It’s a unique puzzle where you combine pieces while looking at a sample.

You’ll need 36 empty boxes, origami paper, paper cups, and illustrations of Hina dolls.

The three colors are the key point of the hishi-mochi puzzle, but if you change the colors, it could be used for other events too.

It’s important to prepare empty boxes that are the same shape and size.

Definitely give it a try!

Hinamatsuri Association Quiz

[March is Hinamatsuri] Hinamatsuri Quiz 🌸 5 Questions!! Please choose the answer: ① or ② ☆

Let us introduce the perfect seasonal activity: a Hinamatsuri Word Association Quiz! It’s a fun game where you think of words related to the Doll Festival, such as peach blossoms and hina dolls.

By recalling and coming up with answers, you can stimulate memory and thinking skills.

It’s easy to adjust the difficulty, so everyone can enjoy it together in a friendly atmosphere.

Why not give your brain a little workout while feeling the arrival of spring? It’s a wonderful way to spend time with older adults, enjoying the Hinamatsuri mood while promoting brain activation.

Be sure to enjoy a recreation time filled with smiles together!

Battledore fan tossing with paper airplanes

[Elderly Recreation] Rec Craftsperson Series Part 98: Tōsenkyō with Paper Airplanes

Tōsenkyō is a traditional Japanese game.

Originally, it involves throwing a folding fan to knock something down, but how about trying a more casual version using familiar paper airplanes? Aiming for the target and flying them skillfully requires concentration and precise arm movement.

Using a fan also adds a Japanese touch, and I think it would perfectly suit the atmosphere of Hinamatsuri (the Doll Festival)!

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Murakami Shinpei

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Ehomaki Game

[Setsubun Recreation] [Day Service] [Day Service Recreation] Ehomaki Setsubun Recreation Ehomaki Rolling Game

Let’s turn the ehomaki we eat on Setsubun into a game.

Ehomaki are filled with lots of ingredients, right? On top of paper “nori” and “rice,” place ingredients made from long, thin strips of construction paper or fabric.

The key is to prepare colors that look like real ehomaki fillings, such as red and green.

Then, using both hands, roll it up as if you were making a real sushi roll.

When it’s finished, face the lucky direction for that year and take a big bite.

This idea of making ehomaki from paper or fabric seems like something older adults would also enjoy.

It’s a perfect game to do in February.

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Nakajima Junko

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Hinamatsuri (Doll Festival or Girls’ Day)

Premature “Hinamatsuri” Torn-Paper Collage

I’d like to introduce a torn-paper collage that’s perfect for Hinamatsuri and great to make in March.

First, draw simple, easy-to-understand outlines of the Emperor and Empress on construction paper.

Keeping the outlines simple makes it easier to tear and paste origami paper.

Once the outlines are done, start tearing origami paper and paste it on.

Rather than covering red areas with a single shade of red, mixing several red tones will add depth and give the piece a warm finish—highly recommended.

Using washi or tissue paper will make the artwork even more appealing.

Please use this as a reference!