[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.
- [For Seniors] Activities to Enjoy March: Games, Crafts, Music, and Snack Recreation
- [For Seniors] Hina Matsuri (Girls’ Day) Trivia Quiz & Fun Facts. Recommended for Dementia Prevention Activities
- [For Seniors] March-Themed Event Activities
- [For Seniors] Spring Haiku. Spring Activity
- [For Seniors] Simple Recreational Activities You Can Enjoy While Seated
- [Day Service] Excited for Hinamatsuri! Craft ideas to brighten up your room
- For seniors: Heartwarming and cozy. Recommended handmade Hina dolls
- For Seniors: Come, Spring! Recommended March Craft Ideas for Daycare Services
- [For Seniors] Simple Tabletop Games: Fun and Engaging Recreational Activities
- [For Seniors] Handmade Ideas for Tsurushi-bina: Simple and Cute Hanging Decorations
- [For Seniors] Fun Spring Recreational Activities: A Collection of Games and Play Ideas
- [For Seniors] Fun Recreational Activities Without Equipment
- Recreation Ideas for Seniors: Perfect for Setsubun and Bean-Throwing Activities
Hinamatsuri activities for seniors: Fun ideas for games, crafts, and snack-making (81–90)
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.
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.
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!
Hinamatsuri Bowling
Here’s a Hinamatsuri bowling game you can even play on a table.
Attach illustrations or photos of the Emperor and Empress, the three court ladies, and the five musicians to paper cups.
Tape the cups to the table so that when a ball is rolled into them, they’ll stand upright.
Of course, when arranging the cups on the table, set them up like a traditional Hina display, such as a seven-tier or five-tier arrangement.
It might be hard for one person to get all the cups to stand.
However, everyone working together might be able to set up all the Hina-themed cups.
Cooperation requires communication, so older adults can enjoy chatting while playing the game.
fashion show
As a recreational activity, it can be a lot of fun to put on a fashion show wearing traditional Japanese attire like the hina doll princess and prince.
Since we don’t often get the chance to wear kimono, why not take this opportunity? Because it’s for Hinamatsuri (Girls’ Day), using items like hats or a ceremonial baton in hand will really set the mood!