January, when we welcome the New Year, is the perfect time to enjoy activities that are a little different from the everyday! From traditional New Year’s games like karuta, fukuwarai, and spinning tops to easy, casual fun like charades and plastic-bottle bowling, why not try some seasonal games this time of year? In this article, we’re sharing plenty of ideas for January activities that will put smiles on the faces of family and friends.
Whether it’s games that get you moving indoors despite the cold or ones you can enjoy while connecting with older adults, discover the charm of each activity and make wonderful memories to start the new year.
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Fun activities to enjoy in January: From indoor games to traditional New Year’s pastimes (1–10)
Indoor snowball fight
Snowball fights are a game that lets you feel the winter season, but they can be difficult in places where it doesn’t snow or depending on the snow’s condition.
This is a game designed to be enjoyed indoors, inspired by snowball fights, even when securing snow is difficult.
It uses soft balls that are safe even on impact, and you use them to battle the opposing team.
It’s all about strategy, teamwork, and tactical maneuvers—skillfully using obstacles to dodge and making calculated pushes into the opponent’s territory.
buzzing top
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Let’s play with buzzing tops that spin colorful patterns and enjoy the festive atmosphere.
It’s also recommended to make your own buzzing top using cardboard—you can choose any design you like and watch even more vibrant patterns spin.
It’s important to think about color balance as you create it: what color to use for the base, which colors to draw the patterns with, and what color string to use.
Paying attention to how you spin it so the patterns look more beautiful—and finding a method that makes it spin faster—might also be key points.
Hana Ichi Monme
It’s a lighthearted game played while everyone sings the traditional children’s song “Hana Ichi Monme.” First, you split into teams, join hands, and face each other as you move and sing “Hana Ichi Monme.” From there, it develops into a negotiation over trading members: the person who gets called out battles with rock-paper-scissors, and the loser joins the other team.
It’s a game where you can enjoy, through the song, the shifting situation as team sizes change.
cat’s cradle
Ayatori is a traditional game that has been enjoyed since ancient times, where you use a loop of yarn to create various shapes.
Start by following instructions as a guide, and gradually try more difficult patterns.
Once you’ve memorized a few shapes, it’s recommended to make them from memory without looking at the guide—this will test not only your fingertip concentration but also your memory.
After you get used to controlling the string, it could be fun to try creating new shapes that aren’t in the reference materials.
Fukuwarai (a traditional Japanese “lucky laugh” face-making game)
Fukuwarai is a classic New Year’s game.
The best part is that even small children can enjoy it.
You can buy a commercial set, but I recommend making your own original version by printing photos of yourself or your family.
Let’s start the new year with everyone laughing together.
Crawling race
When you’d rather not have kids dashing around indoors, I recommend a crawling race.
It’s fun even in small spaces.
It’s trickier than you’d think, and you can’t help but laugh.
It’s especially great for little ones of preschool or kindergarten age.
beanbags
Beanbags feel pleasant with their gritty texture, don’t they? Maybe your grandpa or grandma is good at them.
Once you’re comfortable with two, try increasing the number to three or four.
You can also enjoy preparing the materials and making the beanbags yourself.