There are many nostalgic games and recreational activities I used to play when I was little.
They’re all the kind of games that today’s children can enjoy too, so I hope they’ll master them and have fun playing.
They might even help you make friends better than electronic games do.
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Fun games for kids in Kansai: Recreation games (1–10)
duple and triple meter
It’s a recreational game that doesn’t take up space and can be played by one person or a group.
Since it falls under hand games, it’s simple and quick, making it perfect for killing time.
You can adjust the difficulty by changing the speed, so it’s a game you can enjoy with many different people.
Rock-Paper-Scissors Samba
This is a recreational game where you play after-the-fact rock-paper-scissors in rhythm to a samba beat.
By adding a rhythm element to ordinary after-the-fact rock-paper-scissors, it slows your thinking, making success rates lower and increasing the desire to win.
Since the rules are just after-the-fact rock-paper-scissors, they’re very easy to remember.
Denden parent-and-child thumb
This is a hand-play recreation game performed to the tune of the snail song.
The first verse is simple enough for small children, allowing everyone to play together amicably.
From the second verse onward the difficulty increases, so once participants get used to it they can take on the challenge.
It’s a slightly heated, engaging activity, making it ideal for larger groups.
Alarm bomb + Japanese/Western/Chinese (cuisines)
This is a recreational game where players take turns naming Japanese, Western, and Chinese dishes while passing around an alarm bomb.
Because there’s a bomb, everyone tries to speak faster and think more quickly.
As the bomb gets passed around, bonds deepen, and when it finally goes off, everyone bursts into laughter—making it a game with a unique charm.
Night market vendor
This is a recreational game where you move in sync with the sales pitches you’d hear at night market stalls.
It may seem simple, but it helps improve memory by learning the motions and boosts physical coordination.
Since everyone performs the same actions together, it creates a sense of camaraderie, so it’s a great choice for a first-time group activity.
Letter-omission song game
This is a recreational game where you try singing a song without using certain letters.
At first, you carefully avoid them, but as the song goes on, you might slip into your habits and accidentally sing them—which is what makes it fun.
If you play with a large group, there might be moments where only one person ends up singing in the silence.
Hawaiian relay
It’s a recreational game where you keep holding hands and skillfully pass the “Hawaiian” down to the last person.
Its simple rules are easy to grasp just by watching, which makes it great for kids, and a rope or string can be used instead of the Hawaiian, which is another plus.
Since adults and children can play together cooperatively, it’s recommended for families.