[Childcare] Fun Craft Ideas for Hinamatsuri (Girls' Day)
When you think of Hinamatsuri (Girls’ Day), many people probably picture hina dolls.
Some kindergartens and nurseries make hina dolls together with the children in the lead-up to the festival.
This time, we’ve gathered ideas for making hina dolls.
Many can be made with familiar materials like paper cups and origami, so be sure to try them at school or at home.
Customize the colors and designs to create a one-of-a-kind, original hina doll!
Make lots and enjoy a bright and festive Hinamatsuri.
Because children’s creations are treated as works, we use the term “制作” (production/creation) in the text.
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[Childcare] Fun Hinamatsuri Craft Ideas (1–10)
Hina dolls with dancing cherry blossoms
Here’s an easy and fun craft idea for making Hina dolls with fluttering cherry blossoms! First, use construction paper to make the Empress (Ohinasama) and Emperor (Odairisama).
Once they’re finished, attach them to a fan-shaped base, place them inside a plastic cup, and secure them with tape.
The finished piece will be displayed upside down, so be careful not to attach them the wrong way.
Put some decorative pom-poms inside the plastic cup, then cover the cup with a balloon whose tip has been slightly trimmed—done! When you pull and release the balloon’s mouth, the decorative balls bounce, making it look like cherry blossoms are dancing.
Hina dolls made with yarn
Here’s a craft project for making Hina dolls with yarn and cardboard.
First, cut the cardboard into a fan-shaped Hina doll.
Make four small slits at the bottom of the fan, then tape the end of the yarn to the back with cellophane tape.
Using the grooves of the cardboard at the top of the fan, wrap the yarn diagonally five times.
Cross over and wrap five more times.
Tape the end of the yarn to the back.
Do the same with a different yarn, wrapping until the doll’s shoulders are covered.
Tape the end of the yarn to the back, decorate the doll’s face, and you’re done! It’s also cute to make other decorations from cardboard and string them together.
Hina dolls made with paper cups and tissue paper
Let’s make a Hina doll using a paper cup and tissue paper for crafts.
First, prepare two paper cups and cut one vertically in half.
The bottom part will be the doll’s head.
You won’t use the opposite side, so it’s fine to make a slit when cutting.
Draw the doll’s face on the cut paper cup and attach a decoration on top of the head.
Place the remaining paper cup upside down (with the bottom facing up), cover it with your preferred tissue paper, then place the head on top and secure it.
Your Hina doll is complete! The tissue paper will form the kimono, so layer several sheets to create a rich, festive look.
You can make the Odairi-sama (the emperor doll) the same way!
[Childcare] Fun Hinamatsuri (Girls’ Day) Craft Ideas (11–20)
Hina dolls made with vegetable stamps
Vegetable stamps that let you enjoy the natural, beautiful patterns while observing the cross-sections of the veggies you usually eat.
Prepare a sponge soaked with paint, apply the paint to vegetables sliced into rounds, and freely stamp patterns onto a round sheet of drawing paper.
Once it’s dry, fold it and add faces, and you’ll have completed a pair of Hina dolls—the elegantly dressed Ohinasama and Odairisama! It’s a perfect craft idea to spark children’s creativity.
Who knows—after seeing the lovely patterns made by vegetables, some kids might even overcome their picky eating!
Hina dolls with a peach blossom wreath
Speaking of Hinamatsuri, peach blossoms are famous, aren’t they? Here’s a wreath that captures a sense of transparency inspired by the pink peach blossoms.
Prepare a paper plate, pink raffia (suzuran tape), ribbon, and construction paper.
Wrap the pink raffia around a paper plate with the center cut out.
Decide on a certain length, cut the raffia, and hand it out to the children.
Glue together the parts for the male and female dolls (obina and mebina).
Children around ages four to five may also be able to cut out the parts with scissors.
Depending on the age group, it’s recommended to pre-cut the center of the paper plate and also prepare the obina and mebina parts in advance.
Hina decorations using my own photos
A Hina Doll display where you can become a couple with the Emperor and Empress using photos! Glue colored construction paper onto a backing to create the tiered stand, then decorate around it with flower stamps and more.
Next, prepare photos and cut around the faces, and make the Emperor’s face from construction paper for girls and the Empress’s face for boys.
Finally, have the children freely color coffee filters to resemble kimono, glue them on as the garments, and then attach the photos and the construction paper faces on top—and it’s complete! Seeing themselves lined up on the Hina tiers wearing the kimono they made will fill the children with excitement.
hina stand
Here’s how to make a “hina platform” using just a single sheet of origami paper and glue.
Make two, and you can display the Empress and Emperor side by side.
Because it requires so few materials, it’s easy to incorporate into preschool crafts.
To make it, fold the origami paper to create creases along the diagonals and at the center.
These lines are key—they make it easier to raise the shape later.
Open it once, then fold by lifting the edges, and fix them with glue to form the platform shape.
Make another identical piece and connect them to complete the tiered stand.
Although it may look like it has many steps, the process is simple, so you can comfortably work through it with children.
It’s an origami idea perfect for the occasion that also enhances the fun of displaying Hina dolls.
