New Year’s Games: Traditional Play and Fun Activities That Excite Everyone from Kids to Adults
New Year’s is a special time when family and relatives gather.
But are you wondering, “What should we all do together?” In this article, we’ll introduce plenty of ideas to liven up the New Year, from nostalgic traditional games to easy, DIY activities you can make and play with everyday materials.
There’s a wide variety—games everyone can enjoy across generations and active ones that use a large space! There are also many activities you can enjoy while spending time with grandparents.
How about creating special New Year memories together as a family?
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New Year’s Games: Traditional Pastimes & Fun Games for All Ages (41–50)
cat’s cradle
Ayatori is a game where you tie the ends of a string together to make a loop, then hook and release the string with your fingers to create shapes like the “ladder,” “Tokyo Tower,” and “shooting star.” It’s fun to play alone, but playing ayatori with two people is even more enjoyable because you can cooperate and give each other tips.
There are also various variations, such as a competitive style where one person first makes a simple shape with both hands, and the other person takes several strands from within it and transfers them from the partner’s hands to their own without letting the shape collapse.
Try out different styles and see what you like.
Inside-out pots!
Facing each other and holding both hands, you play “Nabe Nabe Soko Nuke.” It’s a traditional game enjoyed while singing the children’s song ‘Nabe Nabe Soko Nuke.’ For today’s children, who often spend time with games and social media, old-fashioned play may feel distant.
New Year’s, when multiple generations gather, is a perfect chance to pass on the culture of those good old days! Since it’s a hand game you can play indoors, why not enjoy it with the kids during moments of family togetherness?
Trump
Playing cards offers many different ways to play, and it’s fun that the rules can vary by region and generation.
In the game “Daifugō” (often called “Rich Man” or “President”), where players compete to be the first to get rid of their hand, there are rules like banning going out on certain cards, a “revolution” that reverses the strength of the numbers, and “8 cut,” which lets you clear the current pile when an 8 is played.
During New Year’s, when people who don’t usually meet get together, it might be fun to play Daifugō with various opponents and enjoy the differences in rules.
Other games like Sevens and Old Maid are also great recommendations for New Year gatherings with a big group.
buzzing top
A buzz-top that spins when you pull the string left and right.
It’s easy to make using familiar materials like milk cartons or empty snack boxes, so why not try making one with your child and playing with it over the New Year holiday? The patterns that emerge while the buzz-top is spinning are very beautiful, so it’s also fun to make several in different colors and designs and compare them.
There are many types of traditional spinning tops in Japan, so try making a variety, starting with the buzz-top, and enjoy a Japanese-style New Year.
origami
Origami is a popular pastime enjoyed by people of all ages, from children to adults, where you fold things like airplanes and cranes for fun.
How about using origami to make New Year–themed items such as the first sunrise of the year, kagami mochi, or a battledore? The first-sunrise origami is especially interesting: you create three motifs—Mount Fuji, the sun, and clouds—and combine them, so it’s worth a try even for adults.
You can also enjoy experimenting with unique materials like washi paper, so definitely give it a go!