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Lovely Play & Recreation

Fun games in the river. Recreational games

“What exactly are you supposed to do when playing in a river?” You might be wondering that yourself.

Simply wading in the shallows or swimming a little can make for a fun day by the river, but for those who want to know a bit more about children’s summer outdoor activities, here are some recommended games and recreational ideas you can enjoy at the river.

We’ve got everything from activities that require no equipment to fairly serious adventures!

Get out into nature, dive in wholeheartedly, and we hope you make all kinds of new discoveries!

Fun river activities. Recreational games (1–10)

Stone Stacking Showdown

Episode 149: Stone-Stacking Showdown! Teacher Sea of Cruz’s Laid-Back River-Play Field Trip
Stone Stacking Showdown

It’s a really fun game that makes you use your head! The rules are simple: whoever stacks the stones the highest without knocking them over wins.

The trick is to find stones that are as flat as possible and stack them while keeping the balance.

Sometimes when you go to campsites and such, you see traces of people playing this stone-stacking game, left behind like little cairns all over the place.

draining

[Drain/Draining] An amateur attempted a Guinness World Record and ended up with an unbelievable record!
draining

Also known as “stone skipping” or “skimming,” this game involves throwing a stone across the surface of the water and competing by how many times it skips.

Competitions are held around the country, with some focusing on the number of skips and others on distance.

Use the flattest stone you can find and throw it so it travels parallel to the water’s surface for the best skips.

There’s also a way to play where someone catches the skipped stone on the opposite bank.

Be sure to check your surroundings and play safely—getting hit can hurt people or animals.

Solo camping

[Solo Female Camping] A midsummer day camp by an unbelievably beautiful river in Gifu! Relaxing and cooling off while listening to the sound of the water. It’s absolute bliss.
Solo camping

If you want to relax by the river, how about trying the trendy solo camping? Being close to the water is like experiencing nature’s best air conditioner, and it helps you forget daily stress.

When it comes to solo camping, camp meals are a must, right? Summer is the perfect time to try seasonal vegetable dishes.

Enjoy camp-only delights like miso-cheese grilled eggplant or shabu-shabu with grilled summer vegetables.

Give solo camping by the river a try and make the most of your summer vacation!

Fun River Activities: Recreation Games (11–20)

canyoning

I tried something called canyoning! [Takano, who wants to fully enjoy the summer]
canyoning

Shower climbing is stream climbing, while canyoning is the opposite—descending the stream.

Riding the current down the canyon is like a natural water slide and absolutely thrilling! And when you can’t slide to the next spot, zipping across on a zip line is great fun too.

River SUP

It’s a new kind of water sport where you stand on a buoyant board on a river and paddle to move forward.

You start by sitting on the board, and once you can balance well with the paddle, you stand up and enjoy gliding over the water.

You can take it easy and enjoy a leisurely tour while taking in the surrounding nature, or try a more active experience by paddling down rapids.

fireworks

I tried lighting 50 handheld fireworks at the same time with my little sister, but… it was kinda underwhelming… you know.
fireworks

When it comes to classic riverside activities, fireworks are a staple.

You can enjoy handheld sparklers, rocket fireworks, and even small-scale aerial fireworks.

However, please be very careful when handling fire.

Also, some riverbanks prohibit fireworks, so be sure to follow the rules.

stepping stones

River play (stepping-stone crossing)
stepping stones

Let’s try hopping across the stepping stones for fun.

We don’t know who made them, but you often see places where big stones are lined up at equal intervals.

Depending on the spacing, it might be a bit tough for small children.

Even adults might feel a little nervous about not falling in.

If you do fall into the water, it might be fun as long as it’s shallow! Go ahead and play, even if you get wet!