Ultimate Guide to Japanese Festivals for Kids: Matsuri Words and Crafts
Japanese festivals—matsuri—burst with color, costumes, and catchy chants. Sharing these lively celebrations at home lets children pick up words like おまつり (omatsuri, festival) and たいこ (taiko, drum) while crafting lanterns and dancing along.
What Are Matsuri?
Matsuri are seasonal events rooted in local traditions: summer fireworks, autumn harvest parades, and spring cherry‐blossom viewings. Each festival features unique music, food stalls, and games. Explaining why people gather helps kids connect vocabulary to real emotions—joy, community, and wonder.
Key Matsuri Vocabulary
Introduce five core words before your first craft:
おまつり (omatsuri) – festival
たいこ (taiko) – drum
ちょうちん (chōchin) – lantern
はなび (hanabi) – fireworks
ゆかた (yukata) – summer kimono
Use picture cards or real items—like a small lantern—to anchor each term.
Craft Activities
Paper Lantern Craft
Provide red and white paper, scissors, and tape. Step by step, children cut slits in a folded paper, roll into a cylinder, and tape to make a lantern. As they work, practice saying ちょうちん.
Koinobori Windsock
Using colored paper, draw and cut carp shapes (こい). Attach to a string so they flutter like real こいのぼり (carp streamers). Kids repeat こい and のぼり as they hang them up.
Practice Corner
Set up a mini “Matsuri Market” at home. Label stations—たいこ booth, はなび show, and ゆかた try-on. As children move through each area, they announce the word in Japanese before playing or dressing up.
Extend festival fun on Dinolingo. A family plan opens over 50 languages and 40 000+ activities, including animated matsuri stories, printable lantern templates, and taiko-beat games. Age-specific paths guide Pre-readers (2–5), Elementary learners (6–10), and Tweens/Teens (11–14) through themed lessons, while parents track progress on an ad-free dashboard.
Final Thoughts
By folding lanterns, flying carp, and moving through a home festival, children turn matsuri vocabulary into memorable experiences. Pair these crafts with Dinolingo’s follow-up games, and your little one will say 「おまつり、だいすき！」 (I love festivals!) in no time.
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