Do you know the building block called Kapla?
It’s a kind of make-believe play, where thin wooden planks of the same size are stacked to represent all sorts of things. They’re apparently available at children’s centers around Kurashiki City, so you may have played with them before.
Geibunkan Hall holds an event called “Let’s Play with Kapla Blocks!” five or six times a year, with no participation fee. It’s held with a different theme each time, and the next event is scheduled for Sunday, July 20, 2025, with the theme “Let’s Make What We All Love.”
To find out what the event is like, I joined “Let’s Play with Kapla Blocks! — Let’s Build a House —,” held on Saturday, June 15, at the Aishi Theater in Geibunkan Hall.
Here’s a look at the day and information about the next event.
The information in this article was current when it was published in July 2025. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is “Let’s Play with Kapla Blocks!”?
“Let’s Play with Kapla Blocks!” is an event organized by Geibunkan Hall, and the next one will be its 88th.
The theme of this 87th event, held on Saturday, June 15, 2025, was “Let’s Build a House.”
A huge number of Kapla planks had been prepared at the venue. Each wooden box apparently holds about 1,000 planks, so there must have been around 15,000 in total. It’s rare to find a place where you can use this many Kapla planks freely.
First, certified instructor Hino Sadayuki demonstrated how to build with Kapla, explaining the basics while holding the planks.
When Mr. Hino built a sample house and asked, “What does it look like?”, the children enthusiastically answered, “A castle!” and “It looks like a hotel!”
Mr. Hino then told them:
“While you’re building, a friend might accidentally knock something down. But please don’t cry or get angry—tell them, ‘That’s okay.’ And if you knock something down, say you’re sorry.”
The children were asked to agree to some rules for playing happily. It seems useful not only for creative development but also for emotional education.
Create together with family and friends
After listening to the explanation, participants split into groups and took their Kapla planks.
Many families took part this time, but elementary school students and older can also participate with friends or on their own.
They set about building all kinds of houses, from pension-style buildings to high-rise apartments.
The staff seemed to be taking on a huge structure. What could they be making?
The huge structure the staff had built was a “kamakura” snow hut. Children and adults could go inside, making it a popular photo spot.
Show off your creations, then clean up
Once everyone had finished, it was time to show off their creations. We took a look at the completed works.
When a staff member asked, “What did you make?”, the children proudly answered, “A house!” and “A hotel!”
After the presentations, they took apart their creations, put the planks back in the boxes, and finished up. Build, take apart, and build again. It seems there’s a lot to learn from Kapla.
Try playing with Kapla
At first, I wondered, “Can you really make anything just by stacking thin planks?” But I was amazed to see the children working with their families to build large structures one after another.
After the event, it was memorable to see the children heading home with smiles, saying, “That was fun!” and “That was interesting!”
Mr. Hino, who says, “You only understand how fun Kapla is once you’ve actually played with it,” has spent more than 30 years promoting Kapla, including traveling to events outside the prefecture.
“Since COVID, fewer people have been attending our events, but I really hope more people will try it out for themselves and make all kinds of things,” he said.
The next “Let’s Play with Kapla! — Let’s Make What We All Love —” will be held on Sunday, July 20, as follows, on the first day of summer vacation.
- Morning session: 10:00–11:30 a.m.
- Afternoon session: 1:30–3:00 p.m.
Free admission and no reservation required.
Elementary school students may also attend with friends.
Why not strengthen your bonds with family and friends by working together indoors in an air-conditioned space?
Kapla Blocks Play Event Information
| Name | Kapla Blocks Play Event |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, July 20, 2025 【Morning session】10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m. 【Afternoon session】1:30 p.m.–3:00 p.m. ※Doors open 15 minutes before the start time |
| Location | 1-18-1 Chuo, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Admission (tax included) | Free admission |
| Website | Geibunkan Hall |
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