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Free Printable Spot the Difference for Kids
まちがいさがし (machigai sagashi) · Ages 3–6 · Free PDF · No Japanese needed
Two pictures that look the same — but a few things are different. Choose by the number of differences: 3, 5 or 7. Every puzzle comes with an answer sheet.
The Japanese on the sheet
①と②の えの ちがうところを 〇こ さがそう。
ichi to ni no e no chigau tokoro o 〇-ko sagasō.
= Find 〇 differences between picture ① and picture ②.
ちがうchigaudifferent
さがそうsagasōlet’s look for
えepicture
The number on the sheet tells you how many differences there are: 3こ (san-ko) = 3; 5こ (go-ko) = 5; 7こ (nana-ko) = 7. こ (ko) is a Japanese word for counting small things.
At the top of every sheet there are three small boxes. They are just for writing the date and name — you can leave them empty.
がつgatsu · month
にちnichi · day
なまえnamae · name
How to play
- Start with 3If this is your child’s first one, choose a puzzle with 3 differences.
- Give place hintsIf they get stuck, don’t point to the answer. Try “Look at the top” or “What about the sky?”
- Check togetherUse the answer sheet at the end.
All spot the difference
Play on screen, too
Some pictures also have a free on-screen version — look for the green ▶ Play on screen button. The menus are in Japanese, but kids play by tapping and tracing, so no reading is needed.
Printing tips
- The PDFs are A4 size (the standard paper in Japan). On US Letter paper, choose “Fit to page” (or “Scale to fit”) in the print window so nothing gets cut off.
- Living in Japan without a printer? Convenience stores (7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart) can print PDFs from your phone.
- Free, no sign-up, no email. Just open the PDF and print.