How to make an origami sakura flower
Origami Sakura: try all 9 steps in the 3D player. Turn and replay every move. Print the complete diagram sheet or save it as PDF.
Fold a pink square into a narrow five-part packet, cut one rounded petal outline and unfold a sakura blossom with five notched petals. This traditional fold-and-cut version uses one sheet and scissors, with no glue or separate flower pieces.
- You need
- One 15 cm pink paper square, scissors, pencil and a protractor or printed angle guide. No glue.
- Start
- Begin with one 15 cm pink square, coloured side up, and scissors. Have a pencil and protractor or printed angle guide ready to mark the five-part packet.
Your model is ready
Your sakura blossom has five rounded petals with small notches at their tips. Keep the centre uncut and press the remaining fold lines flat.
Step-by-step diagrams
- 1
Fold the square in half
Bring the bottom edge to the top edge. Mark the midpoint of the folded bottom edge; the next folds all start there.
- 2
Fold the large sector across
At the midpoint, mark a ray 72° upward from the left folded edge. Fold the left side over this ray, leaving a smaller sector on the right.
- 3
Fold the small sector behind
Mark a ray 36° above the right folded edge. Fold the small right sector behind the packet along that ray.
- 4
Halve the petal packet
Fold the left half of the packet behind the right half, matching its two long edges. The narrow wedge has ten layers near its point.
- 5
Cut one notched petal outline
Start 3.6 cm from the point on the left long edge. Cut a rounded petal bulging out to about 7 cm from the point, then curve back to meet the right edge 5.85 cm from the point. This inward finish makes the petal’s small tip notch. Cut through every layer and keep the piece containing the folded point.
- 6
Open the narrow wedge
Open the last fold first, leaving the earlier packet folds closed.
- 7
Open the small sector
Bring the small folded-back sector out gently, keeping the uncut centre together.
- 8
Open the large sector
Open the large sector to spread the petal outlines across the folded half-sheet.
- 9
Open the first fold
Open the first half fold. Smooth the whole blossom flat without pulling its narrow joins.
- ✓
Finish
Your sakura blossom has five rounded petals with small notches at their tips. Keep the centre uncut and press the remaining fold lines flat.
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