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Free printable hitori

Hitori is a Japanese shading puzzle that starts with every cell already numbered. On this page you get an 8x8 board filled with digits; you black out just enough of them so that no number repeats in any row or column. Shaded cells cannot share an edge, and the remaining white cells have to stay in one connected group. Solvers who like Sudoku's uniqueness rule but want to subtract cells instead of filling them often enjoy Hitori.

Solution page included
Printable Hitori puzzle page
Download the puzzle (PNG)Download the solutionSave to Pinterest
Peek at the solutionHitori solution page

This download is a 6x9 inch high-resolution PNG of that 8x8 puzzle, plus a matching solution PNG that shows which cells to shade. There is no signup and no email gate. Print the page at home and work it with a pencil.

How to play

  1. Shade cells in the 8x8 grid so no digit repeats in any row or column.
  2. Keep shaded cells from sharing an edge; they may touch at a corner.
  3. Leave the unshaded cells connected to one another by their edges.
  4. Circle digits you are sure must stay white, then compare with the answer key.

Print at 100% scale on letter or A4 paper so the 8x8 cells stay large enough to shade without crowding.

Frequently asked questions

Does this Hitori include an answer key?

Yes. A second PNG on this page shows the finished 8x8 shading. Download it with the puzzle if you want to check your work, or leave it closed until you have shaded every duplicate you can find.

Can I print this Hitori without paying or creating an account?

Yes. Both the puzzle and the solution are free PNG files. You may print them for personal use with no signup and no email gate.

Who is this 8x8 Hitori a good fit for?

It suits teens and adults who already like Japanese logic grids and want a short shading session rather than a fill-in. The board is small enough for a coffee break, but the no-edge-touch and connectivity rules still force careful counting. Younger solvers who have finished easier number puzzles can try it with the rules printed at the top of the page.

How should I print the Hitori so the cells stay easy to shade?

Print the PNG at 100% scale on letter or A4 paper. Skip fit-to-page, which shrinks the 6x9 layout and crowds the 8x8 digits. Black ink on plain paper is enough; a slightly heavier sheet holds up better if you erase.

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