Text-Only Tutorial copyright 2026 by Lindy van der Merwe
This famous model by well-known Japanese origami designer Akiko Yamanashi is totally unique. From the outside it appears to be a rectangular box, but when you open the lid that is made up of two close-fitting flaps, you will find a surprise - a smaller square-shaped box hiding inside.
For instructions with pictures, see, for example,
You can also visit the following Gilad's Origami Page for a listing of many other models by this designer:
Paper to be used: Square, any size; thicker paper or thin cardstock is recommended.
Folding level: Intermediate
Steps: 25
Description: As the name states, this model is a box within a box. From the outside the model looks like a rectangular box that is securely closed with two flaps that tuck into each other. If these flaps are opened, they will fall to either side of the inside box, which will be a perfect square.
Start with your paper color-side down.
Step 1
Place your square down on a flat surface with the edges left and right, top and bottom.
Step 2
Fold in half from bottom to top. Crease and unfold.
Step 3
Then fold in half from left to right. Crease and unfold.
Step 4
Fold both top and bottom edges to meet at the center line. Crease and unfold.
Your square should now be divided into 8 rectangles.
Step 5
Fold the bottom edge up again, but this time to meet the first horizontal line from the top. Crease well and unfold.
Step 6
Rotate the paper 180 degrees and repeat the previous step.
There should now be 5 horizontal lines running across your square.
Step 7
Next, fold both the top corners of your paper down to meet the second horizontal crease you encounter. Leave folded.
Step 8
Repeat with the bottom corners, folding them up so they meet the 2nd horizontal fold from the bottom as well.
Crease well and leave folded.
Step 9
Flip your paper over from left to right.
You will have an eight-sided shape to work with.
Step 10
Rotate your paper 90 degrees so the five crease lines now run vertically.
Step 11
Bring the top and bottom edges of the shape to meet each other at the horizontal center line. Crease well and leave folded.
The model will still have eight sides, but will take on an oblong shape.
Step 12
Next, take the flaps we have just folded and fold them back on themselves to meet the edges at the top and bottom of the model.
Your model will still have an oblong shape, now with multi-layered flaps folded over at the top and bottom long edges, with an open space between them.
Each flap has 4 layers in total, but only two movable parts.
Step 13
Focus on the multi-layered flap nearest you. Gently lift up the top layer of the flap to reveal a triangular pocket on each side of it.
Step 14
Carefully insert a finger into these triangular folds and pull them to the sides and away from each other as far as they will go. Press them all the way flat, turning the valley folds into mountain folds, while, at the same time, pressing down the entire flap into a rectangle shape.
Once transformed, the top edge of the flap will now rest along the bottom edge of the figure with two small movable triangles that will have formed on the left and right sides of the rectangle you have just created.
Step 15
Rotate the model 180 degrees.
Step 16
Lift up the flap on this side as well and repeat Step 14.
The oblong shape will now have two prominent rectangles at its top and bottom.
These rectangles will become two of the sides of the box.
Step 17
Flip your model over from left to right again.
Explanation
On this side, you will now find 4 single-layered four-sided shapes, two at the top and two at the bottom.
The rectangles we previously created will now be hidden underneath or at the back of the flat shape.
We need to bring these rectangles back to the front, but as we do this, we are also going to fold the bottom and top edges of the model in half.
Step 18
We will focus on the bottom two four-sided shapes now. Though they are separated by a space, think of their long, movable edges as one long edge that we will use as a reference for the next fold.
Take the bottom edge of the model, all the layers, and fold it upwards to meet the edges of the just-mentioned two four-sided shapes, making sure to lift up the model from the table to allow the rectangle to flip out from underneath.
Let the rectangle lie flat and crease well all the way from left to right as you will be working with many layers of paper now.
Once flipped, the rectangle in question will form a pocket, with its raw edge facing away from you.
The bottom edge of the model will now be a multi-layered fold, with the rectangle jutting out from the bottom edge of the oblong shape.
Step 19
Rotate the rectangle 180 degrees and repeat Step 18.
The top and bottom edges of the model should now be symmetrical. We have completed two sides of the box, although they will remain flat at this point.
We will now be working on the remaining two sides of the model.
Step 20
Next, rotate the figure 90 degrees and refold the horizontal creases you can feel at the center of the shape.
You should find 5 crease lines in total, but you can skip recreasing the middle line, since we only need to form the two top and two bottom creases into the remaining sides of the box.
20.1 So, locate the crease line nearest you, fold the bottom edge of the model upwards along this line, crease well and then unfold.
Repeat this with the second crease line from the bottom.
20.2 Rotate the model 180 degrees and repeat with the two crease lines on this side.
With these 4 creases refolded, we are now ready to lift our box into its three-dimensional shape.
Step 21
We will work on the side furthest away from us first.
Find the very center of the rectangular shape and move away from you until you find two movable, triangular flaps that should stand up a little on each side of the rectangle.
Grasp the two flaps and bring your hands together until the flaps almost touch. At the same time, you should feel the left and right sides of the box rise into an upright position. Behind the two flaps, the unfolded part of the shape will also rise slightly.
Hold the two flaps in place next to each other with one hand while reinforcing the sides and corners that should now be upright.
While still holding the flaps, we need to lift the entire part of the model furthest away from us, which will become one part of the lid of the box, so it will stand upright. To do this, fold the model along the crease that is closest to the central horizontal line. Press the panel you have lifted up flat against the two loose flaps you are holding, that should now be two squares positioned next to each other. The two loose flaps will have moved closer together as this side is forming. The large panel that was on the table should now be standing straight up, resting against the two squares forming the inside of the box shape.
Important: The panel you have lifted should not fold or collapse during this step. Only the folds connecting the two squares forming the inside box should collapse so the outer panel can lift up and stand flat against the side of the box.
As mentioned, the left and right sides of the inner box will also now be upright with two of the corners properly formed.
Step 22
Rotate the shape 180 degrees so you can work on the remaining side of the box.
Step 23
Repeat Step 21, forming the last side of the box.
Note: If your box will contain a gift, now is the time to place it inside.
Step 24
The two large panels that are standing up on two sides of the box will form the lid.
First, fold the panel furthest away from you along the horizontal crease line that will already be there. The panel will cover the inside box completely with an overlap on the sides, that will mirror the overlap that you have formed for the bottom of the box.
Similarly, fold the opposite panel down on top of the first.
Reinforce the creases on both sides very well, taking care not to distort the square box on the inside.
Step 25
Lift the flaps up again. On the inside of each flap, you should find two triangular pockets and behind these, two long folds with raw edges. To close your origami box slide one of the flaps into the pockets of the other one, making sure the flap slides in only into the pockets and not behind the long folds with the raw edges.
Your square box will now be securely and completely hidden inside the outer part of the box, which will have four extra pieces of paper that will give it a rectangular appearance from the outside.
Making origami accessible through text-only tutorials.
For non-commercial use only.
Compiled by Lindy van der Merwe, October 2021
Revised, May 2026
This text copyright 2026 by accessorigami.comand the author.
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