Noren (暖簾)

Noren are curtains that have been around since the Heian period. They were originally used as kind of a signboard, hanging in front of the entrance advertising the goods that were sold in the respective house. Nowadays, one can also see them hanging between the miseniwa and the hashiriniwa, separating the two. Often, these noren have the brand trademark or the family crest on them. These so-called shirushi noren are meticulously taken care of in order to hand them down for as many generations as possible. The goal is to protect them from getting dirty or damaged so that they stay in good shape. 

Hung in front of a machiya, noren do not only indicate what shop or business is inside, but also whether it is open or closed. If the noren is hanging, the business is open; if not, then it is closed.