Noren remain closely tied to Japanese-style businesses, and many U.S. restaurants, cafes, and shops use them for both functional and thematic purposes. In Japanese eateries abroad (like sushi bars or ramen shops), noren are a common sight at the entrance or interior:
-
Entrance Signage: One of the traditional uses of noren is as a signboard at shop entrances, and this custom is carried on in the U.S. at Japanese restaurants and tea houses. Hanging a noren in a doorway can display the business’s name or logo and signal that the establishment is open. In fact, “noren curtains… are displayed at the front of a business to show the business name (and to show that they are open). Many sushi bars or izakaya-style pubs in America adopt this practice to lend authenticity – a noren with the restaurant’s kanji logo or a sushi motif instantly conveys a traditional ambiance to customers. It functions much like an “open” flag or sign, but with cultural character. (For instance, a noren reading “寿司” (sushi) on a doorway tells patrons they’ve found the sushi shop, as well as providing a gentle barrier to the outside.)
-
Space Separation in Shops/Restaurants: Inside small restaurants or cafés, noren are used to partition spaces. Rather than installing doors, a noren can hang between the kitchen and dining area or across a hallway to the restrooms. This adds a sense of privacy or hides utilitarian areas without requiring a permanent door. Restaurant supply stores note that in “small restaurants, these noren curtains can be used instead of installing swinging doors for the kitchen”, separating the kitchen while keeping the venue open and inviting. The split curtain makes it easy for staff to move back and forth. Similarly, boutique stores or salons and spas with an Asian theme might use noren to section off treatment areas or dressing rooms. The noren provides a privacy screen for customers (for example, at a massage spa) and contributes to the themed decor of the business.
-
Thematic Ambiance and Decor: Businesses also purchase noren to enhance their atmosphere. A Japanese-themed salon, yoga studio, or retail shop may hang noren purely as décor – for instance, behind a reception desk or along a wall – to reinforce a zen or cultural theme. In U.S. Japanese grocery stores or anime/comic shops, noren with iconic characters or prints might be hung as eye-catching décor. Essentially, any business aiming for a touch of Japan uses noren as an atmospheric prop that signals its theme to customers. As one design guide notes, “noren is commonly seen at store entrances with the store’s name... but it’s also used indoors to softly divide rooms” in commercial settings. Even outside of restaurants, this could apply to a tea house separating seating areas, or a fashion boutique using a noren as a dressing room curtain. The noren offers a blend of function and branding – it can carry a company’s identity (via logos or custom prints) while decorating the space in an authentic way