“Hanayome Noren” (Bridal Curtains) from Nanao, Ishikawa Prefecture |

The town of Nanao in Ishikawa Prefecture is known for its Seihaku Festival, one of the events collectively inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2016. Some 50 picturesque shops line Ippon-sugi Dōri, a street in the historic old town that dates back more than 600 years. The old-fashioned storefronts lend a touch of authentic antiquity to the festival scene. Hanayome noren, or “bridal curtains,” have been part of local tradition since