Rain chains are beautiful alternatives to conventional downspout. Simply stated, they are Artistic Downspouts™ for your home. In Japan, where they are widely used, they are called “kusari-toi” or “kusari-doi”, meaning “chain-gutter”. Their purpose is largely decorative, to make a water feature out of the transport of rain water from the gutters downwards to a drain or to a storage container. Rain chains are typically either a series of metal cups, chained together with a hole in the bottom of each cup, or chain links that span vertically. Rain chains drain water to the ground from your gutter like a waterfall. They are beautiful, and sound great! They make unique gifts, and are easy to install.