The Enduring Legacy of Shimabara
Shimabara, a district in Kyoto, was established in 1640 as the city's designated red-light district. Following the outlawing of sex work in Japan, it transitioned from a red-light district in the 1950s but continued as a geisha district for several more years. 1
Even after geisha were no longer registered in Shimabara by the 1970s, tayū, a special type of performer, continued to be present. These tayū were permitted to register as a distinct category of geisha after the prohibition of prostitution and still perform in the district today. 1
Shimabara Today: A Tourist District
Today, Shimabara functions as a tourist district, maintaining its historical character. The area includes at least one ochaya, a traditional teahouse. 1