In this article, we will provide an overview of the various red-light districts found throughout Japan. If you’re planning a trip or a business visit to Japan, feel free to use this as a reference.
Top 10 Compilation of Red-Light Districts Nationwide!
We will now introduce ten notable red-light districts, but if we were to mention the top five red-light districts in Japan, they would be:
Susukino in Hokkaido
Yoshiwara in Tokyo (Tokyo has numerous red-light districts)
Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture
Tobita Shinchi in Osaka (Osaka has many red-light districts as a whole)
Nakasu in Fukuoka Prefecture
If we were to narrow it down to the two largest red-light districts in Japan, it would be Tokyo and Osaka.
However, places like Susukino and Nakasu are also significant red-light districts, making it difficult to narrow it down to just two. They are highly competitive in terms of the variety and scale of adult entertainment establishments.
Now, let’s take a look at the famous ten red-light districts!
Hokkaido:Susukino
Susukino in Hokkaido is the largest red-light district in the region and can be considered the largest in the entire Tohoku area as well. Located in Sapporo City, Susukino offers the convenience of easy access for travelers and business trips, making it an attractive destination.
With a wide range of options available, from delivery health services to soaplands and even storefront-style health establishments, Susukino allows you to fully enjoy the nightlife in Sapporo.
Fukushima : Onahama
For the red-light districts in the Tohoku region, I recommend the soapland district in Onahama, located in Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture.
Iwaki City is situated to the east of Fukushima Prefecture, and Onahama, a port town, is where you’ll find the soapland district.
There are also tourist attractions nearby, such as Iwaki Marine Tower and Aquamarine Fukushima.
Tokyo: Yoshiwara
Tokyo is the largest red-light district in the Kanto region and the largest in Japan overall. It boasts a vast number and variety of adult entertainment establishments, and even if new styles of red-light establishments were to emerge in the future, they would likely originate in Tokyo.
While there are several red-light districts within Tokyo, the most famous one, including its historical significance, is the soapland district in Asakusa’s Yoshiwara.
Apart from Yoshiwara, areas like Shinjuku and Ikebukuro also have a significant presence of red-light establishments. Unless you venture far from the city center, you’ll find some form of adult entertainment in these areas.
Kanagawa : Yokohama
Following Tokyo, Yokohama in Kanagawa Prefecture is another large-scale red-light district in the Kanto region.
With numerous red-light establishments in areas like Akebonocho and Kannai, you can enjoy sightseeing in Yokohama and conclude your visit with some adult entertainment.
By the way, Chiba Prefecture in the Kanto region also has a high concentration of red-light establishments, making the Kanto region one of the most active areas for the adult entertainment industry in Japan.
Aichi : Nagoya
In the Tokai region, including Hokuriku and Koshinetsu, Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture is the largest red-light district. While it may not have a significant number of soaplands, it boasts numerous storefront-style establishments, including an abundance of health establishments and delivery health services that ensure you will never run out of options.
Being situated between Tokyo in the east and Osaka in the west, Nagoya serves as a central hub for the red-light industry in this region.
Osaka : Tobita Shinchi
In the Kansai region, Osaka Prefecture is home to the largest red-light district. Just like Tokyo, you can find red-light districts in various areas, but Tobita Shinchi is a place you should definitely visit due to its impact and popularity.
Tobita Shinchi is a unique red-light district with rows of “yukaku” (licensed brothels), which is not commonly found in other prefectures. If you’re looking for the full experience, it’s worth a visit.
Tobita Shinchi is located in the vicinity of the Tobita Shinchi Ryori Kumiai (Tobita Shinchi Cuisine Association), so it’s convenient to look up the address at 3-1-13 Yamao, Nishinari-ku, Osaka City using a map.
Please note that the yukaku establishments in Tobita Shinchi do not have official websites, so you’ll need to explore the area and find the establishments as you walk around.
Shiga : Ogoto
If you’re looking for soaplands in the Kansai region since Osaka doesn’t have any, I recommend Ogoto in Shiga Prefecture. It is well-known as one of the prominent soapland districts in Kansai.
Additionally, another famous soapland district worth considering is Fukuhara in Hyogo Prefecture, which is located nearby.
Kagawa : Takamatsu City
In Shikoku, Takamatsu City in Kagawa Prefecture is recommended as a soapland district. While adult entertainment isn’t particularly prevalent throughout Shikoku, Takamatsu stands out as an area worth exploring.
As for nearby information, in the Chugoku region, Hiroshima and Okayama are the two major hubs for adult entertainment.
Fukuoka : Nakasu
In the Kyushu region, Nakasu in Fukuoka Prefecture is the largest red-light district. It offers a wide range of adult entertainment establishments, including soaplands, storefront-style health establishments, and of course, delivery health services.
In addition, Kumamoto’s soapland district and Beppu’s soapland district are also famous red-light districts in the Kyushu region.
Okinawa : Tsuji
Tsuji, located in Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture, is famous as a soapland district. While there are also storefront-style health establishments and delivery health services available, Tsuji is particularly known for its abundance of soaplands.
It’s interesting that Sapporo’s Susukino thrives as a red-light district in the north, while Tsuji in Okinawa stands out as a soapland district in the southernmost part of Japan. Considering both are always mentioned as tourist destinations, they make for good choices when planning a trip.
In this article, we introduced famous red-light districts throughout Japan, and it becomes evident that areas flourishing as cities tend to have a thriving adult entertainment industry.
However, it’s not always the case that the city centers of each prefecture are red-light districts, and there are many areas where adult entertainment exists but with a smaller number of establishments.
Therefore, when planning a visit to red-light districts, it is always recommended to conduct thorough research in advance.
