The famed Yoshiwara (吉原) red-light district still exists in Tokyo. Even though prostitution is technically illegal in Japan, the law doesn’t seem to be enforced. Or perhaps it is written in such a way that things considered prostitution elsewhere are considered legal in Japan. Near the end of the Toden Arakawa Line, or closer yet the south exit at Minowa Station on the Hibiya Line, you can find loads of soaplands (brothels) in the old Yoshiwara (東京都台東千束４丁目).

A green-light district? In the above photo you can see a sign for the koban (police box) right next to a number of soaplands.

This picture shows a futon hanging out of a window in a soapland. The sign says “Feel safe in Yoshiwara as it is safe.”

Related posts:

1. Godzilla “Oh no, there goes Tokyo Go go Godzilla, yeah 臨時ニュースを申し上げます！ 臨時ニュースを申し上げます！ ゴジラが銀座方面に向かっています！ 大至急避難してください！ 大至急避難してください！” The third line, in Japanese, in this Blue Oyster Cult classic when translated is something like...
2. From Tokyo to Bangkok At gas stations in Japan the service personnel bow to the cars as they drive away. I thought that is what would happen by the ground crew at Narita Airport...
3. China’s Tokyo Embassy (The Craziest Place on Earth) Imagine the worst DMV on the planet. Now put that DMV on steroids. And not good steroids, that make things work better, but steroids that do nothing but multiply all...
4. Tokyo tram “Three old women were the only passengers on the Sunday morning tram [from the end of the line at Waseda]. They all looked at me and my flowers. One of...
5. Potential absence makes the heart grow fonder I previously mentioned the line phenomenon in Japan. You see lines being touted on Japan’s countless food TV shows as well. A camera crew will walk around looking for long...

Posted on November 8th, 2009 under Japan • RSS 2.0 feed • You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed