Shimabara, Kyoto

(often simplified to , sometimes styled ), established in 1640, was the designated red light district () in Kyoto. Following the outlawing of sex work in Japan, it went defunct as a red-light district in the 1950s but continued as a geisha district () for a few more years. By the 1970s, geisha were no longer registered in Shimabara. , who never disappeared entirely from Shimabara, were allowed to register as a special type of geisha following the outlawing of prostitution, and continue to perform in the district to this day. Shimabara continues to operate as a tourist district, and operates one . Provided by Wikipedia