Private Evening Tour of Tokyo's Historic Wild Side, Yoshiwara

Foreign visitors to Tokyo almost universally know about Asakusa, and can usually tell you where it is too. However, almost no one can tell you exactly where the Yoshiwara quarter in Edo was, except perhaps that it is somewhere beyond Asakusa. The movies "Yoshiwara enjo" and "Sakuran" took place in the “old” Yoshiwara, which was on the outskirts of the current Ningyocho. However, that Yoshihara burned down in 1657 during the Great Fire of Meireki,” and it was at this point that Yoshiwara was moved to its current location.

Yoshiwara is now famous as Japan's most significant red-light district, with its Edo era vibe eliciting vivid images of what the age’s red-light scene was like. While the area is not the rowdy, raucous show it once was anymore, it is still steeped in history but very much alive at the same time and known as a tourist destination with an unrivaled cultural pedigree. It was here that the fashion, Kabuki, and popular culture of the day flourished. Many novels and movies have also naturally been set here.

This tour is a walking tour that covers Sanya, the Yoshiwara area from Minami-Senju Station to Asakusa Station. Not only will you explore the remnants of Yoshiwara’s red-light district era during this tour, but also visit unique stores and flop houses with a history of more than 100 years across the surrounding areas. Everything around here is full of personality, and there are a number of artistic spots to visit, little known even in to the local Japanese that are well aware Tokyo's deep history, culture and food. This tour is recommended especially for repeat visitors to Japan.