Hakata in Fukuoka is widely known for its bustling nightlife area, Nakasu. However, the city’s rich and sometimes shadowed history also includes two notable former red-light districts: Yanagimachi Yuukaku and Shin-Yanagimachi Yuukaku. This video takes viewers on a detailed journey through these historical pleasure quarters, retracing their legacies and exploring the architectural and cultural imprints left behind.

The video first spotlights Yanagimachi Yuukaku (柳町遊郭), an original licensed red-light district from the Meiji era. Though the area has transformed over decades, the fascinating discovery here is the grave of a specific courtesan—rare in Japan, as burials were typically anonymous for such women. This grave, located at Sentaku-ji Temple (選擇寺), is a poignant testament to individual stories within Hakata’s entertainment quarters.

Moving forward, the video delves into Shin-Yanagimachi Yuukaku (新柳町遊郭), also called Kiyokawa (清川). Unlike the original district, this newer area continued operation as a pleasure district until the enactment of Japan’s Anti-Prostitution Law in 1958. Today, some of the distinctive ‘café-style’ architecture—once part of the red-light scene—still stands, offering a glimpse into the district’s lively former days. The Kiyokawa Rotary, a contemporary local landmark, marks the area where social changes and architectural remnants coexist.

For travelers and culture enthusiasts, these districts present a less obvious but profound layer of Fukuoka’s history. Yanagimachi and Shin-Yanagimachi reflect social transitions, from the boom of pleasure quarters to modern revitalization, set against the backdrop of one of Kyushu’s most dynamic cities.