Will Shinchi Fade Away with the Kansai Expo? Exploring Osaka’s Hidden Gems in Shinodayama, Imazato, and Takii
Every time a large-scale international event is held, significant crackdowns have occurred, causing many red-light districts to disappear. How do the people of Osaka’s “five major shinchi” feel about the Kansai Expo, set to take place next spring? Adult entertainment journalist Akira Ikoma gathered firsthand voices from the area.
Shinta-yama Shinchi, where women who do not want to be exposed gather.
To understand the situation on the ground, I visited three hidden gem areas—Shindayama, Imazato, and Takii—at the beginning of October to talk to locals about the upcoming Osaka-Kansai Expo.
Shindayama Shinchi is a vibrant area where you can enjoy the company of beautiful women at an incredibly low price of 8,500 yen (for 15 minutes), comparable to those in Tobita Shinchi and Matsushima Shinchi. It is located at 1-1 Sachi, Izumi City, Osaka Prefecture, about 400 meters northeast of Shindayama Station on the JR Hanwa Line. Unlike traditional ryotei, it operates in the format of an inn, with around 40 establishments clustered within a compact area that can be explored on foot in about ten minutes.
The pricing system increases by 8,500 yen every 15 minutes, totaling 34,000 yen for the maximum 60 minutes. Operating hours are from around 10 AM to midnight. Popular women often work after 6 PM or on weekends, making the place extremely busy on weekday evenings and weekends. All establishments close for business on the 20th of every month.
After entering, you select your course at a ticket vending machine on the first floor and purchase a ticket. You then convey your preferred type of woman in a waiting room. Once you shower and wait in a private room on the second floor, the chosen woman enters, and the play begins. The service is rumored to be quite intensive. Since there is no face reveal, this attracts women who want to avoid being recognized. The quality of women is high, attracting visitors not only from Kansai but also from as far away as Tokyo and Nagoya.
I arrived at Shindayama Shinchi just after 5 PM, and I noticed about five customers walking on the street. Shoes were left at the entrance of the inn. The women heading to the inn were of high quality, and I saw young women resembling idols and actresses. I spoke with the inn’s touts.
—With the expo coming up soon, will this place close down?
“It’s fine, it’s fine. The Prime Minister isn’t coming here. It’s different from the summit.”
When I asked a particularly cheerful woman who was energetically drawing in customers, I received this optimistic reply.
“This place is okay. The association manages it properly,” said another tout.
“I’m not really sure, but I think they might close down. Tobita might do the same,” said a friendly-looking male tout.
When I asked a loud female tout, “Won’t a lot of foreign customers come during the expo?” she replied, “This place is foreigner-free, so it doesn’t matter. Tobita allows foreigners, though.” If they are indeed foreigner-free, it would make sense that they wouldn’t benefit from an influx of inbound tourists during the expo. Therefore, it seems there is little concern about potential crackdowns or closures.
Imazato Shinchi, a relaxing and non-touristy area
Imazato Shinchi is the ideal ryotei district for those looking to enjoy chon no ma play in a calm atmosphere. Due to the absence of face reveals, it has not become a tourist destination like Tobita Shinchi, and the entire area feels relaxed. It is located at 3-chome Shin-Imazato, Ikuno-ku, Osaka City. The nearest station is Kintetsu Imazato Station, about an 8-minute train ride from Namba, followed by a 10-minute walk.
Currently, there are nine ryotei operating quietly along two east-west streets. The prices are 14,000 yen for 30 minutes and 28,000 yen for 60 minutes. Although prices increased this August, the 30-minute course remains the cheapest among the five major new districts. The operating hours are from around 12:30 PM to 11:00 PM, with all shops closing on the third Wednesday of every month.
Upon entering the store and expressing your preferences, women are dispatched from a waiting area. Generally, there is no significant difference between the women at different establishments. While the main age range used to be women in their late 20s to 40s, there has been an increase in younger women in recent years, with the average age now around 30. When you enter a room on the second floor, drinks and snacks are provided. If the store has a shower, you can take a shower before the woman arrives. If there is no shower, the woman will wipe you down with wet wipes upon arrival. Overall, the service is of good quality.
Many voices here expressed a complete lack of interest in the expo.
“It’s fine, it’s fine (go have fun quickly). You can choose now. There are women from their 20s to 40s here. It’s cheap,” said a smiling older lady who repeatedly assured that everything was fine, showing no concern whatsoever.
In another ryotei, I spoke with a laid-back older lady, but the constant ringing of the entrance phone made conversation difficult.
“If you want to play with young girls, it’s better to do so before 9 PM, so order from that place (nearby ryotei),” she advised.
This place seems to be busy with regular customers. They are likely too occupied with current business to think about next year. Seeing a beautiful woman around 30 enter just after made it clear; the clientele was mostly middle-aged and older.
Takii Shinchi is small in size but highly satisfactory in service
How about Takii Shinchi? This area is the smallest among Osaka’s five major new districts, with nine ryotei clustered in an L-shaped alley of a quiet residential neighborhood. It is located at 2-chome Takii Nishimachi, Moriguchi City, just a 3-minute walk from Takii Station on the Keihan Main Line. Although there is a face reveal, you can’t generally see the women from outside the store; you choose your preferred woman after entering. At the signal from the older ladies attracting customers, one to three women come out for introductions.
The basic price is 16,000 yen for 30 minutes, with subsequent options of 20,000 yen for 40 minutes, 24,000 yen for 50 minutes, and 27,000 yen for 60 minutes. Each course increased by 2,000 yen this May, leading to the current prices. The operating hours are from around 3 PM to midnight. Some stores may not open on certain days, but not all stores are closed at the same time.
Once you select a woman, you are taken to a Japanese-style room on the second floor. Some stores have showers, but they are mainly for the women’s use. Most women have experience in the sex industry or as hostesses. About 20% are in their 20s, 50-60% are in their 30s, and 20-30% are in their 40s, with many women having the youthful and beautiful appearance of “bi-mama” despite their age. The quality of play is said to be good, and those who prioritize service report high satisfaction.
Here, I spoke mainly with the women attracting customers. A petite, talkative older lady replied with a curt “I don’t know. I have no idea,” showing no interest in the situation and enthusiastically encouraging me to come inside.
“Hey, come on in! It’s 16,000 yen for 30 minutes. She’s a great girl. Take a look,” she said.
Peering into the back of the entrance, I saw a beautiful woman around 30 with an attractive face sitting alone.
“She’s our youngest girl. She won’t say no to anything; she provides excellent service,” the lady assured me.
Indeed, she was cute. I had thought there would only be older women, but that wasn’t the case.
I asked another younger lady who was attracting customers about the expo.
“It’ll be fine here; this is Moriguchi City. I think there are restrictions in Tobita and Matsushima.”
She replied.
“Is it already decided?”
I inquired.
“Something similar happened before, during the summit,” she said.
As I continued to ask questions, I was met with a somewhat annoyed expression and told, “Are you here to chat or to come in?”
Just like at Shinoyama in Izumi City, it seems that regulations vary outside of Osaka City. While there are some customers here, it lacks the fervor of Tobita Shinchi. According to the ladies attracting customers, “People come to Tobita just to look.” This could indicate that, since it hasn’t become a tourist destination, the sense of ownership might be weaker. When I asked people living around the new district, it was clear that there was no excitement about the Kansai Expo here either.
I have introduced the real voices of the three hidden new districts in Osaka regarding the upcoming Osaka-Kansai Expo. My impressions from visiting the sites were that even with the expo approaching, none of the new districts seem shaken; they remain calm and unruffled. Throughout the day and night of reporting, it became clear that the people in the new districts are not at all concerned about the expo and don’t care about it. The five major new districts are likely to operate without any issues during the expo. Just like the larger districts of Tobita and Matsushima, the smaller districts of Shinoyama, Imazato, and Takii are expected to prosper even more during the expo.
Each of these new districts is an old and historic area that has survived through various times. They not only hope for prosperity during the expo but also wish to be looked upon warmly before and after the expo, and to be supported.
Interview, text, and photographs： Akira Ikoma
