Will Shinchi Fade Away with the Kansai Expo? Exploring Osaka’s Hidden Gems in Shinodayama, Imazato, and Takii

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.