A Forgotten History – The Unstayable Hotel on a Nara Temple Approach
The NHK Taiga drama “Berabou: Tsutaju Eiga no Yume Banashi,” which portrays Tsutaya Jūzaburō, who was born and raised in Yoshiwara, has been gaining attention. In the first episode, a scene depicting deceased courtesans being stripped of their clothing and left on the ground sparked reactions as a bold portrayal of Yoshiwara’s darker side. However, Yoshiwara’s role as a cultural hub of the time is also drawing interest.
In recent years, there has been a growing fascination with former red-light districts. Not only historically significant places like Yoshiwara and the foreigner-favored Tobita Shinchi, but many remnants of old pleasure quarters and entertainment districts still exist across Japan. Yet, most of them are crumbling with time, on the verge of being forgotten. Underground explorer and YouTuber Pineapple Ura Channel introduces one such “Shinchi.”
A new place where you can take your time and play in a quiet Japanese-style room
When it comes to “Shinchi” where men can spend time with women in the Kansai region, places like Tobita Shinchi and Matsushima Shinchi are well known. However, did you know that Nara Prefecture also has a “Shinchi”?
About 30 minutes by Kintetsu train from Namba, there is an entertainment district in Ikoma City, which has a population of approximately 110,000. Unlike other Shinchi, where women sit at the storefronts calling out to passing customers for a quick 20–30 minute encounter, this district offers a more relaxed experience. Customers can enjoy a proper bath and spend time in a quiet, tatami-matted Japanese-style room—essentially, a place for those who prefer a more leisurely visit.
Ikoma Shinchi, Nara. Its history dates back to 1915. In 1914, when Ikoma Station on the present-day Kintetsu Nara Line opened, a 1.4 km-long approach road to Hozanji Temple was established. With this, many pilgrims began to visit, and souvenir shops and other businesses sprang up along the road. Hozanji itself was founded in 1678, but before the station opened, Ikoma was a remote, sparsely populated village that few people visited.
Noticing the booming activity after the station’s opening, influential figures from Osaka’s Nanchi entertainment district (another name for Namba Shinchi, the predecessor of Tobita Shinchi) opened “Okiya” (lodging houses for courtesans) along the temple approach. From there, Ikoma Shinchi quickly developed and, even after more than 100 years, continues to survive in the Reiwa era. The district remains unchanged, quietly waiting for visitors who seek its unique atmosphere.
