The Spatial History and Architecture of Miyazu’s Shinhama Geisha Town

Abstract

Geisha towns were once found in large numbers all over Japan, but little research has been conducted on how they were established, their spatial and architectural characteristics, and their social structure. This study examines these topics through a case study of Shinhama in Miyazu City, Kyoto Prefecture. As a castle town and port in Japan’s early modern period, Miyazu developed as a commercial center for the production and supply of textiles, such as Tango chirimen silk crepe fabrics used in kimonos and obi sashes, and as a tourist destination known for Amanohashidate, a pine-covered sandbar considered one of Japan’s “three most scenic views.” The spatial history and architecture of the geisha town of this provincial city are investigated through the study of land survey maps, land registers, old photographs, and architectural surveys, as well as interviews. In the process, a picture is also painted of Shinhama’s red light district as it was in early modern times.