1.
licensed pleasure quarter; red-light district (historical)
A walled or designated district in Edo-period Japan where prostitution was officially licensed and regulated by the government. The most famous was Yoshiwara in Edo (Tokyo). These districts were abolished in the modern era.
Usage: 遊郭 is a historical term. These districts were established by the Tokugawa shogunate to control prostitution by confining it to specific areas. The most famous were 吉原 (Edo/Tokyo), 島原 (Kyoto), and 新町 (Osaka).
The 遊郭 developed a rich cultural ecosystem including fashion, music, art, and literature. Many ukiyo-e prints depict life in these districts.
Also written as 遊廓 (variant kanji).