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Though quite prominent in the popular imagination throughout the period, the district was perhaps at its cultural height only for a brief time in the mid-18th century. It was not until [[1741]] that the famous ''[[sakura]]'' were planted along Nakanochô (the main avenue of the district), in hopes it would help attract tourists there to engage in ''[[hanami]]''. By the 1760s, the district had already begun to decline; in [[1761]], the last ''tayû'' (top-ranking courtesan) of the Yoshiwara retired, and ''shinzô'' were first allowed to engage in sexual relations with clients. After this time, however, a new order established itself in the Yoshiwara, with the ''oiran'' as the top rank of courtesans, and low-ranking teahouse waitresses called ''[[sancha]]'' transforming into the middle-to-top-ranking ''chûsan'' courtesans.

Though quite prominent in the popular imagination throughout the period, the district was perhaps at its cultural height only for a brief time in the mid-18th century. It was not until [[1741]] that the famous ''[[sakura]]'' were planted along Nakanochô (the main avenue of the district), in hopes it would help attract tourists there to engage in ''[[hanami]]''. By the 1760s, the district had already begun to decline; in [[1761]], the last ''tayû'' (top-ranking courtesan) of the Yoshiwara retired, and ''shinzô'' were first allowed to engage in sexual relations with clients. After this time, however, a new order established itself in the Yoshiwara, with the ''oiran'' as the top rank of courtesans, and low-ranking teahouse waitresses called ''[[sancha]]'' transforming into the middle-to-top-ranking ''chûsan'' courtesans.

The district burned down frequently, including in [[1644]], [[1676]], [[1768]], [[1771]], [[1784]], [[1786]], [[1787]], [[1812]], [[1816]], [[1824]], [[1845]], [[1860]], [[1862]], and [[1866]], requiring operations to be temporarily relocated eighteen times over the course of the Edo period. The quarter was always rebuilt, however, until X year, when it was abolished and dismantled. The Nihon-tsutsumi and Yoshiwara Ômon ("Great Gate") survive today as placenames, but beyond a replanted ''mikaeri yanagi'' and a few signs and plaques, there is little of the old district to see in that neighborhood today.

The district burned down frequently, including in [[1644]], [[1676]], [[1768]], [[1771]], [[1784]], [[1786]], [[1787]], [[1812]], [[1816]], [[1824]], [[1845]], [[1860]], [[1862]], and [[1866]], requiring operations to be temporarily relocated eighteen times over the course of the Edo period. The quarter was always rebuilt, however, until 1958, when it was abolished and dismantled. The Nihon-tsutsumi and Yoshiwara Ômon ("Great Gate") survive today as placenames, but beyond a replanted ''mikaeri yanagi'' and a few signs and plaques, there is little of the old district to see in that neighborhood today.

In [[1868]], six other districts were made licensed, and in [[1875]], the Yoshiwara, and the brothels, teahouses, and prostitutes of a number of other areas came under the jurisdiction of the [[Tokyo Metropolitan Police]]. By this time, the Yoshiwara was very much only a shadow of its former self, but it lingered on, and was not formally shut down by the government until 1958.

In [[1868]], six other districts were made licensed, and in [[1875]], the Yoshiwara, and the brothels, teahouses, and prostitutes of a number of other areas came under the jurisdiction of the [[Tokyo Metropolitan Police]]. By this time, the Yoshiwara was very much only a shadow of its former self, but it lingered on, and was not formally shut down by the government until 1958.