Tobita Shinchi also referred to as Tobita Yukaku is one of the largest brothel districts in western Japan which until 1958 was a police-sanctioned red light area. But, after the anti-prostitution laws were put into effect, these now operate under the guise of being Japanese-style restaurants. Here, the businesses even today openly display the working girls to the casually strolling, potential customers. Each of the building on the street is marked with a little white sign which is lit up at night and spells out the name of the business it houses.