Mukojima : Traditional Geisha culture "Pleasure Outing at Mukojima to View Cherry Blossoms", By Utagawa Toyoharu Hanamachi is a Japanese courtesan and geisha district. The word's literal meaning is "flower town". Such districts would contain various okiya (geisha houses). Nowadays, the term hanamachi is commonly used in modern Japan to refer to the areas where modern-day geisha are still operating.