red-light district; pleasure quarters
Historical term for an unlicensed red-light district in the Edo period, as opposed to the officially sanctioned 遊郭 (ゆうかく). Now mainly encountered in historical or literary contexts.
In the Edo period, okabasho flourished as unofficial pleasure quarters.
In Edo-period usage, 岡 marked pleasure quarters outside the officially licensed 吉原; 岡場所 consequently meant an unlicensed pleasure district.