After the Meiji period, Shimabara lost regulars of the court nobles and the samurai class and thus its economic condition deteriorated; the district tried to survive by holding events such as the 'Tayu Dochu' (public procession of the tayu, a courtesan or geisha of the highest rank), but the numbers of ochaya (teahouse), tayu and geisha decreased; finally, the teahouse association was dissolved and Shimabara became an ordinary residential district.
明治以後は公家、武家の常連客がいなくなり、さらに窮状に置かれるものの「太夫道中」などの行事で支えていたが、昭和後期にお茶屋、太夫、芸妓の人数が減り、ついにはお茶屋組合が解散して普通の住宅地と化した。